Italy — Work (Researcher / postdoc (art. 27-ter))

Main requirements

The research permit (art. 27-ter) is for holders of a PhD or of a degree that gives access to doctoral study in their country (in practice a master's). You sign a hosting agreement (convenzione di accoglienza) with a research body or university listed in the official MUR register. It is outside quotas. The agreement sets the project, duration, monthly resources, return travel and insurance; monthly resources are assessed against twice the assegno sociale (EUR 546.24 a month over 13 instalments in 2026 per INPS, so about EUR 1,092 a month) and are certified by the institute. It covers employment, research grants (assegno di ricerca) and postdocs.

Documents

Certified copy of the hosting agreement; research nulla osta; passport; PhD or master's with legalised official translation; health insurance; housing proof; proof of resources and return travel; D visa form and photos.

Language

No language requirement in the law; the research group sets the working language (usually English).

Costs and proof of funds

The host guarantees the resources. Your own costs: translations/legalisation, EUR 116 visa plus VisaMetric fee, residence permit (EUR 40–100 plus EUR 76.46 per the EU portal), flight and setup.

Steps and timeline

1) Find a research post/postdoc and sign the hosting agreement; 2) the institute applies for the nulla osta at the provincial Sportello Unico, decided within 30 days of a complete file; 3) the visa must be obtained within 6 months of the nulla osta; 4) within 8 days of arrival apply for the permit, valid for the project duration and renewable with a new agreement.

Notes for Iranian applicants

You get the national D work visa from the Italian Embassy in Tehran via VisaMetric. Booking is free but a 50 million rial (about EUR 25) deposit is taken and refunded at submission; slots follow registration order and each visa type's checklist is on the site. The national visa fee is EUR 116 plus the VisaMetric fee. The embassy was closed from February to June 2026 and resumed all consular services on 8 July 2026; during the closure Iranians could apply at any reachable Italian embassy where they could stay legally. The embassy stresses that no intermediary has special channels; only the consular and VisaMetric fees are allowed. Iranian documents (degrees, work records, shenasnameh) usually need official translation and legalisation by Justice and Foreign Affairs, since Iran is not in the Apostille Convention.

Men: without a completed-service card or exemption you cannot leave Iran for work; per Iranian secondary sources, the bonded exit permit is only for master's/PhD study.

After arrival (work during studies, post-study stay, path to permanent residence)

Family reunification is allowed whatever the permit length. After the research ends you can get a 9–12 month job-search permit or switch to a work permit. The EU long-term residence permit needs 5 years of legal residence, income at least equal to the assegno sociale, suitable housing and an Italian language test pass. Under article 9, if your long-term permit is issued for research at a university or a body supervised by the Ministry of University and Research, you don't need the Italian test.