Work and Stay in Italy After Graduation: Student Work Rules (2026)

Yes, international students can work in Italy. A study residence permit allows salaried work of up to 20 hours a week, within an annual limit of 1,040 hours. After you graduate, Italian law lets you request a permit of 9 to 12 months to look for a job or start a business, which can then be converted into a work permit if you meet the requirements.

This guide explains exactly what the law says, what it does not say, and the practical hurdles – especially language – that you should plan for. All rules below come from Italian legislation on Normattiva and the MUR circular for 2026/27–2027/28.

Working while you study

Under DPR 394/1999, article 14(4), the residence permit for study allows salaried work for no more than 20 hours per week, which can be spread over 52 weeks, within an annual limit of 1,040 hours.

• You need a valid study permit, or the post-office receipt while your permit is being processed.
• Your studies come first: renewal requires at least one exam passed in year one and two in each later year (one in case of documented serious health reasons or force majeure).
• Withdrawing from your course revokes your permit, and with it your right to work.

Where students usually find work

We do not publish wage figures because we could not verify them on official pages. In general, students look at university jobs and paid collaborations advertised by their university, hospitality and retail, tutoring, and internships linked to their degree. Programs such as Invest Your Talent in Italy even include a mandatory internship in an Italian company.

The 9–12 month job-search permit after graduation

Article 39-bis.1 of Legislative Decree 286/1998 gives graduates a dedicated permit. Here is how it works:

The permit is refused or revoked if documents were obtained fraudulently or if you no longer meet the conditions. Check the current income requirement and procedure with the Questura or your university's international office before your study permit expires.

Mistakes that can cost you the graduate permit

• Letting the study permit expire first. The law ties the request to the moment the study permit expires, so do not wait until after.
• Not registering with the employment services. Declaring immediate availability for work and joining active labour policy measures is a condition, not a formality.
• Missing the income requirement. Prepare proof of income or support before you apply.
• Overworking during studies. The 20-hour weekly and 1,040-hour yearly limits are conditions of your study permit; keep payslips and contracts that show you respected them.

Converting to a work permit

Once you have a job offer during your job-search permit, you can request conversion into a permesso di soggiorno per lavoro (work permit) if you meet the requirements of the Consolidated Immigration Act. The exact documents depend on the type of work. Track your file on the Portale Immigrazione and follow Questura instructions.

Further study: master's and PhD in Italy

Many graduates stay to study more. A bachelor's from Italy gives access to Italian master's programs, and a master's to PhD programs. Because you are already legally resident in Italy, you do not need a new visa from abroad; non-EU nationals already legally resident in Italy are covered by a separate rule in the MUR circular. Note that a new course at another institution cannot use your old visa or permit if you formally withdrew – plan the switch with your university and the Questura.

• PhD scholarships: Universitaly lists €16,243 per year in 12 monthly instalments, open to international holders of a second-cycle degree. Some schools, such as IUSS Pavia (€18,645.63 per year gross), publish higher amounts.
• Calls: PhD calls for each cycle are usually published in spring and summer; some universities, such as Politecnico di Torino and Politecnico di Milano, run several sessions per year.
• English: many PhD programs are taught and supervised in English.

See scholarships in Italy for funded PhD options.

The long-term path: EU long-term residence permit

Article 9 of Legislative Decree 286/1998 sets the EU long-term residence permit. It requires holding a valid residence permit for at least five years, plus other conditions in the law. The same article states that the rule does not apply to foreigners staying for study or vocational training, so you cannot apply while you are on a study permit.

How earlier years of study count towards the five years after you switch to a work permit is a legal question we could not confirm on an official page in plain terms. Ask the Questura or an official immigration help desk for your exact case.

A realistic timeline from final year to work permit

Questions to ask your university's international office

• Which documents does our local Questura ask for with the 39-bis.1 graduate permit?
• What income requirement applies this year, and how can I prove it?
• Does the university have a career service or job board for international graduates?
• If I start a PhD or another master's here, how do I renew my permit without leaving Italy?
• Which internships count as part of my study plan, and do they affect my 20-hour limit?

Their answers matter because procedures can differ between Questure. Write down the answers and keep copies of every receipt you receive.

Honest challenges to plan for

How to prepare from year one

1. 1

   Learn Italian alongside your degree

   Aim for at least B1–B2 by graduation. Some universities offer free Italian courses and Politecnico di Milano requires B2 Italian to graduate from its master's.

2. 2

   Use internships

   Curricular internships and university career services connect you with Italian employers.

3. 3

   Keep your permit clean

   Pass the required exams, renew at least 60 days before expiry and keep within the 20-hour limit.

4. 4

   Plan the switch before your permit expires

   Ask your university's international office about the 39-bis.1 permit months before graduation.

5. 5

   Keep documents ready

   Degree certificate, passport, tax code and proof of income or support for the application.

Tip for PhD graduates: the graduate permit under article 39-bis.1 also covers doctorates, so the same 9–12 month route applies after a PhD.

Planning your full journey? Start with the complete study in Italy guide, check the student visa guide, and weigh the pros and cons. You can track deadlines for free on FindUniPath and find more on the Italy hub.