The Fernshore Index
The factors fifo workers look at first.
Each grade is against a published measure, with its source and the date we checked it. It is research information, not advice. Where we have no figure, the row says Unknown.
Cost of living
41 of 100Mixed
Price level 0.690 of United States prices (2025).
Source: Price level index (GDP), Italy. Checked 15 October 2026.
Work and career
85 of 100Strong
Strong: a national visa for remote workers and freelancers exists, and fixed broadband is 31.8 per 100 people (2024), over the 30 line.
Source: Digital nomad / remote worker visa (New York consulate); Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Italy. Checked 15 October 2026.
Visa, United States passport
85 of 100Strong
Strong: A national remote worker and freelancer visa is open without a local job offer for a stay of a year, renewable while the conditions hold, with no minimum age and no deposit or investment. Income test about 24,800 to 27,000 euros a year (about US$27,800 to $30,300 at the ECB rate of 9 October 2026), well under the US$60,000 line. To be safe, have more than 28,000 euros a year. Needs a qualification, six months of experience and a registered lease.
Source: Digital nomad / remote worker visa (New York consulate); Digital nomad / remote worker visa (Los Angeles consulate). Checked 15 October 2026.
Visa, Canada passport
85 of 100Strong
Strong: A national remote worker and freelancer visa is open without a local job offer for a stay of a year, renewable while the conditions hold, with no minimum age and no deposit or investment. Income test about 24,800 euros a year (about US$27,800 at the ECB rate of 9 October 2026), well under the US$60,000 line. To be safe, have more than 25,000 euros a year. Needs a qualification, six months of experience and suitable accommodation.
Source: Digital nomad / remote worker visa (Ottawa embassy); Digital nomad and remote worker national visa (Toronto consulate). Checked 15 October 2026.
Visa, Australia passport
85 of 100Strong
Strong: A national remote worker and freelancer visa is open without a local job offer for a stay of a year, renewable while the conditions hold, with no minimum age and no deposit or investment. Income test about 25,500 euros a year (about US$28,600 at the ECB rate of 9 October 2026); a remote employee's contract must pay about 33,000 euros, still under the US$60,000 line. To be safe, have more than 26,000 euros a year. Needs a qualification, six months of experience and a registered lease.
Source: Digital nomad / remote worker visa checklist (Sydney consulate); Digital nomad / remote worker visa checklist (Melbourne consulate); Schengen visa checklist: digital nomads and remote workers (Adelaide consulate). Checked 15 October 2026.
Visa, New Zealand passport
85 of 100Strong
Strong: A national remote worker and freelancer visa is open without a local job offer for a stay of a year, renewable while the conditions hold, with no minimum age and no deposit or investment. Income test about 25,500 euros a year (about US$28,600 at the ECB rate of 9 October 2026); a remote employee's contract must pay about 33,500 euros, still under the US$60,000 line. To be safe, have more than 26,000 euros a year. Needs a qualification, six months of experience and a registered lease.
Source: Digital nomad / remote worker visa checklist (Wellington embassy). Checked 15 October 2026.
Safety
63 of 100Mixed
Global Peace Index 2026: 35th of 163.
Source: Global Peace Index 2026, overall rank. Checked 15 October 2026.
Healthcare
73 of 100Strong
WHO UHC service coverage index 82 (2023).
Source: UHC service coverage index (SDG 3.8.1). Checked 15 October 2026.
Internet
71 of 100Strong
31.78 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people (2024).
Source: Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Italy. Checked 15 October 2026.
The country
The rest of the research on Italy.
The country page grades every factor, with its sources.
ItalyQuestions from fifo workers about Italy.
How long can a FIFO worker stay in Italy without a visa?
US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand passports can stay up to 90 days in any 180 across the Schengen area: count back 180 days from each day. Australians get no extra days for Italy, and New Zealand’s 1961 visa letters give no length of stay, so plan on 90. A long-stay visa or permit falls outside this rule.
Which Italian visas might fit a rostered job abroad?
The remote worker visa is for highly qualified people: about €24,800 to €27,000 a year; to be safe, more than €28,000. Elective residence allows no work and asks about €31,000 to €32,000; to be safe, more than €33,000. Whether a rostered job abroad counts as remote work is not stated; ask your consulate.
Would a FIFO worker be tax resident in Italy and Australia?
Since 2024 you are Italian tax resident if, for most of the year (183 days), you are registered as a resident, live there or are present. Australia tests whether you reside there, then domicile and 183 days. A 1982 Australia–Italy convention exists. Ask an adviser who knows both systems.
What health cover does a FIFO worker need in Italy?
The remote worker visa needs health insurance for the whole stay: at least €30,000 of cover, per US consulates and Wellington. Victoria’s health department lists Italy among Australia’s reciprocal healthcare agreements; terms differ, and what it covers in Italy is unknown here.
Is internet in Italy good enough to use between swings?
Italy has 31.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people (2024, ITU via the World Bank). That is a national count, not a speed, so quality at a given address is unknown; confirm what a provider can connect there before you sign a lease.
Sources
Where each figure comes from.
Every figure on this page links to the page we read, with the date we checked it.
- [C1] Price level index (GDP), Italy, World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026. 2025: 68.96 (United States = 100), read from the World Bank API on 15 October 2026.
- [K1] Digital nomad / remote worker visa (New York consulate), Consulate General of Italy in New York (Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Checked 15 October 2026. Undated page. A national visa for non-EU citizens who work remotely while living in Italy, for freelancers (digital nomads) and employees (remote workers); only for highly qualified people. Jurisdiction rules differ by consulate.
- [K2] Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Italy, International Telecommunication Union, via the World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026. 2024: 31.78 per 100 people, read from the World Bank API on 15 October 2026.
- [K3] Digital nomad / remote worker visa (Los Angeles consulate), Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles (Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Checked 15 October 2026. Undated page, partly written in 2024. For US residents: income of at least three times the health-contribution exemption level from work done in Italy, a permit issued for one year and renewable at the Questura, no minimum age, no deposit or investment.
- [K4] Digital nomad / remote worker visa (Ottawa embassy), Embassy of Italy in Ottawa (Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Checked 15 October 2026. Undated page. For the Ottawa consular area: income from the previous fiscal year in the country of residence above 24,780 euros; qualification and six months of experience; no minimum age, no deposit or investment.
- [K5] Digital nomad and remote worker national visa (Toronto consulate), Consulate General of Italy in Toronto (Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Checked 15 October 2026. No clear date. For the Toronto consular area: same national visa, the page prints no euro income figure; no minimum age, no deposit or investment.
- [K6] Digital nomad / remote worker visa checklist (Sydney consulate), Consulate General of Italy in Sydney (Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), PDF. Checked 15 October 2026. Undated checklist in the July 2026 upload folder. For New South Wales: income for the previous financial year of at least 8,500 euros x 3 (25,500 euros); no minimum age, no deposit or investment.
- [K7] Digital nomad / remote worker visa checklist (Melbourne consulate), Consulate General of Italy in Melbourne (Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), PDF. Checked 15 October 2026. Undated checklist in the July 2026 upload folder. For Victoria and Tasmania: same figures as Sydney.
- [K8] Schengen visa checklist: digital nomads and remote workers (Adelaide consulate), Consulate General of Italy in Adelaide (Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), PDF. Checked 15 October 2026. File name dated 14 August 2026. Prints 25,500 euros as three times the health-contribution exemption level.
- [K9] Digital nomad / remote worker visa checklist (Wellington embassy), Embassy of Italy in Wellington (Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), PDF. Checked 15 October 2026. Undated checklist in the July 2026 upload folder. For New Zealand citizens or permanent residents: income for the previous financial year of at least 8,500 euros x 3 (25,500 euros); no minimum age, no deposit or investment.
- [S1] Global Peace Index 2026, overall rank, Institute for Economics and Peace. Checked 15 October 2026. Italy ranks 35th of 163 countries (score 1.712); read from the report PDF on 15 October 2026.
- [H1] UHC service coverage index (SDG 3.8.1), World Health Organization. Checked 15 October 2026. Italy: 82 out of 100 (2023), read from the WHO Global Health Observatory API on 15 October 2026.