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Can You Get a Job in Italy on a Student Visa?
International students in Italy are allowed to work part-time while studying, and they can stay and work full-time after graduation. In this guide, we explain the work rules, the best part-time jobs in Italy for international students, how much you can expect, and how to move from a student visa to a work permit.
Once you arrive in Italy and get your residence permit for study (permesso di soggiorno per studio), you can legally work part-time.
There’s one thing to understand first: your visa gets you into Italy, but your residence permit is what gives you the right to stay and work. You must apply for this permit within 8 working days of arriving in Italy, at a local post office.
How Many Hours Can Students Work in Italy?
The rules are simple:
- Up to 20 hours per week
- A maximum of 1,040 hours per year
Some official guidance allows you to work more hours in some weeks, such as during university holidays, as long as your yearly total stays under 1,040 hours. However, not every office reads this rule the same way. The safest approach is to stay around 20 hours a week and check with your employer before taking on extra hours.
If you want to work more than 20 hours a week on a regular basis, you’ll need to convert your student permit into a work permit (explained below).
What You Need Before You Start Working
Before your first job, make sure you have these:
- Residence permit for study, or the post office receipt showing you’ve applied
- Codice Fiscale, Italy’s tax code number (you’ll usually get this when you arrive or through your university)
- Italian bank account to receive your salary
- A proper work contract, because working “off the books” can put your residence permit at risk
Best Part-Time Jobs in Italy for International Students
Here are the most common jobs Sri Lankan and other international students find in Italy:
Restaurant, Café and Bar Jobs
Waiters, kitchen helpers and baristas are always in demand, especially in tourist cities like Rome, Milan, Florence and Venice. Basic Italian is very helpful for these roles.
Hotel and Hospitality Jobs
Italy’s huge tourism industry creates jobs in hotels, hostels and tourist services. This is a great fit if you’re studying hospitality or tourism.
University Campus Jobs
Many Italian universities offer paid part-time student jobs (often called collaborazioni studentesche or “150-hour” jobs) in libraries, offices and student services. These are flexible and fit well around your classes.
Food Delivery
Delivery work through apps is common in big cities. Check the contract type carefully, because some delivery work is treated as self-employment.
Tutoring and Teaching English
Fluent English speakers can tutor school students or give private English lessons. Sri Lankan students with strong English often do well here.
Retail and Shop Assistant Jobs
Shops, supermarkets and fashion stores hire students, especially during busy seasons like Christmas and summer sales.
Internships (Tirocini)
Many degree programmes include internships with companies. Some are paid and can lead to a full-time job after graduation.
How Much Can You Earn?
Pay depends on the job, the city and your experience. Italy does not have one national minimum wage. Instead, pay is usually set by industry agreements. Big cities like Milan and Rome generally offer more jobs and higher pay, but living costs there are also higher.
Important: Part-time income is a bonus, not a replacement for your visa funds. You must still show the full financial requirement (€10,179.85 per year for 2026/27) when you apply for your Italy student visa. The Embassy will not accept “I will work part-time” as proof of funds.
Can International Students Work in Italy After Graduation?
Yes, and this is one of the biggest advantages of studying in Italy. You have two main options after you finish your degree.
Option 1: Job-Search Permit (Post-Study Work Permit)
Italy doesn’t issue a “post-study work visa” as such. Instead, after completing your Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD, you can apply for a job-search residence permit valid for 9 to 12 months. It lets you stay in Italy while you look for a job. Apply before your student permit expires.
Option 2: Convert Your Student Permit to a Work Permit
If you already have a job offer, you can convert your study permit directly into a work permit.
How to Convert a Student Visa to a Work Permit in Italy
Here’s how the process works:
- Get a job offer for more than 20 hours per week.
- Apply online before your student residence permit expires. There is no quota for this, so you don’t have to wait for the annual “Decreto Flussi” work quota.
- Submit your documents, including your passport, current permit, job contract and proof of studies.
- Receive your work permit, which is linked to your employment contract.
In some cases you can apply for this conversion before you graduate, for example while completing your thesis, if you meet the requirements and have a suitable job offer.
Long-term benefit: After 5 years of legal residence in Italy, you may become eligible for an EU long-term residence permit, which is a path to settling in Europe.
Common Mistakes Students Make
- Working more than the allowed hours. This can lead to problems when renewing your permit.
- Working without a contract. Cash jobs offer no protection and can harm your immigration record.
- Counting on part-time income for visa funds. The Embassy won’t accept it.
- Letting your student permit expire before applying for a job-search or work permit.
- Ignoring your studies. Your permit renewal depends on passing exams and earning credits. Work should support your studies, not replace them.
Plan Your Study and Career in Italy with GIEC Global
- Assuming the spouse can simply “join later” without waiting. The two-year rule now makes this slow.
- Booking student dormitory housing. It usually won’t meet the housing requirement for a couple.
- Using last year’s income figures. The threshold changes every year.
- Not legalising the marriage certificate early. Translation and legalisation take time.
- Name mismatches between passports and the marriage certificate.
- Applying on a tourist visa for the spouse and hoping to switch. A short-stay Schengen visa does not allow your spouse to live in Italy.
How GIEC Global Helps Students Bring Their Spouse to Italy
Choosing the right course is the first step to getting a good job in Italy. Fields like engineering, IT, business, design and hospitality offer strong career opportunities for international graduates.
At GIEC Global Sri Lanka, our Italy study visa consultants help you choose career-focused courses, prepare your visa file, and plan your path from student to working professional in Europe. Read our guides on how to apply for study in Italy from Sri Lanka and Italy student visa requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Once you have your residence permit for study, you can work up to 20 hours a week, with a maximum of 1,040 hours a year.
Some guidance allows more hours in some weeks if your yearly total stays under 1,040 hours, but practice varies. Check with your employer, and stay within the yearly limit.
Yes, but your options will be limited. English tutoring, some campus jobs and some international companies may not need Italian, but most part-time jobs do.
Yes. You can apply for a job-search permit valid for 9–12 months after completing your degree.
Get a job offer for more than 20 hours a week and apply online before your student permit expires. No quota is required.
No. You must show the full financial requirement when you apply for your student visa from Sri Lanka.
Italy’s work visas from abroad depend on yearly quotas and a job offer, which is hard to get. Studying in Italy and then converting to a work permit is often a more reliable path, plus you earn a European degree.
