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Italian Republic · Processing time

EU Blue Card (Carta Blu UE): how long does it take?

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MAECI - The entry visa does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.

How long does the EU Blue Card (Carta Blu UE) take to process in Italy?

MAECI - The entry visa does not publish a central processing time for this route. Use the current MAECI - The entry visa service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying.

Source checked against MAECI - The entry visa on 10 September 2026.

Typical wait

Not centrally published

from complete application

Government fees

Consular visa and residence-permit charges apply; verify current MAECI, Sportello Unico and questura/postal fees before filing.

Last checked

10 September 2026

Reality vs official timing

Official clock
No central processing clock
Delay trigger
No fixed delay point - use route guidance
Source checked
10 September 2026

MAECI - The entry visa does not publish a central processing time. Use the current MAECI - The entry visa service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying.

What is the EU Blue Card (Carta Blu UE)?

EU-wide highly qualified worker permit for Italy — requires a highly qualified profile and an Italian employment offer meeting the current Carta Blu UE pay rules.

Italy's EU Blue Card implementation requires a highly qualified profile and an employment contract with an Italian employer that meets the current Carta Blu UE pay and qualification rules. Atlas does not store a numeric Italian Blue Card threshold until it can be verified from a text-accessible official source, so applicants and employers should check the current Ministero del Lavoro or Sportello Unico rule before filing. The Blue Card provides intra-EU mobility after 12 months.

  • Sponsorship: You need a job offer or employer sponsor in Italian Republic.
  • Settlement: This route can lead to permanent residence.
  • Typical permit length: 2 years; renewable.
  • Indicative government fees: Consular visa and residence-permit charges apply; verify current MAECI, Sportello Unico and questura/postal fees before filing.

Priority and fast-track options

The earlier range was removed after an official-source review because it was an editorial estimate, depended on a live/local queue, or combined separate appointment and decision stages.

Official source

MAECI - The entry visa

https://www.esteri.it/it/servizi-consolari-e-visti/ingressosoggiornoinitalia/visto_ingresso/

Cite or reuse this dataset

This figure is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0. Cite the Visa Atlas page for the compiled, dated dataset, and cite the official source for the underlying government rule.

Suggested citation

Visa Atlas, "EU Blue Card (Carta Blu UE) processing time dataset", https://visaatlas.org/processing-times/italy/eu-blue-card-italy. Last checked 10 September 2026.

Page
https://visaatlas.org/processing-times/italy/eu-blue-card-italy
JSON endpoint
https://visaatlas.org/api/public/processing-times

Primary source (1)

Frequently asked questions

How long does the EU Blue Card (Carta Blu UE) take to process?+

MAECI - The entry visa does not publish a central processing time for this route. Use the current MAECI - The entry visa service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying.

When does the Not centrally published clock start?+

Because no central processing time is published, there is no fixed start point. Contact the relevant authority once your application is submitted.

Is there a way to speed up the decision?+

The earlier range was removed after an official-source review because it was an editorial estimate, depended on a live/local queue, or combined separate appointment and decision stages.

What makes an application take longer than expected?+

The most common reasons for delays beyond the published window are: missing or incorrect documents, a request for more information (which pauses the clock until you reply), background or medical checks, and consular appointment backlogs in your country. Submitting a complete, well-organised application on day one is the single biggest thing you can do to stay inside the published window.

When should I treat my EU Blue Card (Carta Blu UE) application as delayed?+

Because no central processing time is published for this route, there is no fixed point at which it counts as late. If your wait runs well beyond comparable cases, a single polite status enquiry through the official channel is reasonable. Duplicate chasing tends to slow a case rather than speed it up.

Next steps

Reviewed by , Editor and lead researcher.