Italy launched its own digital nomad visa relatively recently, and anyone comparing Spain with Italy as a destination usually runs into a surprise: Italy's criminal record screening is noticeably broader in scope than Spain's, even though both visas serve the same purpose.
The requirement that makes the difference: criminal records from multiple countries
Spain asks for a criminal record certificate from the applicant's current country of residence. Italy goes further: it requires the certificate from the country of residence and any other country the applicant has lived in over the past 5 years. For someone who's moved more than once during that period, that can mean processing and translating several certificates in parallel, each with its own apostille process depending on the country of origin.
How long the process takes in Italy
The criminal record certificate itself, apostilled and translated into Italian, can take 6 to 10 weeks — by far the document that most delays the whole file, so it's worth starting it before any other paperwork. Each Italian consulate applies the decree with its own checklists, so it's worth confirming exact requirements with the specific consulate before starting.
Documents common to both countries
- Criminal record certificate — apostilled and translated, with the scope difference already explained.
- Contract or service agreement for remote work.
- Full-coverage health insurance.
- Proof of financial means.
In Spain, the medical certificate with the IHR-2005 wording is also part of the file for several visa types — see the full guide.
The translation: into Italian, not Spanish
A detail that's easy to miss: if the final destination is Italy, the sworn translation of the criminal record certificate has to be into Italian, not Spanish — Textualia handles this translation just like any other, but it's worth being clear about the target language when requesting a quote.
Common mistakes
- Not anticipating the 6-10 week timeline for the Italian criminal record certificate, which can delay the entire application.
- Only requesting the certificate for the current country of residence, forgetting countries lived in over the past 5 years.
- Relying on the requirements of a different Italian consulate than the one actually handling the application — checklists vary.
Related pages
- Spain vs. Portugal: digital nomad visa compared
- Spain digital nomad visa
- Criminal records: FBI, ACRO and B3 compared
- Sworn translation in Barcelona · Sworn translation in Valencia
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