Entry into Italy can take place in two ways: with an entry visa or without a visa.

The reasons for entry can be various and citizens of some countries can enter for tourism without a visa.

The visa is the main tool to be able to enter and obtain a residence permit.

For certain types of visa the application can be made directly to the Italian Consulate of the foreign country, in other cases it must be a citizen already in Italy or a institution or a Company or an employer to submit the application for Nulla Osta to be able to issue the Visa to the non-European citizen who wants to enter.

Some entries are decided by a law called Decreto Flussi, which is validated every year and provides for a certain number of entries (quotas) for each country and for each type of visa to be requested.

If the entry took place with a type D visa, after applying for a visa at the Italian consulate, the citizen can then apply for a residence permit.