Who this is for. Land roles in Italy: chefs, hosts and stewards in private villas and event venues. Working on a yacht instead? See Right to work: Italy (yacht crew).
Quick answer. Italy is in the EU. If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen you can work here with no permit. Everyone else, including UK passport holders, needs a work visa, and Italy runs annual quotas, so plan well ahead. On land there is no seafarer route, so ordinary work-permit rules apply.
Do villa and venue staff need a work permit in Italy?
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a work permit; register if you stay long term. Everyone else needs their employer to apply for a work clearance (nulla osta), then applies for a work visa at an Italian consulate. Most employee work visas sit within the yearly quota (Decreto Flussi), which fills quickly, so start as early as you can.
Official source
Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa portal: Visa for Italy. Use the guided check to confirm what you need for your nationality before you travel.
What we ask of you
Keep your nationality correct in your profile; it tells us your EU status.
If you hold a work permit for Italy, tick the work-permit box.
Tell us early if your right to work is not sorted, so we can help before your dates.
Important
Immigration rules change and vary by nationality. This is general orientation, not legal advice, and Quarterdeck is not an immigration adviser. Confirm your own position with the official source above before you travel. We will not place you in Italy if you do not hold the right to work. See also: Do I need a work permit to work in a chalet or private villa?