German In the past few days, news has been circulating that could seriously change how Australians move to Europe. According to several major international outlets, the European Union and Australia are discussing a new mobility agreement that could allow Australier to live and work in EU countries, including Italy, with far fewer visa barriers than today.
This is not law yet. But if it goes ahead, it would be one of the biggest changes to EU-Australia mobility in decades. So let’s look at what is really being discussed, what is confirmed, and what still needs to happen for Australians moving to Italy to benefit from this agreement.
Current Rules und What’s Being Proposed
At the moment, as you probably already know, Australian citizens can enter the Schengen Area without a visa for short stays, including tourism, business meetings, and family visits – but only for 90 days within any 180-day period. This visa-free access does not allow you to: engage in any form of remunerated activity for an Italian or EU employer, conduct self-employed or freelance work while based in Italy (or any Schengen country) and establish residence or stay beyond the 90-day limit. For any work activity or long-term stay, you must obtain a nationales Visum from the Italian consulate vor entering, followed by a residence permit after arrival.
However, the big news is that the European Union is negotiating a broader trade and cooperation agreement with Australia. This initiative actually started back in 2018, but stalled a few years later due to disagreements. Now it’s back on the table.
Inside this package is a proposal for a long-term mobility scheme. According to reports, if approved, this scheme could allow Australians to live and work in EU countries for up to four years under simplified rules – meaning you wouldn’t necessarily need a job offer in advance or go through the traditional national work visa process. In practical terms, this could mean Australians would be able to: move to Italy without competing for limited work visa quotas, arrive first and look for work locally and build long-term careers in Italy more easily
What about Europeans moving to Australia? Fortunately, the proposal is designed as a two-way arrangement, which means Europeans would gain similar access to live and work in Australia.
But Why Is This Happening?
At the heart of this possible EU–Australia mobility deal lies a pressing economic reality: both sides are facing critical workforce challenges that neither can solve alone.
Europe, and Italy in particular, is grappling with one of the most severe demographic crises in the developed world. According to Eurostat projections, the EU’s working-age population is expected to decline from 264 million in 2022 to 207 million by 2050 – a 21% decline if immigration doesn’t compensate. Italy is especially vulnerable – with a median age of 48.2 years, one of the highest globally, the country desperately needs workers in healthcare, elder care, construction, technology, and hospitality. Australia isn’t immune either: Jobs and Skills Australia’s 2024 Occupation Shortage List identifies nearly three in ten occupations currently in shortage, particularly in healthcare, engineering, IT, and construction.
So the reciprocal nature of the deal is what makes it politically viable – both sides gain access to each other’s talent pools, creating a win-win situation where Europe gets young, skilled workers and Australia fills persistent vacancies in critical industries.
What Happens Next?
At the moment, this proposal is still in the negotiation stage. This means there is political interest on both sides, but no binding legal framework yet. Even if an agreement is reached in principle, it would still need:
- Formal approval at EU level (European Council and European Parliament)
- Ratification by individual member states
- Legal implementation across all member states, including Italy
- Development of practical administrative procedures
This type of process is slow by nature and usually takes many months, sometimes years. But the situation is evolving and could open major opportunities in the future, so let’s be confident! And if you cannot wait, you know that we’re here to help you with your relocation.
War dies hilfreich?
