Extension possibilities for the Italy Working Holiday

Volare Editorial | April 3, 2026

When planning a Working Holiday in Italy experience, it is essential to know the legal stay limits permitted by bilateral agreements. The duration of the permit conditions both the job search and housing organization in Italian territory. For advice on planning your stay, you can visit Volare's Italy Working holiday section.

General residency regulations

For the vast majority of participating nationalities, the program is designed as a unique experience with a defined duration:

• Australia, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, and New Zealand: The granted residence permit is valid for a maximum period of 12 months. According to Italian immigration legislation, this permit is legally non-extendable.

• Change of status: If a citizen of these countries wishes to stay in Italy for a period longer than one year, they cannot apply for an extension from within the country. They must return to their country of origin to process a new residence purpose (such as a subordinate work visa or study visa) before the corresponding consular representation.

  
  

Exception for Canadian citizens

The agreement signed between Italy and Canada presents a unique flexibility compared to the rest of the agreements:

• Second participation: The initial permit is granted for 12 months, but Canadian citizens have the exceptional possibility of applying for a second participation in the program.

• Total duration: This extension allows for the experience to be prolonged for an additional 12 months, reaching a maximum of 24 total months of legal stay in Italy under the Working Holiday modality.