How To Move to Italy (2024 Guide)
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Moving to Italy can be an exciting adventure that features delicious food and beautiful landscapes. United States citizens can encounter some challenges along the way, though. You’ll have to secure the proper visa, find a job, accrue enough savings to relocate, and hire experienced international movers. Read our guide below to learn how to move to Italy, how to figure out your budget, and how to adapt to new healthcare and schooling structures.
Understanding Italian Immigration Laws
Italy’s immigration laws vary depending on your country of origin and the purpose of your stay. European Union citizens can take advantage of a simplified immigration process, but U.S. citizens have more challenges.
Visa Requirements for U.S. Citizens
Americans can visit Italy for up to 90 days as tourists or for business purposes without a visa under the Schengen Borders Agreement. If you plan to stay in Italy for longer than three months, you’ll need to get an Italian long-stay visa.
Americans who plan to stay in Italy for more than three months must get an entrance visa at an Italian consulate. This can take several weeks, so apply well in advance of your departure date. Americans who are already in Italy without a visa must leave the country to obtain a visa before returning and applying for resident status.
Types of Italian Visas
There are 20 different types of long-stay Italian visas. Below are some of the most common visas Americans seek in Italy:
- Employment: You can obtain a work visa as a full-time or seasonal worker.
- Family reunification: Americans who wish to apply for family reunification must hold a resident permit for long-term residents or a residence permit for work, asylum, study, religion, or family purposes.
- Investor: This is a two-year visa for non-EU citizens who invest in Italy’s economy and society.
- Retirement: Americans with high incomes and substantial savings can retire in Italy with an elective residence visa.
- Self-employment: Self-employed workers who own a business or have an established company or partnership can apply for a self-employment visa.
- Student: Students who participate in study-abroad programs, enroll full-time at Italian universities, or attend courses on Italian language and culture can live in Italy with a student visa.
Visas are not guaranteed, even if you fall into one of these categories. Many visas have income requirements, and you must show that you have health insurance and a place to live.
Decreto Flussi
Work visas, such as seasonal and self-employment visas, are subject to strict quotas under a law called Decreto Flussi (flow decree). Italy offered a total of 151,000 work visas in 2024 to non-EU workers: 61,250 for year-round work, 700 for self-employment, and 89,050 for seasonal work. In 2025, the total number of work visas will increase to 165,000.
Competition for these visas is intense. To apply, you must have a pre-existing job offer from an employer that will submit an application on your behalf. Applications are available from March until the end of the year, or until Italy has issued all of its available visas.
Make sure all your documents are in order, and hire a professional to translate them into Italian. You will probably face long wait times and complicated eligibility requirements, so consider finding legal assistance.
Long-Term Residence Permits
If you plan to move to Italy permanently, you must obtain a visa before you leave the United States. Once you arrive in Italy with your visa, you have eight days to obtain a permesso di soggiorno (residence permit). Follow the steps below.
- Request a permesso di soggiorno application kit from a Poste Italiane (Italian National Post Office).
- Fill out the application and make copies of your passport, proof of health insurance, and documents that verify the purpose of your stay in Italy.
- Purchase a bollo (stamp) for the application.
- Take the forms, photocopies, and bollo back to the post office.
- Pay the application fee and keep all receipts.
- Pick up your permesso di soggiorno when it’s ready.
- Visit the local Register Office to apply for residency within 20 days of receiving the permit. It can take up to two months for you to receive your Certificato di Residenza (certificate of residence) after you apply.
Americans who request an Italian residence permit for more than one year must sign an integration agreement at the local prefecture or at the provincial police headquarters. This agreement lists specific integration goals, such as learning the Italian language and getting acquainted with Italian culture.
Preparing for Your Move to Italy
You must prepare properly before relocating to Italy. Consider the tips below as you prepare for your move.
Essential Documents to Gather
Collect and organize the following documents before you start packing:
- Academic qualifications and professional certifications
- Birth certificate
- Driver’s license and International Driving Permit
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Medical records and vaccination history
- Valid passport
Make sure you’ve had all of your documents translated into Italian, and that documents have apostilles if necessary for legal recognition in Italy.
Financial Considerations
Moving overseas is always expensive. You have to account for shipping your items, passing through customs, and relocating your family. The average move from the United States to Europe can cost between $3,500 from a small one-bedroom home and $17,000 for a large six-bedroom home, according to International Van Lines.
Make sure you account for the items below in your moving budget:
- Airfare for you and your family
- Buffer for unexpected expenses
- Customs duties
- Professional moving help
- Shipping costs
- Temporary housing upon arrival
Italian Cost of Living
The cost of living in Italy is 18.6% lower in Italy than in the United States, not including rent. It’s 30.5% lower when you account for rent. Rent, itself, is 54.2% lower in Italy, and groceries and restaurant prices cost about 20% less. Purchasing power for consumer goods, salaries, and tax are also lower. Gasoline is more than twice as expensive in Italy, so you should learn to use public transit whenever possible.
*Cost data in this article sourced from Numbeo.
Factors To Consider When Moving to Italy
You’ll need to open a bank account and learn about your new tax obligations as an expat before you move to Italy. The health care and schooling systems work differently too.
Housing Market
Houses in Italy are generally more affordable than houses in the United States and in other European countries. Italy has a range of properties in cities, towns, and rural areas that fit different types of budgets. Homes in major cities such as Rome, Milan, and Florence will likely cost more than those in the countryside. Find a reputable real estate agent that can teach you more about local laws, taxes, and regulations.
There are some remote villages in which you can buy a villa for €1. The One Euro House program aims to stimulate the economic development of rural municipalities as younger Italians move to urban areas. Most of the program’s homes need substantial work and structural improvements, but if you like a challenge and a fixer-upper, this might be worth considering.
Health Care System
Italy has a tax-funded universal health care system. Once you finalize your residency status and have an Italian identity card, you can access coverage through the Italian health care system.
To receive an Italian insurance card (tessera sanitaria), you must visit a health authority office and apply for the card with your residency permit, tax number, identity card, and proof of employment. You must also bring a family status certificate if you want to include family members.
Another option is private health insurance, which is more affordable than private health insurance in the United States.
School System
Public education is state-funded and free in Italy for citizens and noncitizens. The school system is split into five levels: kindergarten, primary, lower secondary, upper secondary, and university. Public schooling is in high demand, but you can also access private and international schools across the country. The main differences between these systems are below.
- International schools: Follow curricula from other countries, but are often expensive
- Private schools: Often international, with instruction in English or other languages
- Public schools: Free for all residents, but instruction is in Italian
Banking
Expats can open a bank account when they move to Italy regardless of their immigration status, but the process can be difficult if you don’t speak Italian. Some banks offer a range of products for nonresidents, while others may only offer basic accounts. Requirements can vary from bank to bank or from branch to branch. You’ll typically need the standard documents below.
- Codice Fiscale (Italian tax code)
- Proof of address
- Proof of employment or student status
- Valid ID or passport
Taxes
You’re required to pay taxes in Italy if you’ve been a resident for more than 183 days during the tax year and you qualify in one of the following categories:
- You are registered in the Records of the Italian Resident Population
- You have a domicile in Italy
- You have a residence in Italy
Italy has national tax, regional tax, municipal income tax, wealth tax, value-added tax, inheritance tax, property tax, and corporate tax. Nonresidents must pay between 23% and 43% of income they earn in Italy on taxes, and they may also be subject to property taxes. Once you’re a resident, you must pay income tax on all earnings inside and outside of Italy.
Driving
You will need an International Driving Permit before you move to Italy. You can apply for a permit in person at a AAA Travel office or by mail. You must fill out the application, provide two original passport pictures, present a valid U.S. driver’s license, and pay a $20 permit fee. This allows you to drive in Italy as a tourist, but once you register as a resident, you must apply for an Italian license within one year.
Italy also has ZTLs (zona a traffico limitato), which are limited traffic zones in historic downtown areas of cities and towns that require special permits. These function similarly to the E-ZPass system in the United States.
Adapting to the Italian Lifestyle
Adjust to Italian culture by embracing some of the traditions below.
- Afternoon siesta in some regions
- Appreciation for food, wine, and leisurely meals
- Importance of family and social connections
- Late dinners that start at 8 PM or later
- Slower pace of life, especially in smaller towns
Living in Italy Permanently
If you ultimately decide to make Italy your permanent home, you’ll need to think about what it takes to achieve permanent residency and citizenship status.
Permanent Residency
Foreigners can apply for permanent residency at the post office, the designated comune (municipal office), or other authorized offices after five continuous years of living in Italy. A long-term residence permit allows you to enter Italy, work, and enjoy the country’s social benefits without a visa. Your application must include the following:
- A copy of your income tax statement
- A copy of your valid passport
- An existing long-term residence permit
- Copies of pay stubs from the current year
- Criminal records and pending charges
- Electronic revenue stamp
- Evidence of appropriate accommodation
- Postal receipt for payment of the residence permit
- Proof of passing an Italian language test at the A2 level or higher
- Residence and family certification
Acquiring Italian Citizenship
You can become an Italian citizen through descent, by marrying an Italian citizen, or by naturalization. Non-EU residents can apply for Italian citizenship after living in Italy for 10 years, while EU citizens can apply for citizenship after living in Italy for four years. If you’re the child of an Italian citizen, you can qualify for citizenship after three years of residence. If you’re married to an Italian citizen, you must only live in Italy for two years.
FAQ About How To Move to Italy
Is it easy to move to Italy?
It can be a challenge for U.S. citizens to move to Italy. You’ll need to meet the requirements to get a residence visa, and some of these visas are subject to strict quotas.
How much money do I need to immigrate to Italy?
The cost of moving a one- or two-bedroom home to Europe is $3,500–$7,000, according to International Van Lines. This doesn’t include rent, which is about $810 per month for a one-bedroom apartment in a city center.
Can I move to Italy with my pets?
You can move to Italy with pets, but you must obtain a European Community veterinary certificate for each pet you bring. Pets must have a valid rabies vaccine, microchip, and cage or carrier. They must also be more than three months old.
What are the disadvantages of living in Italy?
The disadvantages of moving to Italy include lower purchasing power and a language barrier. This can make it more difficult to rent an apartment or set up a bank account.
What are some in-demand jobs in Italy?
Some in-demand jobs in Italy include business consultancy, IT, healthcare, and teaching.
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