Italy Guides
Italy guides for visas, residence, citizenship, tax, and relocation
Movingto's Italy guides explain how to move to Italy in 2026: the Elective Residency Visa (consulates ask for about €31,000 a year), the Digital Nomad Visa (€24,789.93 a year), the Investor Visa (from €250,000), the permesso di soggiorno, citizenship by descent, marriage and residence, the codice fiscale, and Italian tax, including the 7% regime for pensioners.
A permesso di soggiorno is the Italian residence permit a non-EU national applies for within 8 working days of arriving on a long-stay visa.
Movingto is an immigration firm that puts a named, Bar-registered lawyer from its in-house legal team on your case and publishes its fees.
Updated . See Italy services, Italy visas compared and published fees.
Visas & Routes
Visas & Routes
Elective Residency Visa Italy: Your Guide in 2026
Italy's Elective Residency Visa lets you retire or live in Italy on passive income: consulates ask for about €31,000 a year per applicant. Requirements, documents, process and tax.
Read guideFamily Reunion Visa Italy: Ultimate Guide 2026
Italy family reunion visa 2026: who qualifies, the €7,101.12 + €3,550.56 income rule, housing, the 2-year sponsor rule, the Nulla Osta and permit steps.
Read guideItaly Digital Nomad Visa: Eligibility & Process in 2026
Complete guide to Italy's Digital Nomad Visa. Income requirement of €24,789 a year, application process, costs, taxes, and path to residency.
Read guideItaly Golden Visa 2026: Investor Visa Requirements, Costs, Investment Routes & Process
The Italy Golden Visa (Investor Visa for Italy) in 2026 requires one investment: €250,000 in an innovative startup, €500,000 in an Italian company or qualifying venture-capital fund, a €1 million donation, or €2 million in government bonds. It starts as a two-year permit, renewable for three years, with no minimum stay for the first five years.
Read guideItaly Self-Employment Visa 2026: Eligibility and Process
Check whether you fit Italy's narrow 2026 self-employment categories, then follow the quota, Questura clearance, income, document, fee and residence-permit rules.
Read guideItaly Startup Visa: Your Complete Guide in 2026
Italy's Startup Visa: a one-year self-employment visa for non-EU founders of innovative start-ups with €50,000 in funding. Eligibility, process and Italia Startup Hub.
Read guideItaly Student Visa: Requirements, Application Process, and Costs
Italy student visa 2026: Universitaly pre-enrolment, €10,179.85 a year in means for 2026/27, health insurance, the €50 consular fee and how to apply.
Read guideItaly Visa Types 2026: Complete Guide to Italian Visas
Italy visa types explained: the €90 Schengen visa and €116 long-stay visas for work, study, family, investor, digital nomad and elective residence, with requirements, costs and how to apply.
Read guideItaly's investor visa starts at EUR 250,000. Buying a home does not qualify
Italy's investor visa starts at €250,000, but a house, apartment or villa does not qualify. The routes are limited to start-ups, Italian companies or venture-capital funds, philanthropy and government bonds.
Read guideResidency
Residency
Citizenship
Citizenship
How to Get Italian Citizenship: Pathways, Rules & 2026 Changes
How to get Italian citizenship in 2026: descent (new parent or grandparent test, €600), marriage (2-3 years) or residence (10 years for non-EU). Rules and fees.
Read guideItalian Citizenship by Descent: The Ultimate Guide
Italian citizenship by descent in 2026: born abroad with another citizenship? You need a parent or grandparent who holds only Italian citizenship. Rules, fees, deadlines.
Read guideItalian Citizenship by Marriage: Your Ultimate Guide
Italian citizenship by marriage: 2 years' residence in Italy or 3 years abroad (halved with children), B1 Italian, €250 fee and a 24-36 month decision limit.
Read guideMoney & Setup
Money & Setup
Codice Fiscale Italy: Tax Code Steps for Foreigners and Property Buyers
How foreigners, non-residents, and property buyers get an Italian Codice Fiscale. Covers consulates, the Revenue Agency, immigration channels, representatives, duplicates, and corrections.
Read guideHow to Open a Bank Account in Italy
How to open an Italian bank account in 2026: Codice Fiscale, basic-account rights, documents, Italian IBAN reality, bank choice, fees, property transfers, and deposit protection.
Read guideStarting a Business in Italy: Essential Steps for 2026
Start a business in Italy: SRL from €1 capital, SRLS and SpA rules, Registro Imprese and ComUnica, IRES 24%, the forfettario regime, visas for founders and incentives.
Read guideLiving & Lifestyle
Living & Lifestyle
Buying Property in Italy: Complete Guide for Foreigners
Buying property in Italy as a foreigner in 2026: who can buy, 2% or 9% registration tax vs 4-22% VAT, compromesso, notary, prima casa, IMU, mortgages and €1 houses.
Read guideCost of Living in Italy 2026: Complete Monthly Breakdown
How much does it cost to live in Italy in 2026? About €890 a month before rent for a single person; central one-bedroom rents about €660-€1,530; groceries €250-350/mo. Budget by city.
Read guideInternational Schools in Italy: Guide for Parents in 2026
Find the best international schools in Italy. IB, British, American curricula across Rome, Milan, Florence. Fees, admissions, and how to choose.
Read guideIs Italy Safe for Tourists? Travel Advice and Tips in 2026
Is Italy safe? Yes: 35th of 163 on the Global Peace Index 2026 and US Level 2 (terrorism). Crime data by city, common scams, health, local laws and entry rules.
Read guideIs Milan Safe for Tourists? Essential Tips for Your Trip
Is Milan safe? Yes for most visitors: violent crime is rare, but Milan province tops Italy's crime index (7,017.5 reports per 100,000 in 2025), mostly theft. Areas, scams, night safety and tips.
Read guideIs Rome Safe in 2026? Crime Data, Scams, and Safety Tips
Rome safety guide covering where to stay, pickpocket hotspots, tourist scams, and practical safety tips for Italy's capital city.
Read guideIs Sardinia Safe? Official-Source Safety Guide for 2026
Sardinia is generally safe for travelers who use normal Italy precautions. Official sources point to petty theft, beaches, roads, wildfires, emergency numbers, and local rules.
Read guideItaly Healthcare System for Foreigners and Expats
Access Italy's healthcare system as an expat. SSN enrollment, costs, private insurance options, and how to find English-speaking doctors.
Read guideLiving in Florence: The Complete Expat Guide for 2026
Living in Florence in 2026: rents (new leases averaged about €1,140 a month in 2025), neighbourhoods, budgets of €1,500-4,800 a month, transport, healthcare, safety and visas for expats.
Read guideLiving in Italy in 2026: Costs, Visas, Healthcare and Taxes
Plan a move to Italy with current cost benchmarks, residence routes, healthcare rules, tax-residence tests and a practical pre-move checklist.
Read guideLiving in Milan: Essential Tips for New Arrivals in 2026
Living in Milan in 2026: official costs (Milan rents averaged €206 per m² a year on new leases in 2025, per OMI; ISTAT household spending), neighbourhoods, jobs, the impatriati tax break, healthcare, visas and transport.
Read guideLiving in Rome vs Milan: Which Italian City Fits You Best?
Rome or Milan? Rome's rents on new leases averaged €162 per m² a year in 2025 vs €206 in Milan (OMI). Compare costs, jobs, transport, safety, schools and weather.
Read guideLiving in Rome: Essential Insights for Expats in 2026
Living in Rome in 2026: rents (new leases averaged about €1,080 a month in 2025), neighbourhoods, ATAC transport, safety, healthcare and visas for expats in the Eternal City.
Read guideLiving in Sardinia: Bliss and Challenges in 2026
Living in Sardinia as an expat. Cost of living, best towns, beaches, healthcare, and the reality of island life in Italy's most beautiful region.
Read guideLiving in Sicily: The Ultimate Guide to Life and Costs
Living in Sicily in 2026: low costs (rents about €400 a month on new leases), best towns, the 7% pensioner tax, safety, climate and what expats love (and don't) about Italy's largest island.
Read guideLiving in Turin: Essential Tips for New Expats in 2026
Living in Turin in 2026: rents on new leases averaged €113 per m² a year in 2025, about 45% below Milan (OMI). Costs, neighbourhoods, GTT transport, jobs, safety and visas for expats.
Read guideLiving in Tuscany: Tips for a Fulfilling Expat Life in 2026
Living the Tuscan dream. Best towns, cost of living, buying property, wine country lifestyle, and practical tips for expats in Tuscany.
Read guideMove to Italy from UK: Essential Relocation Guide in 2026
Moving to Italy from the UK after Brexit: the 90/180-day rule, which visa you need, the €31,000 elective residence test, residence permits, S1 healthcare and licence exchange.
Read guideMove to Italy from USA: Costs, Visas, and Tips in 2026
Moving to Italy from the USA: which visa you need, the €116 visa fee, €31,000 elective residence and €24,789 digital nomad tests, US tax filing (FBAR, FATCA) and settling in.
Read guideRetire in Italy: Top Tips for a Smooth Transition in 2026
Retire to Italy affordably. Elective residency visa, 7% flat tax for retirees, cost of living, best retirement destinations, and healthcare options.
Read guideTax & Working
Tax & Working
Key figures
Italy residence and tax figures for 2026
| Topic | 2026 figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Nomad Visa income | €24,789.93 a year (3 times €8,263.31) | Ministerial decree of 29 February 2024 |
| Elective Residency Visa income | About €31,000 a year per applicant (consular checklists) | Italian embassy in Washington checklist |
| Investor Visa minimum | €250,000 in an innovative start-up | D.Lgs. 286/1998 art. 26-bis |
| 7% pensioner flat tax | 7% on foreign income for the move year and the next 9 | TUIR art. 24-ter |
| Residence permit deadline | Apply within 8 working days of arrival | D.Lgs. 286/1998 art. 5(2) |
Official figures checked 18 October 2026 at Normattiva and the Italian embassy in Washington.
Common questions
Italy guides: common questions
How long can I stay in Italy without a visa?
Visitors from visa-exempt countries such as the US can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area. Longer stays need a long-stay (type D) visa and then a permesso di soggiorno, applied for within 8 working days of arrival (D.Lgs. 286/1998 art. 5(2), checked 18 October 2026).
Does buying a house in Italy give residency?
No. Owning property in Italy does not give a residence permit by itself, and property does not qualify for the Investor Visa under article 26-bis. You still need a visa route such as the Elective Residency Visa, where a home in Italy is usually part of the application.
What is the 7% tax in Italy?
It is a flat 7% tax on all foreign income for people who receive a foreign pension and move to a town of up to 30,000 people in an eligible southern region, if they were not Italian tax resident in the previous 5 years. It lasts for the year of the move and the next 9 (TUIR art. 24-ter, checked 18 October 2026).