How to Live Legally in Italy

Unfortunately, moving abroad doesn`t come cheap! Given the cost of living in Italy, make sure you have more than the minimum amount so you can account for unforeseen circumstances. This is especially important for visa holders, as you will need to prove that you have sufficient financial resources to live in Italy. Regardless of the nationality of the citizen applying for a residence permit, he must register with the National Police through the local offices of the city where the applicant resides. Nulla Osta is an unfettered certificate, proving that you can legally work or get married in Italy. It must be requested by you or your employer at an Italian immigration office before applying for the visa. Choosing the Italian city you want to live in is both exciting and stressful. There are many factors to consider, such as the cost of living in the city, job opportunities, number of internationals, culture, weather, LGBTQ friendliness, etc. Every city is unique and it`s worth spending time getting it right. After entering Italy, you must apply for an Italian residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) within eight days at a local post office and then at the Questura (police headquarters). The residence permit allows you to live legally in Italy for more than three months. You cannot apply for Italian residency with a short-stay Italian visa. Foreign citizens can legally obtain Italian passports in Italy after 10 years. However, this period can be shortened for several reasons.

For example, Italian citizenship can be acquired by descent in 3 years. Refugees and stateless people can obtain citizenship in 5 years, while EU citizens can obtain Italian citizenship in 4 years. Besides, it is easy to live well in Italy, very well, for very little. Some of the best espressos, pastries, pasta, cheeses, cold cuts, olive oil and wine in the world are available at a very low price. Holidays in the mountains or by the sea are affordable. In addition, every community, large and small, is filled with beautiful works of public art and architecture. To immigrate to Italy, you must first find out whether you fall into the EU or non-EU immigrant category. For EU citizens, the procedure is easier as they only need to register with the police station in the city where they will be living within 8 days of entering the country. You will receive a residence permit, also known as permesso di soggiorno. As for the required documents, they must also present their ID or passport.

Firpo says it`s relatively easy to find an apartment in the countryside, depending on where you live. The journalist has lived in Rome for almost 20 years and says, just like if you`re looking for a home in another American city of this size here, you need to do your research and work with a reputable service to find the right place to live. Better yet, contact anyone to learn more about the agencies and services they use. Firpo strongly advises having a legal and proper contract, no matter how long you will live there. As anyone planning a trip to Italy can attest, there are plenty of press articles about small, underpopulated Italian towns selling homes for as little as 1 euro. As tempting as it may be, Italian homeowners should note that such offers come with strict conditions. They include a commitment to live in the village and pay property taxes for a certain period of time. Municipalities require new homeowners to make minimal investments to improve property values. As a result, at 1 euro, it is fair to call these properties extremely “fix-upper” investments! And maybe it`s these things that make many foreigners move to Italy one day. Of course, Italy`s mild climate, relatively low cost of living (depending on your lifestyle and where you live, of course) and good health care also help. When it comes to the cost of living in Italy, there is good news and bad news. On the positive side, the annual expenses of a single person (excluding rent) could be less than $10,000 if they are frugal.

There is affordable housing in all major cities, including Rome. It is easy to live in Italy without a car and public transport is inexpensive.