Is moving to Italy a real possibility—or just a dream you had while on holiday?
It’s easy to romanticise life. A trip somewhere special, or even a beautiful movie set in a dreamy location, can leave you thinking: What if I actually lived there? I get it—it happens to me too.
But once you’re back home, reality usually kicks in. Was it truly a calling, or just a fleeting daydream?
In this post, I want to have a friendly, honest chat to help you reflect on whether moving to Italy is right for you. Don’t worry—I’ll also share some practical information along the way. Think of it as the kind of conversation you’d have with a close friend if you went asking for advice.
Let’s chat about it.
Table of Contents
What Made You Think Of Moving To Italy?
Q1. Was it your last trip to Tuscany that planted the seed, or have you had this dream for a long time? Tell me about it.
While I won’t be there to listen, answering the questions that I will ask you, will help you reflect about it, and understand where this is coming from. I suggest you pick a notebook and pen, and use my questions as journaling prompts.
All my life I have been wanting to move countries, and I have done a few moves. For a long time, I thought it stemmed from a place of unhappiness, and wanting something different than what I had – a different lifestyle, a different environment, more freedom, etc. Now, I understand that’s just my nature seeking change and new experiences. For me, it started happening when I was still a child, so it wasn’t about my job or my home, but about comparing two lifestyles in two different countries. What about you?
Q2. Is your work situation that’s making you dream of leaving your country and moving to Italy?
If so, have you considered switching jobs, or maybe going self-employed?
I don’t want to come across as the Italian that’s telling you not to come to Italy. There’s plenty of room for you too :). But this is an important and difficult life decision, and I want you to be happy (more happy people equal a better world!), so if these questions can help you reflect and feel more clearer about the next step, I want to help.
Q3. Are you escaping a relationship, perhaps needing a fresh start after a divorce or a bad breakup?
What about moving states, if you are in the US, or city if you live in a smaller country?
Have you also considered taking a 3 month working holiday abroad, to get away from it all, and then come back with a fresh mind? It might not be easy but it is less drastic.
Q4. Do you want a different lifestyle for you and your family, perhaps a smaller and safer environment, better weather, tastier food, and a more authentic life?
Italy does offer a lot of that, but it’s not all roses and sunshine, and coming with kids will not be easy. But it’s definitely not impossible. Many have done it, and others are doing it right now, so you can too!
Q5. Why Italy though, and not France or Germany? Have you thought about moving to other countries?
Q6. Finally, are you growing older and wiser, and want to make a change? Perhaps, you are about to retire and want to sell everything you own, and move to a sunny place. Do you need to move there though? Can’t you travel for longer periods, see different countries, and then go back home in between?
I have tried to address different situations, ages, and ask you appropriate questions for you to answer. If this article proves helpful, I can do more in-depth ones for moving to Italy in different situations (like moving to Italy with kids, retiring to Italy, buying a home in Italy, and all the things to consider and think about). You can show the love by giving this a heart, sharing it with a few friends, and pinning it on your Pinterest board. Thank you!
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Are You Allowed To Move To Italy (Legally)?
Let me just say that I am not a legal advisor, so this is not legal advice. I am just helping you ask the right questions and point you in the direction where to find the answers.
I am pretty sure that if you want to move to Italy, there’s a way to do so, so don’t lose hope.
Let’s see what the Italian government says about this. I am quoting from the website of the Ministero dell’Interno.
To enter Italy legally, a passport or other travel document and an entry visa are required (for visits and/or tourism, work, study and/or research, family reasons, etc.). The visa must be requested at the Italian embassy or consulate in the foreign national’s country of origin or permanent residence (for non-EU citizens).
Who needs a Visa and when?
Most people won’t require a Visa for staying in Italy for less than 90 days. That’s referred to as a short stay visa, and holds for EU citizens and also other countries like the US. You can see all the countries and their requirements here.
Depending on the region you are visiting, you might require to register your presence with the police, but if you are staying at a hotel, or an airbnb type of accommodation, that’s usually handled for you by the host. That’s why they ask for your document before or when you get there.
For non EU citizens, like Americans for example, the passport stamp is usually enough, but in other situations you might require to register yourself within 8 days from your arrival. That’s often the case if you are entering from another Schengen country. If you are American (many of my readers are), I suggest you read this.
In either case, make sure you always have a document with you, because the Italian police perform daily checks in different cities, across many public places.
What about longer stays?
For EU citizens wanting to stay in Italy for longer than 90 days, a registration of their presence with the Anagrafe is required. You can find more info here. The Anagrafe is the registry office where they keep a record of the residents in Italy – both locals and foreigners.
According to the US Embassy in Italy, these are the requirements for longer residence stays in Italy, including moving permanently.
- Apply for a Visa at the Italian Consulate in your country. Be aware that this must be done months in advance, and you can’t do it while you are in Italy; you must be in your country of birth or residence.
- Once you get that Visa, you can book your ticket to Italy. As soon as you arrive there, you’ll need to request the permesso the soggiorno (residence permit) either at the closest police station where you are residing in Italy, or at a local post with a so-called Sportello Amico. I believe you have to do it within 8 days from your arrival, but if I were you I would confirm where and how fast you need to do it when you are applying for your Visa. You can learn more about it here.
- Once you receive your residence permit, you will need to go and register your presence at the Anagrafe.
- If your permit is for a period longer than a year, you will need to sign an agreement of integration, which requires you to start learning the Italian language and culture, among other things.
If you are neither a European citizen nor from the United States, check with your local Italian Embassy. I am linking a few resources below.
- For Australian citizens – read here
- For Canadians citizens – read here
- For UK citizens – read here
- For Japanese citizens – read here
- For Chinese citizens – read here
How To Go About Moving To Italy?
Now that you’ve had time to reflect on the reasons for moving to Italy, and perhaps you’ve even considered other less drastic options to improve your current situation – if that’s the case, what do you do next?
If you are still set on moving to Italy, or at least want to continue the journey of trying to do it while you learn and consider all the options, I suggest you go through your legal requirements above, and read the specific information related to your country of residence at the moment.
When you are ready to take this more seriously, book an appointment with your local Italian embassy, and ask all the necessary questions there.
If you haven’t done so already, it’s time to consider your financial situation. Are you going to find a job in Italy? Will you move your business to Italy? Or are you financially stable to move to Italy without working?
For those looking into obtaining a self-employed visa, read this.
If you want to retire in Italy or live there permanently without working, look into the Elective Visa or Italian Retirement Visa. You can find more information here.
And if you are looking for a job, I think that’s the most difficult scenario. Unless your current job can move you to Italy, it’s not going to be easy, especially finding a job that’s in your preferred region and cities. You may want to read the advice of someone who has gone through that experience. Do it here.
My tip is to start looking well in advance while you are in your country. If you find an opportunity through a local company that requires an employee in Italy, the whole moving process might get easier because they might help you along the way. Start with your connections, and use popular platforms like Linkedin, Indeed and Glassdoor. I have also heard about Jooble being a good place to look.
Where To Move To In Italy?
Finally, we can talk about the most important aspect of moving to Italy, in my opinion, and also my favorite – where in Italy do you want to move to?
Do you already know it, or are you still looking?
And if you are set on a location, is it because that’s the only place you visited, or the only place you liked among the places you visited in Italy?
Have you considered exploring other regions before moving, especially if you are planning on buying a house straight away?
This is a very subjective decision. It depends on what you like and don’t, on your priorities, on the lifestyle you want, how patient you are, and your personality too.
Here’s how I would sum it all up, and we can then do a deeper dive into this topic in a separate post, if I understand enough people are interested.
Northern Italy – Best if you love the mountains, although there are plenty of places located near the sea, if you love things to move a little faster, if you appreciate German and Austrian cultures among others, and if you also want to be closer to the rest of Europe. It can get more expensive than central and southern Italy, but it all depends on the region and the city or town you pick. It’s also probably the best area for finding a job.
Central Italy – Best if you want to immerse yourself in Italian culture, history, and art because you can be close to cities like Rome, Florence and Bologna (although the latter is technically in Northern Italy). It’s also great if you want to explore Italy, both North and South, because you will be in the middle. Cost and jobs availability will again depend on the region, the cities, and also a bit of luck. Cheaper options are Umbria and Marche, however, do keep in mind that Umbria is one of the Italian regions with the highest seismic risk.
Southern Italy – More authentic, cheaper, a lot to explore that hasn’t been shared online yet, but it comes with many negatives – including a slower lifestyle, which might sound attractive but it’s not for everyone, added bureaucracy, and sometimes less safety. Campania is the Italian region with the most crime, although big cities like Milan and Turin are often said to come with their own problems too.
As for Sicily, I can tell you that while it might look calm and slow, robbery is something you learn to be careful about when you are a little kid. It’s not just your bag or your wallet you need to be careful about, but also your house, and your car. I have also heard that the situation is very similar in Puglia and Calabria, but I would suggest talking to the locals and ask their thoughts and opinions on this.
Of course, don’t let any of this information stop you, if you are set on a specific region and city. There’s always a way to go around it.
Should You Rent Or Buy A House In Italy?
Well, that depends on your finances and on how long you plan to stay in Italy for. If you are attracted by those 1 euro homes schemes, I’d say stay away. In my opinion, if something it’s too good to be true, it’s usually not! But that comes from someone who wouldn’t consider a renovation project even in a fairly good state.
If you too are thinking what’s the catch with these free houses in Italy, it’s usually because they are inhabitable and they need to be fully restored, which you need to finance within a strict time period. On top of that, there will be the usual costs of buying a house, although you might get some support from the local authorities.
It’s the Italian government’s way to get rid of free houses that Italians don’t want to buy because they are located in remote towns that don’t have much to them. Of course, there might be exceptions, and you might actually find a gem. After all, someone’s trash is often someone else’s treasure.
If you are interested in this topic, I suggest you read this Independent article.
As to whether you should rent or buy, I always suggest renting first. That gives you the ability to move around. And while your residence permit will require you to have a fixed address, you can also take that time to explore other regions on the weekend, before making your decision to buy a property in a specific region.
I would however, suggest you set your heart between the three parts of Italy, or at least between the South and the rest of Italy. That’s because moving from the centre to the North, and vice versa, is much easier than travelling to and from the South. The transport is less efficient there, so it will be difficult for you to explore Northern Italy if you are staying in Sicily.
Having said that, it’s good to know what you are looking for, in terms of your ideal accommodation. Do you want to live in an apartment in a big city or a town, or do you want a villa with land in the middle of nowhere?
This might be difficult to pinpoint if you are used to living in big mansions in the United States. That’s why you may consider renting the opposite of what you are used to, or the option that sounds most appealing to you, so you can try before you literally buy.
I suggest these two platforms for looking for houses in Italy – Immobiliare.it and Idealista.it.
Final Tips & Resources
I am going to live you with one more tip, which you can take or leave, but that’s what I would suggest a friend if he came asking for advice about moving to Italy.
Make yourself a favor and book yourself a longer holiday in your favorite region, or a region you would consider moving to. Try to rent a house that’s similar in style to the accommodation you would want to live in, and choose a big city or a small town, depending on what you would prefer if you were there permanently. If you are not sure, split your stay and try both options.
When you are there, don’t be a tourist. Live your life in Italy as you would in your own country, at least in terms of your work routine and daily habits. But do immerse yourself in the local culture and community.
That will allow you to understand if Italy is truly for you. Having said that, two months might not be enough. You might need to wait another 180 days and do it again in a different region, and accommodation type.
Of course, this is much easier if you are self-employed, work remotely, or retired. But I am sure you can find a way to do it with a fixed job too. Perhaps, you can accumulate your leave and ask to take them all at once with some unpaid too. Or you can ask for a short remote working period.
Finally, I urge you to explore more of Italy as a tourist before you choose the region and city. You will be surprised by how different two nearby regions can look and feel. And you will never know which is best until you visit them both. You can start by visiting those that attract you when you read about them and watch a few videos. When you are there, focus on the elements that you like and don’t like, make a list, and also pay attention to how different places make you feel. Is it that the feeling you are looking after long term?
I hope this article helps you clear your mind and move forward on your journey. I invite you to check out my Italy travel guides to find out about new regions and cities you might have not considered visiting.
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A presto,
Alessia
