In short
US citizens can visit Italy visa-free for 90 days in any 180 (Schengen), but must get a long-stay visa from the Italian consulate for their US state before moving — you cannot switch in Italy. Remote workers use the digital nomad visa (at least €24,789 a year, a degree or 5 years' experience). Retirees and people with passive income use the elective residence visa (about €31,000 a year per adult; no work). Investors can put €250,000 into an innovative startup or more elsewhere — there is no property route. Since March 2025, citizenship by descent is limited to people whose parent or grandparent held only Italian citizenship. Naturalisation takes 10 years and B1 Italian. Income tax runs from 23% to 43%. A single person in Rome spends about €1,650–1,950 a month including rent.
Moving to Italy: key facts
Last verified 28 September 2026| Visa-free stay | 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area; the Entry/Exit System registers entries since April 2026; ETIAS (€20) not yet running# Source: Polizia di Stato: entry and short stays · French Foreign Ministry: the EU Entry/Exit System live from 10 April 2026 · European Commission: ETIAS |
|---|---|
| Where to apply | Long-stay (D) visas come from the Italian consulate for your US state of residence; a tourist stay cannot be turned into a residence permit in Italy# Source: Consulate General of Italy in New York: digital nomad / remote worker visa · Italian Foreign Ministry: rights and duties of D-visa holders (Jun 2026) |
| Digital nomad / remote worker visa | At least €24,789 a year; a degree, licensed profession or 5 years' experience (3 for IT); 6 months of remote work; insurance of at least €30,000; 1 year, renewable# Source: Consulate General of Italy in New York: digital nomad / remote worker visa · Embassy of Italy in Washington: digital nomad / remote worker visa |
| Elective residence visa | About €31,000 a year of passive income per adult (US consulates ask about €62,000 for a couple); registered lease or deed; no work of any kind, including remote work# Source: Consulate General of Italy in Houston: elective residence visa checklist (Dec 2025) · Embassy of Italy in Washington: elective residence visa |
| Investor visa | €250,000 in an innovative startup, €500,000 in an Italian company, €1 million donation or €2 million in Italian government bonds; no property route# Source: Embassy of Italy in Pretoria: Investor Visa for Italy |
| Citizenship by descent | Since 28 March 2025: only if a parent or grandparent held only Italian citizenship, or an Italian parent lived in Italy for 2 years before your birth; earlier filings keep the old rules. Upheld by the Constitutional Court (ruling 63/2026); fee €600 per adult# Source: Constitutional Court: ruling 63/2026 on citizenship by descent · Consulate General of Italy in Chicago: citizenship fee (€600 from 2025) |
| Permanent residence | EU long-term permit after 5 years: no more than 6 months away in a row or 10 months in total, A2 Italian and enough income# Source: Assolombarda: EU long-term residence permit |
| Citizenship by residence | 10 years of legal residence, B1 Italian and enough income; €250 fee; dual citizenship allowed# Source: InfoImmigrazione: citizenship by residence (Jul 2026) · Chamber of Deputies: Italian citizenship law — current rules |
| Income tax (IRPEF) | 23% up to €28,000, 33% to €50,000, 43% above (2026), plus regional and municipal surcharges# Source: ECNews: 2026 Budget Law — new IRPEF rates |
| Healthcare | Workers are enrolled in the national health service (SSN) for free; retirees and others not working in Italy pay at least €2,000 a year to join voluntarily (since 2024)# Source: Arletti Partners: voluntary national health service enrolment (€2,000 minimum) |
| US tax treaty | Signed 1999, in effect since 2010; US citizens still file US returns# Source: Accounting Today: the US–Italy tax treaty enters into force |
Not American?
Canadians, Australians, Brits and other non-EU citizens: the same rules apply
Italian residence rules are the same for all non-EU citizens, so Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and Brits follow the same routes as Americans. Only a few points differ:
- Canada
- Australia
- New Zealand
- United Kingdom
- Japan
- South Korea
- + other visa-free countries
| Where you apply | You apply at the Italian consulate responsible for where you live. Each consulate publishes its own checklist, and figures (such as the elective residence income) can differ slightly. |
|---|---|
| Italian ancestry | The 2025 limits on citizenship by descent apply to everyone born abroad, not only Americans. Applications filed by 27 March 2025 follow the old rules. |
| Home-country tax | US citizens remain taxable in the US on worldwide income; most other nationals who move are taxed only where they live. |
| Documents from abroad | Need an apostille; the US, Canada (since 11 Jan 2024), the UK, Australia and NZ issue them.Source: HCCH: Apostille Convention status table |
Country Overview
Italy at a Glance
Key facts Americans need before deciding.
Rome
2.75 million people; 4.22 million in the metropolitan city. See our Living in Rome guide.
Italian
English is common in business and tourism, much less so in offices and smaller towns. A2 Italian is needed for permanent residence and B1 for citizenship.
Euro (€)
A founding euro member (1999) and a founding member of the EU.
8–9 hours
Nonstops from many US cities to Rome and Milan, some seasonal to Venice and Naples — none to Florence.
SSN + private
Workers join the national health service free; retirees and others pay at least €2,000 a year to join.
58.9 million
ISTAT, 1 January 2026 — the EU's third-largest country by population and economy.
23% – 43%
Three brackets; the middle rate was cut to 33% in 2026. Regions and towns add surcharges.
Level 2
US advisory "exercise increased caution" (terrorism); pickpocketing is the everyday risk in tourist areas.
Pathways to Residency
Which Visa Route is Right for You?
US citizens can visit Italy visa-free for 90 days in any 180 across the Schengen area. To live in Italy you first get a long-stay visa from the Italian consulate for your US state, then apply for a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) within 8 working days of arriving.
Digital Nomad / Remote Worker Visa
For highly qualified people working remotely for a foreign employer or clients. You need at least €24,789 a year, a degree, a licensed profession or 5 years' experience (3 for IT), 6 months of remote work and health insurance of at least €30,000. Employees must be paid at least the Italian collective-agreement level.
- Min. income
- €24,789/year
- Permit
- 1 year, renewable
- Family
- Can join
Elective Residence Visa
For people living on pensions, investments or rental income — about €31,000 a year per adult (US consulates ask about €62,000 for a couple), plus a registered lease or deed for a home in Italy. No work of any kind, including remote work.
- Income
- ≈ €31,000/adult
- Work
- Not allowed
Investor Visa
€250,000 in an innovative startup, €500,000 in an Italian company, a €1 million donation or €2 million in Italian government bonds. A 2-year permit, renewable for 3, with no minimum stay — and no property route.
- Min. investment
- €250,000
- Permit
- 2 + 3 years
Work Permit (Decreto Flussi) & Blue Card
Most jobs need an employer-requested nulla osta within yearly quotas — 164,850 places for 2026. The EU Blue Card (about €36,300 a year) is outside the quotas.
- Job offer
- Required
- Blue Card
- ≈ €36,300/year
Italia Startup Visa
For founders of a new innovative startup with €50,000 of funds. A government committee issues the clearance (nulla osta) in about 30 days, free of charge.
- Funds
- €50,000
Company Formation (SRL)
Owning an Italian company does not give you residence. The self-employment visa has only 650 places a year in the 2026 quotas.
- Notary + fees
- ≈ €2,700–4,600
Student Visa
For degree and other long courses. Students can work up to 20 hours a week (1,040 hours a year), and graduates can get a permit to look for work.
- Work
- 20 h/week
Permanent Residence & Citizenship
The EU long-term permit after 5 years with A2 Italian. Citizenship after 10 years with B1 Italian; dual citizenship allowed. Citizenship by descent now needs a parent or grandparent who held only Italian citizenship.
- Long-term permit
- 5 years
- Citizenship
- 10 years
Cost of Living
What Does Life in Italy Actually Cost?
Italy is cheaper than most Western European countries, with big differences between Milan, Rome and the South.
| Item | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment, Rome centre | about €1,085 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, Milan centre | about €1,520 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, Florence or Bologna centre | about €1,015–1,350 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, Naples centre | about €880 |
| Everyday costs without rent (single person, Rome) | about €845 |
| Utilities (85 m² apartment) + internet, Rome | about €215 |
| Rome monthly transport pass | €35 |
Estimates from Numbeo (September 2026); fares from ATAC. Source: Numbeo: Rome · Milan · Florence · Bologna · Naples · ATAC fares
A single person in Rome spends about €1,650–1,950 a month including rent; in Milan about €2,100–2,600. Smaller southern towns cost much less.
Why Italy
What Americans Love About Italy
Beyond the visa — the real reasons expats choose Italy.
A Way of Life
Food, art, architecture and landscapes — Italy has more UNESCO World Heritage sites than any other country.
Routes for Remote Workers and Retirees
The digital nomad visa (since 2024) and the elective residence visa cover the two most common American profiles.
Citizenship by Descent — for Closer Ancestry
An Italian parent or grandparent can still make you a citizen, but the 2025 law ended unlimited-generation claims.
Tax Regimes for Newcomers
A 7% flat tax for foreign pensioners moving to small southern towns, a 50% income exemption for qualified workers, and a flat tax for wealthy new residents.
Lower Costs Than Most of Western Europe
A single person in Rome spends about €1,650–1,950 a month including rent — well below Paris, Amsterdam or Dublin.
EU & Schengen Access
Your Italian permit lets you travel visa-free in the 29 Schengen countries for 90 days in any 180.
Where to Live
Life in Italy's Cities
From the capital to the business north and the affordable south.
Rome
History on every corner, international organisations such as the FAO, and a large expat community. See our Living in Rome guide.
Milan
Italy's business and fashion capital — the most jobs and the highest rents.
Florence & Tuscany
Renaissance art and countryside; the historic centre is busy and rents are high, but towns like Lucca and Siena are calmer.
Bologna & Emilia-Romagna
A university city famous for food, with good train links and rents below Florence and Milan.
The South — Puglia, Sicily and more
Lower costs, warm climate and coastlines. Foreign pensioners moving to towns of up to 30,000 people can use the 7% flat tax.
How It Works
From Decision to Your Italian Residence Permit
We guide you through every step — from first consultation to settled life in Italy.
Free consultation
We assess your situation and confirm the right route — digital nomad, elective residence, investor, work or startup visa, or citizenship by descent.
Prepare your documents
Income proof, a registered lease or deed, health insurance, and apostilled and translated US documents. Allow 4–6 months.
Apply at your consulate
Book an appointment at the Italian consulate for your US state. Investor, startup and work visas need a nulla osta first.
Arrive and file your permit
Within 8 working days, file for your permesso di soggiorno — usually with the post-office kit — and get your codice fiscale.
Register residence and healthcare
Register at the town hall (anagrafe) and enrol in the national health service, free for workers or from €2,000 a year for others.
Free Tools
Plan Your Move with Our Calculators
Built specifically for Americans considering a European move.
Golden Visa Calculator
Compare investor residence programmes across the EU — real costs and requirements, not brochure figures.
Open Calculator →Cost of Living Calculator
Enter your current US city — see your monthly budget in Rome and 30 other European cities.
Open Calculator →Visa Finder
Answer 7 questions about your situation. Get a personalised ranking of EU visa programmes matched to your profile.
Find My Visa →FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does Italy have a digital nomad visa?
Yes, since April 2024. You need at least €24,789 a year, a degree, licensed profession or 5 years' experience (3 for IT), 6 months of remote work and health insurance of at least €30,000. The permit lasts 1 year and can be renewed.
What is Italy's elective residence visa?
A visa for people living on passive income such as pensions or investments — about €31,000 a year per adult at US consulates, with a registered home in Italy. It does not allow any work, including remote work.
Can Americans still get Italian citizenship by descent?
Only with closer ancestry. Since 28 March 2025, people born abroad with another citizenship qualify only if a parent or grandparent held only Italian citizenship, or an Italian parent lived in Italy for 2 years before their birth. The Constitutional Court upheld the law in 2026. Applications filed by 27 March 2025 follow the old rules.
How much does it cost to live in Italy?
In Rome, about €1,650–1,950 a month for a single person including rent; Milan about €2,100–2,600; Naples and the South less (Numbeo, September 2026).
What is the Decreto Flussi?
Italy's quota system for work visas. For 2026 it allows 164,850 entries, within a plan that covers 2026–2028. Employers apply on set "click days"; the EU Blue Card is outside the quotas.
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