07 Residenza Elettiva 1920x640px

Moving to Italy with an Elective Residence visa

The elective residence visa and permit: what it is, who can get it, and how

Conditions and requirements to apply for an Elective Residence visa

Italy offers the possibility for those who are economically able to support themselves without carrying out any work activity to move to Italy and take up residence there to enjoy their resources in the "Bel Paese." The residence permit for elective residence can be issued for 1 or 2 years and is renewable if the conditions for its issuance are maintained.

Who can apply for it?

Eligible to apply for a visa and permit for elective residence are those who can demonstrate:

i.   a passive income (i.e., not derived from employment) not less than, at least, approximately Euros 32,000.00/year, stable over time and consistent

ii.  to have the availability of housing in Italy (mainly owned or rented)

iii. to have no intention (and not to do so during the stay) of undertaking a work activity in Italy

iv. hold an insurance policy covering health expenses during the stay and repatriation of at least one year's duration and with minimum coverage of 30,000 Euros

The procedure in a nutshell

Once the necessary documents have been prepared to prove that the requirements are met, the application for a visa must be submitted directly to the relevant consulates/embassies in the applicants' foreign country of residence.

Consular authorities have full discretion on whether or not to issue a visa as well as for setting income amounts above the minimum set by law.

Once the visa has been obtained, upon entry into Italy the applicant must proceed within 8 days to send the postal kit to apply for the residence permit and, once photographed at the relevant Questura, may collect the residence permit.

Benefits of obtaining an elective residence visa

Holders of a residence permit for elective residence may, after 5 years of holding the permit and being resident in Italy, apply for an EU long-term residence permit and, upon reaching 10 years of residence in Italy, proceed to apply for Italian citizenship by residence.

If the holder of the permit for elective residence had substantial income, he or she could also decide to opt for the so-called flat tax regime, which is a privileged tax regime that allows, under certain conditions, to take advantage of an annual taxation of 100,000 Euros despite the total amount of income received by the person anywhere in the world.

Your Way to Italy: our assistance

Our team is available to provide support and assistance throughout the process! Contact us to book your first consultation with us and to start the process to obtain an elective residence visa and residence permit! #YourWaytoItaly 


The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances

News
News from our blog

Keep yourself updated by reading the most recent news and our articles on the most important topics on Italian immigration and citizenship law

Visas and residence permits
Citizenship
Tax, legal and more
Anagrafe Registration In Italy 600 X 400 Px
Visas and residence permits
Foreign nationals and registration in the Civil Registry: FAQ
Registration in the civil registry (Anagrafe) is a key procedure for foreign citizens who wish to reside permanently in Italy. The process outlines its legal and practical importance, who can apply, the requirements, the steps involved, and special cases such as international protection or the birth of children in the country.
Schengen Visa Extension 600 X 400 Px
Visas and residence permits
Is it possible to extend your stay in Italy after the expiration of a Schengen tourist visa?
It is possible to extend a stay in Italy beyond the limit of a Schengen tourist visa, but only in exceptional cases such as force majeure, humanitarian reasons, or serious personal issues. The request must be submitted to the Questura with proper documentation. Staying without authorization after the visa expires may result in fines, expulsion, and a re-entry ban.
Visa For Family Members Of Italian Citizens 600 X 400 Px
Visas and residence permits
“Carta di soggiorno” and FAMIT permit
The article explains the two legal paths available for non-EU family members of Italian citizens wishing to reside in Italy: the residence card for so-called “mobile” family members (those who have lived in another EU country with the Italian citizen) and the new FAMIT permit for “static” family members (those who have never left Italy)
1 / 33
Sign up to our newsletter!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.