Living Abroad in Italy

A guide to living abroad in Italy, finding work, accommodation, schools and staying healthy

Italy has a timeless attraction based on its history, architecture, countryside, language and cuisine and these factors together with the fiery, passionate and fun Italian people draw millions of tourists to Italy every year and thousands of expatriates mainly from the UK, America and mainland Europe who move to live for a prolonged or permanent time in Italy.

This is a guide to living abroad in Italy for anyone considering taking the plunge and expatriating and becoming an honorary Italian!  It covers visas, accommodation, employment, education and healthcare.

Visas and Getting in to Italy

British citizens and citizens from other European Union nations can enter Italy for a period of up to three months at a time without need to apply for residency.  It is only when the individual in question plans to reside permanently or long term in Italy that things change.

American citizens in Italy can also remain in the country for up to three months, those who are staying in a hotel will not require an official visa but those who are residing in private accommodation and who intend to remain beyond a week have eight days to apply to the local police station for a Permesso di Soggiorno which will allow them to remain in the country for a maximum of three months.

For those with EU citizenship who intend to live abroad in Italy long term (or at least for longer than three months) a Permesso di Soggiorno is also required.  This can be applied for within the first three months of residency but as a rule of thumb the earlier it is applied for from the local police station the better.

Americans who wish to become resident in Italy have to have permission to do so in the form of an official entry visa before they travel to Italy.  This can and should be applied for from the nearest Italian consulate to where the American citizen is currently resident and because the process can take time it should be applied for sooner rather than later before travel!

Once the American citizen is in Italy they must go to the local police station with their visa to obtain their Permesso di Soggiorno which they must then take within 20 days to the Vital Statistics Bureau to obtain their Certificato di Residenza or residency permit.

Please note that all things involving any form of paper work in Italy take T I M E and one must be patient!

Accommodation and Property in Italy

Even those planning to spend the rest of their lives in Italy should rent a place before they commit to buying because in the majority of areas the property market is slow moving and those who buy fast will repent at leisure!  It’s possible to rent a room or even to have an extended stay in a hotel room (negotiate rates up front) for individuals newly arrived and looking for somewhere more permanent to lay their hat – alternatively rentals can be arranged through rental agencies or estate agents.

Most properties are rented unfurnished and as a rule of thumb the further away from a commercial centre the cheaper the property – the only trouble with renting a property is that you have to commit to it for so long!  Contratto di libero mercato (free market rental contracts) are for four years and the only other alternative is a contratto convenzionale or standard contract which is written for three years!  It is possible to give notice of six months before the contract is up if you wish, and you should always give notice even if you intend to leave on the day the contract runs out otherwise it will automatically be renewed!

In terms of property ownership rules, citizens of other nations are permitted to buy property in Italy but please note that one should add 20% onto the purchase price for taxes and fees.

Employment and Working in Italy

The employment rules in Italy again differ depending on whether the expatriate in question is from Europe or America for example.

European citizens are allowed to work in Italy without need for a permit, American citizens have to have a job offer, their prospective employer has to prove to the local employment office or Ufficio Provinciale del Lavoro e della Massima Occupazione that there is no one available locally with the skills to take up the job and only then if clearance is given in Italy for the job offer to be made can the American citizen apply to their nearest Italian consular offices for a work permit before they travel to Italy.

Education and Schools in Italy

Children in Italy can attend pre-school from the ages of three to six before starting primary school at the age of eleven.  Expatriate children can be included in the state schooling system although parents of older children often send their children to private international schools.

The Italian schooling system from the age of eleven is divided into middle school for pupils up to the age of fifteen and secondary school until nineteen, schooling is free and compulsory from six to fifteen and the state even supplements many children who go on to university.

In terms of sending expat children to international schools – for those families who intend to relocate again and again it makes sense, for those with older children who are at critical exam stages in their schooling career it also makes sense.  For those with younger children and for those who intend to make Italy a permanent home it cannot be stressed strongly enough the need for children to learn the language and socialise and integrate with their local peers and in such situations the state schools are likely to be the best choice.

Healthcare in Italy

The final point in our article about living abroad in Italy relates to staying healthy!  While there is a sophisticated state health care system in place in Italy it is overstretched and under funded which results in long waiting lists and places where the level and availability of certain types of care and medical facilities are limited.  As a result many expats who can afford to take out health insurance and go private if and when need arises.