Immigration law
Elective Residence Visa: moving to Italy from the US
Your US passport gets you into Italy. But is it enough to live here? For retirees and people with passive income, the Elective Residence Visa is the usual route.
A US passport lets you visit Italy without a visa. It does not let you live here. For people who want to settle in Italy and can support themselves without working, the usual route is the Elective Residence Visa (visto per residenza elettiva).
The 90/180 rule
As a US citizen you can stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period as a visitor. Those days count across all Schengen countries combined. Overstaying can lead to fines, an entry ban and problems with any future visa application, so it is not a way to “try out” living in Italy for a year.
Who the Elective Residence Visa is for
The visa is designed for people who want to make Italy their home and have stable, regular income that does not come from work:
- pensions and annuities;
- rental income from property;
- investment income, such as dividends and interest.
Savings help, but consulates usually look for recurring income rather than a one-off balance.
How much income
The law does not fix a single national figure. In practice, Italian consulates commonly use a benchmark of roughly €31,000 a year for a single applicant, with around 20% more for a spouse and a further amount for each dependent child. Requirements and interpretation vary between consulates, so always check the one that covers your US state, and be ready to document income with tax returns, pension statements and bank records.
Other requirements
- Housing in Italy: a registered lease or a property deed, usually for at least a year.
- Health insurance valid in Italy for the initial period.
- A clean criminal record and a valid passport.
The key limit: no work
The Elective Residence Visa does not allow you to work in Italy, either as an employee or remotely for clients, in the consulates’ usual interpretation. If you plan to work, other permits fit better, such as employment or self-employment routes or the digital nomad permit.
After you arrive
Within eight days of arrival you must apply for a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) at the post office and Questura. Next come registration at the town hall, the codice fiscale and the national health service. Becoming an Italian resident also has tax consequences on worldwide income, which should be planned with a tax adviser before the move. For the long term, see Italian citizenship by residence.
Find out if you qualify
A short review of your income, housing and plans before you book the consulate appointment can save months. I assist American clients in English from my office in Tuscany. More on immigration law, including in Florence, Rome and Lucca.
Avv. Ada Alia
A member of the Pistoia Bar since 2020, she handles criminal, family, immigration and personal injury matters. She meets clients in Italian, English and Albanian.
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