Moving abroad can be a very daunting experience for anyone, no matter who you are or where you are going! Moving to Italy is no different. To help you, we’ve gathered everything you need to know to get started. We’ll walk you through the nuts and bolts of moving to the iconic country that is – Italy!
If you’d like more information about what life is like living as an Expat in Italy then please see our article which contains everything you need to know about Living in Italy!
Unless you are from the EU and part of the Schengen area, you will need a visa when moving to Italy. There are Italian visas to suit any of your reasons for relocating to Italy. This includes investing or launching a business, retiring, studying, or working in Italy. We give a full detailed guide on everything you need in order to get your hands on a Visa to move to Italy!
For most people, you’ll need to get your visa before you arrive in Italy. Chatting with an experienced Italian immigration lawyer will ensure that you get the right immigration permission as easily as possible.
Table of Contents
- Finding Work in Italy
- Finding Schools and Universities
- House-hunting in Italy
- Moving your things to Italy
- Retiring to Italy
- Learning Italian
- That’s all you need to get started on moving to Italy.
Finding Work in Italy
Unfortunately, the reality is that finding a job in Italy can be difficult. The country ranks fourth in unemployment among European countries. However, this should not deter you. There are still a lot of opportunities for people moving to Italy to find work and many different options in terms of Visas and Work permits available. It often depends on your nationality and sector but we describe the full process in our Visa Guide to Italy.
If you want to work in Italy under an Italian employer, here are a few things you should know:
Pay
There is no statutory minimum wage under Italian law. Instead, employees should receive a livable salary for themselves and their families. As the cost of living in Italy is lower than in the US, the livable salary is also lower.
The gross monthly salary in Italy ranges from €1,418 to €4,416.
Work Hours and Annual Leave
Italian law limits a standard contract to forty hours a week. A typical working day is from 9 am to 1 pm and from 2.30 pm to 6 pm, with a break for riposo.
You should have at least one day off per week, usually Sundays, as well as public and regional holidays. Employees also receive annual paid leave of four weeks per year, apart from domestic staff who get 8 days.
If you work in excess of forty hours per week or work on holidays, this counts as overtime. Overtime should be a rare occurrence, and you should receive at least 30% more than your normal rate for these hours.
Remote Work
Remote work is also possible. You can secure a work visa for self-employment in order to work remotely while living in Italy.
If you have a non-Italian employer and work in Italy remotely, there is a special taxation regime. It allows a 70% exemption on employment income earned in Italy for an initial period of five tax years. The exemption can go up to 90% for individuals who move to Southern Italian regions.
You can extend this exemption for another five years if you purchase real estate in Italy or have at least one dependent child.
Finding Schools and Universities
Education Options For Children
If you will be living in Italy with your children, ensuring you provide for their education is likely to be a priority.
Education is compulsory for children from the age of 6 to 16. State schools are free and are available for EU and non-EU citizens.
Home education is a legal option, but it is more closely regulated than in some other countries. You must notify the authorities that you will be home-schooling your children, and provide a written curriculum in Italian. The children must also take exams to demonstrate their learning.
If your little ones are younger, Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) is available. This is in two stages: nurseries for 0-3 years old and preschool 3-6 years old. Nursery costs are not covered by the state, but if your child is enrolled in a state preschool then this is free. Early years education in Italy is considered of very good quality, but demand exceeds supply in many areas.
Studying in Italy
People who want to study at a university in Italy must first get their qualifications recognized. You must have a secondary school qualification or have a minimum of twelve years’ schooling. You can also study in Italy through state-funded and private scholarships and grants.
Private rental accommodation can be expensive so assessing your housing options before accepting places in Universities is recommended. An international office at a University can provide cheaper rentals, and it’s wise to confirm with them whether they guarantee housing for international students.
READ ALSO: Living in Italy >> Want the full insider guide to the sweet life?
House-hunting in Italy
Depending on how long you will be relocating to Italy, you may want to either rent or buy your own place. There are many options and choices to go through when finding your Italian dream home, we detail everything you need to know below!
Renting
Rental costs vary depending on the area, particularly the local neighborhood. Costs also depend on size, facilities, and the condition of the property. The average size of an Italian home is quite small at 81 m², smaller than those in Spain, Germany, or France. The average cost of housing is around €980 per month. It can be as low as €490 or rise up as high as €1550, depending on the location. In Italy, expect to pay a one-month deposit upfront and the rent for the first month. Most rents are negotiable, and it’s possible to get a reduction: your agent should be able to suggest what you should offer. There is a tax deduction for rent if you become a resident.
Utilities
Payment of utilities (electricity, water, gas) is usually under the tenant’s name. The tenant is also responsible for changing account details. This takes time, so it’s better to do it before moving. You may be able to negotiate with your landlord so that these accounts are in the landlord’s name.
Rental Contracts
There are three common types of long-term rental contract in Italy:
- Transitory contract. This contract is for stays of 1-18 months.
- 3+2 contract. Also called the ordinary contract, this type of long-term contract is a three-year contract renewable for two years.
- 4+4 contract. This contract is valid for four years and has an option to renew for another four years.
It is important to get a rental contract from the landlord. It is proof of accommodation and is a requirement for residency. You will need an Italian Tax Number (Codice Fiscale), as well as a letter of employment or study enrollment.
Purchasing Property
If you are moving to Italy for the long-term, purchasing property is another option. According to the IMF, buying real estate in Italy is a safe investment. The mortgage interest rates have dropped and compare well to other countries.
Purchase Costs
There are a lot of properties for sale with different price ranges and amenities. The average cost of purchasing a residential property in Rome is €3,270 per m² and €4,000 per m² in Florence.
In addition to the purchase price, there are other costs that a buyer should be aware of:
- Registration Tax: 3%-7% of the declared value of the property.
- VAT: 4%-22% of the purchase price.
- Land Registry Tax: 1% of the price of the property.
- Notary fee: 1% to 2.5% of the price of the property plus 22% VAT.
- Legal fees: 1% to 2% of the price of the property plus 22% VAT.
- Real estate agent’s fee: The buyer and seller split this cost. As a buyer, you should expect to pay 1.5% – 4% of the price of the property plus 22% VAT.
How to Purchase Property in Italy
The process of purchasing property in Italy is complex. We recommend that you speak to a lawyer who understands the process before you begin to house-hunt. However, to help you along, we give a brief outline of the process below.
You will need the following documents.
- Purchase Offer. This document communicates your intention of purchasing a specific property at a specific price within a specific amount of time. This document becomes binding when both parties sign it.
- Preliminary Agreement/Contract. Also called the compromesso, which both parties need to sign. This document contains details of the property, price, address, description, and final contract date.
- Final Deed of Sale. The final deed of sale, or Rogito, concludes the sale of the property. You will sign this at the closing in front of the notary. As a general rule, you will receive the keys at the time of signing the final deed of sale.
Other than the above documents, the notary will also require the following.
- Ownership title or Atto di provenienza.
- Floor plan of the property.
- Cadastral document or Visura catastale.
- Energy certificate or Attestato di prestazione energetica.
- Building permit (if the property was built after September 1967).
- Seller and buyer identification documents.
Best Places to Purchase Property in Italy
Aside from favorite Italian cities, there are regions in Italy that are great to live in.
- Abruzzo. This rural region boasts beaches, mountains, and hills. It has a lot of national reserves and medieval villages located on hilltops. The price of a property is relatively inexpensive. For example, a villa with three bedrooms and three bathrooms can cost €530,000.
- Marche. Considered the “new Tuscany,” Marche has beautiful beaches and medieval and Renaissance architecture. Housing is affordable here, with villa prices as low as €520,000 and apartments costing €200,000.
- Basilicata. This mountainous region is the “instep” of Italy’s boot. Property prices in Basilicata are also affordable, with a semi-detached villa costing approximately €275,000.
The 1 Euro Housing Scheme in Italy
In recent years Italy has also become famous for a new scheme which is advertising properties in towns across the country for the princely sum of €1!
As you can imagine there is a little bit more to it than that and these €1 homes are normally dilapidated old houses in rural towns. However, for those looking for a fixer-upper and with some savings to spend these are genuine deals which are becoming more and more popular!
If you are interested in learning more about these schemes and houses, our advice would be to do as much research as possible, this Travel + Leisure article provides a lot of useful information about the scheme! We would also suggest that if you want to go this route to go and see the houses in person, online dealings can be hard to see the roots of the houses – literally!
Moving Your Things to Italy
Your costs for moving your goods to Italy will depend on a number of factors.
- How much you want to move.
- Your country of residence.
- How long you have owned the items.
- The value of the items.
- The method you choose to move to Italy (sea, air, road, etc.).
You can check out the guidelines on the Italian Customs Department website. Some items may be liable for import duties and tariffs.
The documentation you need will also depend on your immigration and citizenship status. A good international removals company will be able to advise you on the exact requirements.
You will be required to fill in a health check on some goods, also called a USMAF declaration.
The first step to finding a good removal company is to identify the best companies for relocations between your starting point and Italy. You then need to get quotes to compare and decide between the removal companies.
READ ALSO: Italy Visa & Residence permit: How to live the good life in Italy
Retiring in Italy
Before you can retire to Italy, you have to first secure an Elective Residence visa. We go into more detail on this in our Visa Guide!
Receiving your pension from an international source can be tricky. To make sure you’ll get your retirement benefit, contact your benefits office. They can provide you with the details of your pension transfer, and you can notify them of your change of address.
Your pension from an international source is subject to a flat tax rate of 7% in Italy. If you’re from the US, this income tax is in addition to any federal taxes you pay back home.
Learning Italian
Italian is the official language, with 93% of the population being native Italian speakers. There are also regional dialects and in certain parts, such as in the north, you will hear German, French, and Latin.
Many Italians speak one or more foreign languages, with around 80% having at least some second language capability. However, other European languages are common. Around 34% of the population speaks English and Italy rates as moderate on the English Proficiency Index. Younger people are much more likely to have some English than older generations.
These days, the language barrier is less of an issue, with the many translating apps available. But outside the main tourist towns, you may struggle to make yourself understood without a little Italian.
You can learn Italian in language schools, arrange for private tuition, or use one of the many online options. If you decide to live in Italy you will find that Italian is one of the easiest languages for English speakers to learn. We can recommend these online opportunities to make sure you hit the ground running.
- Duolingo: This free and easy-to-use app has gamified language learning and is used by thousands of people to build vocabulary.
- Babbel: This is similar to Duolingo although it is subscription-based, however many reviewers say it produces better results.
- italki: You can virtually connect with Italian teachers, tutors, or conversation partners anytime, anywhere.
- Udemy: Udemy offers more than 800 user-reviewed Italian language courses from beginner to expert.
- FluentU: This language learning method gets fantastic reviews. Learn at your own pace with a wide range of resources.
That’s all you need to get started on moving to Italy.
Before moving to Italy, you should also consider customs and immigration regulations, your belongings when you move abroad, and your health insurance. These things are essential, and being aware of them before you move will make your transfer hassle-free.
To make things easier, you can view our Moving Abroad Checklist for the things you need to know when moving to Italy. You can also speak to a trusted Italian Immigration Law partner to choose the perfect visa and get all the help you need to apply.
