Last updated October 13, 2026

Quick summary

Americans have two main routes to living in Italy long term. The Elective Residence Visa is for people living on passive income such as pensions, rent or dividends, and the Digital Nomad Visa is for highly skilled remote workers with clients or employers outside Italy. Both are applied for at an Italian consulate before you move, and both require secured housing and health insurance.

• Elective Residence Visa. The New York consulate lists no fixed amount but says each applicant typically needs around €31,000 a year in passive income. Work income does not count.
• Digital Nomad Visa. The New York consulate lists a minimum of €24,789 a year in its 2024 figures, from work you perform, with at least six months of prior experience in your field. Social Security, rent and dividends do not count.
• No work on the elective visa. Salary or remote work for a foreign employer disqualifies an elective residence application.
• Housing first. You need a registered lease or a property deed in Italy before you apply. Hotels and Airbnb do not count.
• Insurance. The digital nomad page requires insurance of at least €30,000 or $50,000. The elective residency pages we read do not mention insurance, so ask your consulate.
• Long game. Long-term residence and citizenship come later. See the residency and citizenship section for what we could and could not confirm.

Why Americans are moving to Italy

Italy tops many relocation wish lists for its food, history and daily rhythm of life.

• Culture and food. Historic cities, regional cuisines and a long calendar of local festivals.
• Variety. Alpine lakes, Tuscan hills, the Amalfi coast, islands and big cities in one country.
• Cost. Outside Rome, Milan and the most touristed areas, everyday costs are well below most large US cities.
• Healthcare. Italy has a public national health service, and private insurance is affordable compared with US premiums.
• Travel. Italy sits in the Schengen area with strong rail and air links across Europe.
• Visa options. There is a route for passive income and a route for remote workers.

Visa options

Pick the route that matches how you earn money. The two visas are built for opposite situations, and the elective visa does not allow any work.

Thresholds vary by consulate and change over time. The New York consulate says its digital nomad figures are from 2024, so confirm current figures with the Italian consulate that covers your state.

Things to know

• Passive income only for the elective visa. The consulates accept private income such as pensions, annuities and property income, documented with bank or Social Security letters and the last 2 years of tax returns. Income from work does not count.
• Passive income does not count for the nomad visa. Social Security, rent and dividends do not count toward the nomad threshold. The income must come from your remote work.
• Real housing. You need an original lease registered with the tax agency (Agenzia delle Entrate) or a deed in your name. Los Angeles says multiple bookings and third-party hospitality offers are not accepted.
• Family. New York says that once you are in Italy you can sponsor a non-separated spouse and a child under 18 through the Questura. It also says children over 18 and parents cannot be sponsored this way.
• Fingerprints. Los Angeles says fingerprinting applies to all national visa applicants from January 11, 2025.
• Documents. The pages list the visa form, photo, passport, proof of means, proof of housing and a letter explaining your move. None of the pages we read list an FBI check, so ask your consulate.

How to apply, step by step

The process starts in the US and finishes in Italy. The hardest part for most people is lining up housing before the visa is approved.

1. Choose your visa and find your consulate. Read your consulate’s page for your visa, for example New York: elective residency, New York: digital nomad visa or Los Angeles: elective residency. The Washington embassy has an elective residency PDF. You must apply where your ID shows you live.
2. Secure housing. The consulates require a lease or deed in your name that covers the whole visa period, registered with the Agenzia delle Entrate, with proof of registration. Hotels and third-party hospitality offers are not accepted.
3. Arrange insurance if your visa requires it. The digital nomad page requires coverage of at least €30,000 or $50,000 for medical expenses, hospitalization and repatriation. An insurance card alone is not accepted.
4. Assemble proof of means. For elective residency, bank or institution letters, Social Security letters and the last 2 years of tax returns. For the digital nomad visa, pay stubs, tax returns, a W-2 or the three most recent bank statements, plus proof of six months of experience in your field.
5. Complete the forms. Use the national visa application form (PDF) from your consulate. Some consulates also want a letter explaining why you are moving and photos to their size.
6. Book and attend your appointment and pay the fee. The fee is non-refundable and paid by cashier’s check or money order made out to your consulate. New York says fees change quarterly with the euro rate, so check the current amount.
7. Wait for a decision. The Washington embassy and Los Angeles consulate both say processing can take up to 90 days and cannot be rushed.
8. Travel to Italy and apply for your permesso di soggiorno. Apply at the Questura within 8 working days of arrival. Many applications go through the post office kit described on the Italian immigration portal.
9. Renew on time. The portal says renewals must be requested at least 60 days before expiry.

A lawyer or an immigration facilitator is optional but common, especially for the housing step. Ask for a written fee quote.

Cost of living in Italy

A single person living comfortably in a smaller Italian city or town can expect to spend about $1,860 a month, and a couple about $2,945. These are our own estimates, built from several published sources, in US dollars for a comfortable (not luxury) lifestyle. Real costs vary with location and habits.

Living in a major city such as Rome or Milan raises rent, bringing the estimate to about $2,260 for a single person and $3,445 for a couple. Use our cost of living calculator to compare scenarios across all 12 countries.

Sources consulted: Wise, Expatistan and International Living cost-of-living pages, combined with our own calculations. Figures are estimates, subject to change, and exchange rates are approximate.

Healthcare

Medicare does not cover you in Italy. Your visa requires private insurance at first, and after you become a resident you may be able to join the public system.

• Private insurance for the visa. The digital nomad page requires coverage of at least €30,000 or $50,000. We did not find an insurance requirement on the elective residency pages we read.
• The public system (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale). Residents may be able to enroll through their local health authority (ASL). We could not open the Ministry of Health pages on this, so see the Ministry of Health page and ask your local ASL for the current contribution.
• Pre-existing conditions. Private insurers may apply exclusions, so read the policy terms.
• Language. Public clinics operate in Italian, and English-speaking doctors are easier to find in big cities and tourist areas.

Taxes for Americans in Italy

Moving to Italy does not end your US tax obligations, and you may owe Italian tax as well. This section is general information, not tax advice, so speak to an adviser who handles US and Italian taxes before you go.

On the US side

• You still file. US citizens are taxed on worldwide income and file a return wherever they live, according to the IRS.
• Extra time. Americans living overseas get an automatic 2-month extension, which moves the usual April 15 due date to June 15. Interest still runs on tax owed after April.
• Relief exists, but only if you file. The foreign earned income exclusion and the foreign tax credit can reduce what you owe, and you can claim them only by filing the right US return.
• Foreign account reporting. If your foreign accounts together exceeded $10,000 at any point in the year, you must file an FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) electronically by April 15, with an automatic extension to October 15, per the IRS FBAR page.

On the Italian side

The points below come from a non-government guide, except where linked. The rules are set by the Agenzia delle Entrate, so check them there or with an adviser.

• Tax residency. You are generally an Italian tax resident if you live in Italy for more than 183 days in a year, have your main residence there, or are registered in the civil registry. Residents are taxed on worldwide income.
• Rates. Residents pay progressive national rates (IRPEF) with a top rate of 43%, plus regional and municipal surcharges. The Agenzia delle Entrate page we reached shows an older table (last updated 2020), so check the current brackets there.
• Special regimes. Italy has offered incentives for people who move their tax residence, including a reduced flat rate for pensioners who settle in small southern municipalities. These regimes are conditional and change, so ask an adviser whether any apply.
• Filing. Residents typically file a Form 730 or Redditi PF return the following year. Check the Agenzia delle Entrate for current deadlines.
• Property taxes. Owning property brings local property taxes such as IMU.
• Treaty and social security. The US-Italy tax treaty does not fully prevent double taxation for Americans, so you may need the foreign tax credit. The US-Italy totalization agreement prevents paying Social Security taxes to both countries.

Italian-side summary adapted from Wise: Italy expat taxes, a general guide and not professional advice. Rules and rates change, so confirm current figures.

Where to live

Both visas let you live anywhere in Italy, but you need a registered lease in the place you choose.

• Rome. The capital offers history, services and the highest rents of the central cities.
• Milan and the north. Business hubs with strong transport, higher prices and cooler winters.
• Tuscany and Umbria. Hill towns and countryside with a large foreign community, and costs that range widely.
• Piedmont, Liguria and the lakes. Scenic areas with a range of prices and easy access to France and Switzerland.
• The south and islands (Puglia, Sicily, Sardinia, Calabria). Lower costs, warmer weather and a slower pace, with fewer English speakers.

Common mistakes to avoid

Most refusals and delays come from housing, paperwork and timing.

• Applying for the elective visa while working. The consulates say the visa does not allow work and income from work does not count.
• Counting Social Security toward the nomad visa. It does not count there, though it fits the elective visa.
• Using Airbnb or a hotel as housing. You need a lease or deed in your name, registered with the Agenzia delle Entrate.
• Unregistered leases. Make sure the landlord registers the contract.
• Choosing the wrong consulate. You must apply where you legally live.
• Skipping apostilles and sworn translations. Missing legalization causes delays.
• Missing the 8-day permesso deadline. The consulates and the immigration portal say 8 working days after arrival.
• Missing the renewal window. The immigration portal says to request renewal at least 60 days before expiry.
• Assuming family comes automatically. New York says a spouse and a child under 18 can be sponsored through the Questura once you are in Italy.
• Ignoring Italian tax residency. Over 183 days makes you a tax resident with worldwide reporting.

Permanent residency and citizenship

Residence in Italy builds toward long-term status. The rules can change, so confirm them with Italian authorities when you approach each stage.

1. Year 1. You apply for a permesso di soggiorno after you arrive. New York gave a one-year term for the digital nomad permit in 2024.
2. Renewals. Request renewal at least 60 days before expiry, per the immigration portal, while you still meet the conditions.
3. Long-term residence. We could not confirm the required period on a government page. Ask the Questura or an immigration lawyer.
4. Citizenship. The Interior Ministry handles naturalization by residence. We could not open its pages, so check the Interior Ministry citizenship page for the current residence period and requirements. Italian citizenship rules have been changing, so ask an immigration lawyer, especially if you may qualify through ancestry.

Frequently asked questions

Can I work remotely on the Elective Residence Visa?

No. The elective visa is for passive income only, so remote work for an employer disqualifies it. Remote workers use the Digital Nomad Visa.

Does Social Security count as income?

For the elective visa, the consulates accept Social Security letters as proof of private income. For the Digital Nomad Visa, New York says passive income does not count.

Can I rent short-term while I apply?

No. You need a registered one-year lease or a property deed before you apply.

Does Medicare cover me in Italy?

No. Check whether your visa requires private insurance. The digital nomad page does. Residents may be able to join the public system, so ask your local ASL.

How long does the process take?

The Washington embassy and Los Angeles consulate say up to 90 days, with no rush processing, plus time for appointments and paperwork.

Can I bring my family?

Yes. Dependent spouses and minor children can be included on the elective visa, and New York says a spouse and a child under 18 can be sponsored through the Questura after you arrive.

Will I pay tax in both countries?

You will likely file in both. Credits and the totalization agreement reduce double taxation, but plan with a cross-border tax adviser before you move.

Sources and last updated

Last updated October 13, 2026. This guide draws on Italian and US government pages. Visa rules, fees and thresholds change often and vary by consulate, so confirm every figure with the Italian consulate that covers your state before you apply. Where this guide says something could not be confirmed or is unclear, consult and verify it with the immigration authorities before making any major decision, such as signing a lease, buying property, moving money or booking a move. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice.

• Consulate General of Italy in New York: elective residency
• Consulate General of Italy in New York: digital nomad visa (2024 figures)
• Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles: elective residency
• Embassy of Italy in Washington: elective residency (PDF)
• Italian immigration portal: requesting a permesso di soggiorno
• Agenzia delle Entrate: IRPEF rates
• Wise: Italy expat taxes (non-government, used for the Italian tax summary only)
• IRS: U.S. citizens and resident aliens abroad
• IRS: Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR)