Italy is a favorite tourist destination for many people. Sometimes, visitors find that they don’t want to leave Italy, or that they want to return as soon as possible. Many of these travelers dream about relocating their entire life to Italy. For people who find themselves with this desire, here is everything they need to know about moving to Italy permanently.

Immigrating to Italy

Immigrating means moving from one country to another. This is not just a visit and it is not a short-term thing. Instead, it means picking up one’s entire life and moving it to another country. People who immigrate often leave friends, family, jobs, and more so that they can live in another place. Sometimes, they are following their dreams. Other times, they might be getting a job that they love or studying at a school in their destination country.

Building a life in a new country involves all sorts of things that many people don’t think of. This includes setting up new bank accounts, learning how renting or buying property works, and more. Immigrants are committed to their new country, sometimes for the rest of their lives.

Reasons to Immigrate to Italy

There are many reasons to immigrate to Italy. The most popular ones include: 

• People who get jobs in Italy need to live there in order to fulfill their responsibilities. If someone gets a dream job in Italy, they may well move there and never live in their home country again.
• Italy has many institutions of higher education. People come from far and wide to study there, especially if they want to study art or at certain culinary schools. Italy offers a wide variety of educational opportunities for people from around the world.
• If a person lives in a country where they do not feel safe, they may choose to try to move to Italy to get out of that bad situation. These immigrants come to Italy seeking to improve their own life and that of their family members.
• Many artists and other art lovers choose to move to Italy because of the opportunities it offers, both for making art and for seeing some of the most famous art in the world in Italy’s museums.
• People who have family members in Italy may choose to move there to reunite with their loved ones. People might also want their own children to feel more connected to extended family than they ever did.
• Some people are simply drawn to Italy, even if they don’t know why. These people might choose to immigrate simply because they love Italy.

How to Immigrate to Italy

People who are European Union (EU) citizens will find it easy to move to Italy. They simply need to enter the country, find a place to live, and register with the local registration office. They will need to provide proof of having a job or being enrolled in an educational program. Those who are not EU citizens will find the process more difficult. First, they will need to apply for and obtain a Long-Stay Visa. This visa allows people to enter Italy with the intention of staying longer than 90 days. 

However, once in Italy, people on these visas need to find a place to live and then apply for a Residence Permit. There are two types of these - the permesso di soggiorno and the carta di soggiorno. The permesso permits stays of 1-2 years, while the carta permits stay for up to 5 years. Many immigrants in Italy recommend working with an immigration lawyer. Figuring out how to apply for these, what documents are needed, and where to submit them can be difficult. Paying a little bit more upfront can make an immigrant’s whole stay in Italy better.

Immigrants can apply for permanent residence in Italy after living there for 5 years. Once they have been there for 10 years, they can apply for citizenship. While it is easier for EU citizens to obtain both of these permissions, anyone who meets the country’s criteria can apply for them.

There are a few ways to pursue long-term residence in Italy. These include: 

• A work visa. A limited number of these are offered each year. Immigrants applying for this will need to go through their company to prove their employment and get the proper documents submitted.
• A study visa. Immigrants who want to enter Italy on this visa will need to be admitted to a course of study before they arrive in Italy and will need to submit proof of this when they apply for the visa. Students can work up to 20 hours per week.
• A family reunification visa. This is available to people who can prove that they have relatives in Italy.
• An elective residence visa. People who want to live in Italy without working or retire in Italy and who can demonstrate that they have the required income to do so (the exact amount is subject to change).

Long-Term Visit Versus Moving Permanently

A standard visa to Italy (or an electronic travel authorization through the EU, for people from countries that qualify for this) allows for stays of up to 90 days in the country. Many people find that this is plenty long enough to see what they want to see and enjoy Italy. Some people even find that this is long enough to reunite with family members or complete certain job-related tasks that don’t take long and are permitted by the visa.

However, most work is not permitted while on this kind of visa. People who want to work or attend school will need to go through the process of getting a Residence Permit so they can achieve all of their goals in Italy.

What does it Mean to Be an Immigrant in Italy

Many people in Italy welcome immigrants. However, because of an uptick in illegal immigration to the country and fears and concerns related to that, some immigrants may have a more difficult time finding jobs, housing, and other resources that they need to thrive. Immigrants from EU countries and other Western countries may have an easier time in Italy. They should find it relatively easy to find a place to live, get the work that they need to survive, and make friends and other connections that will see them through their time in Italy.

Foreigners do have healthcare rights in Italy. They can get the medical care that they need and their costs will be covered, even if they are not permanent residents or citizens. Similarly, Italy supports the human rights of all people. Discrimination based on immigration status or country of origin is not officially allowed or condoned.

Refugees in Italy

The number of people seeking refugee status in Italy has been rising continuously for years. Because it is on the Mediterranean sea, people often come through North Africa and attempt to reach Italy by sea. Refugees who want to be in Italy legally need to pursue official Refugee Status. This gives them a travel document and permits travel within the Schengen Zone of Europe. It also allows them to stay in official refugee accommodations, permits them to find a job, and get healthcare, education, and other official benefits. 

The process of being recognized as a refugee can be extensive and take a long time. Refugees need to apply as soon as they arrive in the country and know that the government will make every effort to verify their stories of oppression and trouble in their home countries.

Being a Resident in Italy

People who are in Italy legally have many of the same rights as Italian citizens. The biggest difference between residents and citizens is that residents cannot vote. This includes local, national, and EU elections. In addition, people who are residents but not citizens will find the process to own property in Italy to be more complicated than it is for citizens. In fact, many who want to buy property in Italy find that they need to work with a lawyer to figure everything out. 

Note that Italy supports dual citizenship. If immigrants come from countries that also support this, they can pursue Italian citizenship in addition to citizenship in their country of origin, rather than giving that up to be a citizen in Italy. Immigrants will need to know what their home country does and does not support before pursuing Italian citizenship. That way, they won’t be surprised if they are, at some point, asked to give up their citizenship.

Undocumented Residents in Italy

Because so many people are traveling to Italy as refugees, many of the migrants there are not documented. They do not (or do not yet) have official Refugee Status, and yet they cannot return home.

In 2020, Italy offered many of these people work permits, allowing them to join the workforce (if they could find a job) and opening a path for them to remain in the country legally. This was a controversial move, both within Italy and without, because many Italians are struggling to find jobs. They fear that people will hire illegal immigrants instead of them.

While undocumented immigrants can live under the radar for years in Italy, it is better for them to seek legal status. That way, they won’t have to worry about deportation or other problems and they will be on a path to becoming permanent residents and citizens.