A growing number of US citizens have relocated to Italy in recent years. In 2024, 2,000 more people made the move compared to 2022, as Italy gained 16,534 new American residents.
The trend has so far looked set to continue, with a rising number of queries from Americans reported by everyone from relocation consultants and immigration lawyers to members of The Local’s Living in Italy Facebook group.
But, while interest in moving to Italy may be on the rise, has the country made the process of becoming a resident harder?
Some recent news reports from Italy might suggest so.
But whether or not anything has changed for your relocation plans will depend on the route you were planning to take to obtaining Italian residency.
Citizenship via ancestry
There were sudden changes to the rules on claiming citizenship via ancestry in March, imposing a two-generational limit for eligibility, which left many would-be applicants dismayed.
Having Italian citizenship, or citizenship of any EU member state, would make a move to Italy considerably easier as it removes the requirement for a visa.
The limits placed on applications through ancestry affected a large number of people, particularly in the US, Argentina, and Brazil.
READ ALSO: What's the difference between Italian residency and citizenship?
However, experts stress that this doesn't necessarily mean people will be unable to move to Italy in future.
In fact, "despite these changes, residency in Italy remains very accessible," says relocation consultant Federica Grazi, Founder and Managing Director of Mitos Relocation Solutions.
Visa options
Italy offers several different visas for new residents, depending on their personal circumstances.
“The most straightforward options are for those with income sourced outside of Italy,” Grazi advises.
“In 2024, Italy introduced a Digital Nomad Visa for qualified remote employees and independent professionals.
"There’s also the well-established Elective Residency Visa (ERV), ideal for retirees and individuals with passive income.”
LISTED: The visa options Americans can apply for to move to Italy
Many of The Local's American readers who have successfully applied for the ERV in the past have described it as a challenge, though it's obviously possible for many people to succeed. We have some detailed advice on completing the process here.
Citizenship via residency
Also in the news in early June was a vote on a proposed amendment to the law on gaining citizenship via residency, which would have made the process quicker - though, ultimately, nothing has changed there.
Many existing residents had hoped that they might be able to apply for citizenship sooner if the law was changed. However, this issue seems unlikely to affect the existing plans of anyone hoping to move to Italy in future.
READ ALSO: Five expert tips for getting your Italian elective residency visa approved
Some of those who are no longer eligible to apply for citizenship via ancestry following the law change have told The Local that they are now exploring the residency route instead.
Other requirements
While adding a visa requirement makes things more complicated, readers often tell us that the process of moving to Italy from the US was always far from straightforward.
In fact, there are several important things to consider beyond the applications for a visa and residency permit. New residents have long needed to navigate healthcare requirements and tax rules, as well as meet a requirement to re-sit their driving test - in Italian.
“Many Americans already call Italy home — and despite the recent tightening of citizenship laws, that trend is very likely to grow,” says Grazi.
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