Getting a visa
For non-EU citizens planning a move to Italy, the first and most important step is securing a visa.
The most popular option for foreign pensioners is Italy’s elective residency visa or ERV, which is aimed at people who can support themselves without working via a passive income.
It has a relatively low annual minimum income threshold of €31,000 or €38,000 for married couples, making it a realistic prospect for many retirees.
You’ll need to put some effort into your application, however, as individual Italian consulates have almost total control over the process; meeting the minimum requirements alone won’t automatically secure you a visa.
Five expert tips for getting your Italian elective residency visa approved
Choosing a destination
If you haven’t already got a destination in mind, you’ll need to decide where in the country you want to move to – a big decision for somewhere as large and diverse as Italy.
Of course, personal preferences can vary significantly, with some valuing a warm climate over everything else and others prioritising the quality of public services like transport and healthcare.
An annual ranking by national newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore listing the “best” Italian towns and cities for retirees was last year led by the northern city of Bolzano, with 38 of the 40 top-ranked locations also in the north.
But as reader Susan di Zio writes: “I prefer the south over the north for a variety of reasons. I enjoy the warmer weather, the delicious food and most of all the warm and generosity from the southerners [...] to each their own.”
REVEALED: The Italian cities with the 'best' quality of life for retirees
Do you qualify for a tax break?
If you’re flexible about your destination, you might want to factor tax incentives into your search.
Italy currently offers a 7-percent flat tax rate for pensioners who relocate to Italy after at least five years abroad, but only if they move to certain parts of the south and centre of the country.
Qualifying towns and villages include those in Sicily, Calabria, Sardinia, Campania, Basilicata, Abruzzo, Molise or Puglia, or selected towns in Lazio, Marche and Umbria, as long as they have a population of under 20,000 when you move there.
The regime is time-limited to the first nine tax years following the year in which you transfer your tax residency, and it’s important to note that you may still be liable to pay additional taxes in your home country depending on your income.
Is Italy's flat tax rate for pensioners still available in 2026?
Sorting out the rest
Once you’ve figured out how you can legally move to Italy and exactly where you want to move to, there are multiple other practical considerations that come into play.
Healthcare is a big one: should you go public or private? And are you entitled to free state healthcare, or do you fall into the category of foreign residents required to pay €2,000 per year to register?
Taxes are another: you’ll be considered an Italian tax resident if you spend more than six months of the year in the country, but may benefit from a dual tax treaty with your home country.
Finally, there’s learning the language. While many new residents think it’s possible to living in Italy without speaking Italian, you’ll “survive but not settle” without it, as one reader told us.
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