General program requirements

To qualify for Italy’s Elective Residency Visa, applicants must demonstrate that they have an independent, stable, and asset-based source of income – such as from a pension fund, annuities, or rental income – sufficient to maintain themselves financially while residing in Italy. 

In 2022, the specific levels of annual income required are

EUR 32,000 for the main applicant
EUR 6,800 additionally for a spouse
EUR 6,240 per additional dependent child under 18.

Applicants must, moreover, providence evidence of suitable healthcare insurance coverage for the whole family as well as of suitable accommodation in Italy, which may be purchased or rented.

Elective residents may not take up paid employment in Italy but are free to derive income from the ownership of assets.

Program benefits

• Freedom of movement (but not settlement) in Schengen;
• No investment or donation requirement;
• Path to citizenship;
• Permits dual/multiple citizenship;
• Lower cost of living;
• Warm climate;
• Enhanced business access to large economies;
• Enhanced education opportunities;
• Short processing time

Requirements to qualify for citizenship

The initial Elective Residency Visa is issued for a maximum of six months (rather than the normal three months for most temporary visas) during which the applicant will need to move to Italy and convert the visa to a Residency Permit. The residency permits may be renewed annually with local police if the original requirements are still met, including maintaining the residence, the health insurance, and physical presence of at least 183 days a year, which means becoming a tax resident of Italy.

After five years of uninterrupted residency, the applicant may apply for Permanent Residence. The applicant may not have been absent from the country for longer than a continuous period of six months to qualify for permanent residence.

After 10 years of continuous residence, the applicant may apply for citizenship. The applicant will need to complete a course in Italian and European history and culture, civics, and the principles of the Italian Constitution, for the purposes of verifying the ‘path to Citizenship’, and must speak fluent Italian.

Applications for this program may be directed to:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation 

Legislation upon which this program is based:

Consolidated Immigration Act 2014 Article 5. Residence Permit

No statistics available yet for this program.