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Public healthcare for legal residents
Italy's national health service, the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale, is open to legal residents on the same terms as Italians.
Italy · route overview
Italian visas and residencies
Two clear routes to Italian residency: the Digital Nomad Visa for money you earn working remotely, Residenza Elettiva for money that arrives without you working. We handle the consular file and the residence permit after you land.
- 7,000+cases handled
- 99.2%completed-case success rate
- 10 yearsto Italian citizenship
Why Italy
Why move to Italy
Italy is one of the few European countries that will take your foreign income, tax it on terms you can plan for, and give your family the same health service as everyone else.
A €300,000 cap on tax from foreign income
Italy calls it the neo-residenti regime. New tax residents can apply to cap Italian tax on all foreign income at €300,000 a year for fifteen years, plus €50,000 per family member. The figure rose from €100,000 on 1 January 2026.
Property that still costs less
Umbria, Marche, Abruzzo and Puglia remain 40 to 60% below comparable European markets.
Your family applies with you
Your spouse and dependent children go on the same application. Residenza Elettiva can also cover dependent parents. The income you show rises with family size.
A path to EU citizenship
Ten years of continuous legal residence, with no long absences. An Italian passport is an EU passport. If you have Italian ancestry, citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis) is usually faster.
Consulates are predictable when the file is complete Italian consular processing is reliable, and putting a complete file together is our job, not yours.
Who this is for
Who can move to Italyand which route each profile takes.
The route follows where the money comes from, and the qualification test only applies to one of the four.
Remote workers with a qualification
You earn from clients or an employer outside Italy
A three-year degree, or five years of professional experience, or three years in IT, plus at least six months of documented remote work.
See the Digital Nomad Visa Pensioners
You live on a foreign pension
From €31,000 a year, plus 20% for a spouse and 5% for each child.
See Residenza Elettiva People living on investments or rent
Your income arrives without you working
Dividends, rental income, royalties or annuities that clear the Residenza Elettiva threshold.
See Residenza Elettiva People with Italian ancestry
One of your ancestors was Italian
Citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis) is a separate and usually faster route. It is common for applicants from the US, Argentina and Brazil, and we check it on the first call.
Discuss your caseIf more than one of the four describes you, we start with the ancestry check, because it is usually the fastest route.
How the paperwork runs
What actually happens after the consulate says yes.
Italy splits the move into two stages, and the second one has a deadline most people find out about too late.
Eight days to file the residence permit
The permesso di soggiorno is filed at your local police headquarters, the Questura, within eight days of landing. Our local team files it with you.
A one-year visa, then a five-year permit
The consular visa covers the first year. The permit is then renewed in two-year and five-year blocks.
A lease is enough. You do not have to buy.
A registered lease of twelve months or longer satisfies the housing requirement on both routes.
The flat tax is claimed in your first tax year
The neo-residenti regime is open to you if you have not been an Italian tax resident in nine of the last ten years, and the application is filed in your first year. We coordinate it with an Italian tax advisor as part of setup.
The visa gets you to Italy. The eight days after you land are what make you a resident.
Italian residency routes
The two main Italian visas and residence permits.
Two routes: one for income you earn by working remotely, one for income that arrives without you working. We help you choose the right one.
For remote workers and freelancers with foreign income.
Digital Nomad Visa
For non-EU remote workers and freelancers who earn from clients or an employer outside Italy. Twelve-month residence permit, renewable.
- Income
- From €24,789.93 a year
- What you prove
- Qualification and 6 months of remote work
- Work
- Yes, for non-Italian clients
- Permit
- 12 months, renewable
- Relovisa fee
- From €3,490
For retirees and passive-income households.
Residenza Elettiva
Italy's elective residence route, for people who live on pension, rent, dividends, royalties or annuities. No work of any kind is allowed, in Italy or remotely.
- Income
- From €31,000 a year
- Family uplift
- +20% spouse, +5% per child
- Work
- Not permitted
- Permit
- 1-year visa, then 5 years
- Relovisa fee
- From €4,990
Side by side
Digital Nomad Visa or Residenza Elettiva.
Two routes, two kinds of money, and two different tax situations. Everything else follows from which one you have.
Best forWhat you proveCan you workIncome you showPermitCitizenship
Digital Nomad VisaBest forRemote workers and freelancersWhat you proveQualification and remote-work historyCan you workYes, remotely for non-Italian clientsIncome you showFrom €24,789.93 a yearPermit12 months, renewableCitizenship10 years of legal residence
Residenza ElettivaBest forRetirees and passive-income householdsWhat you provePassive income and a home in ItalyCan you workNoIncome you showFrom €31,000, plus 20% spouse and 5% per childPermit1-year visa, then 5 yearsCitizenship10 years of legal residence
On the call we test your income, your family plan and your documents against both routes before a single file is opened.
What we do for you
We file at the consulate, then finish the paperwork after you land.
Two stages, one team. The visa gets you in; the residence permit makes you a resident.
Digital Nomad case
The qualification check, certificates, translations, forms, the consular file, the appointment and the residence-permit stage after arrival.
See what is includedElective Residence case
The income and housing review, document preparation, consular filing, family applications and the formalities after you arrive.
See what is includedThe flat tax, set up in your first year
If you are becoming an Italian tax resident and have not been one in nine of the last ten years, you can apply to cap tax on all foreign income at €300,000 a year. We coordinate it with an Italian tax advisor as part of setup.
Discuss your caseHow we work
Your personal case manager and lawyerhandle all the paperwork.
No more dealing with bureaucracy. You give us the facts once, and you always know what stage the case is at.
Choose the income route
We separate money you work for from money that arrives, and test the family plan against both routes.
A lawyer checks the case before we build it
A lawyer reads your case, names the problems a consulate would raise, and turns them into a step-by-step plan. Then we collect the qualification, the remote-work history or income records, and the housing proof.
Prepare the consular file
With minimal input from you we prepare certificates, translations, legalisation and forms, assembled in the order your consulate wants them.
Apply with support
We book the appointment, submit the file and track the decision through to the visa.
Bureaucratic tasks solved
We handle housing, the tax code, town-hall registration and the residence permit filed within eight days of arrival.
One owner, one plan, and a named next action at every stage.
Relovisa in numbers
99.2% of our clients get their visa or residence permit.
Residence, work, founder, family and private-client cases.
Clients across North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the CIS.
Immigration lawyers, consultants and tax advisors in the countries we file in.
The immigration lawyers and consultants on our case teams bring 10+ years each.
Global Relovisa results across every country and route. See how we count them
People behind your case
The people who move your case forward.
Every case is led and coordinated by Relovisa. We bring in the immigration consultants, lawyers, payroll and tax specialists the route needs, while Relovisa remains your single point of contact.
One coordinated case team, built around the route you actually need.
Vlad Shipilov
FounderLeads strategy for founder, business and non-standard cases, connecting the route with the client's business, family and long-term plan.
Olia Nemirovski
COO & Chief Case ManagerLeads client and partner operations so case teams, local specialists and next steps stay coordinated from assessment to completion.
Evgenia
UK Immigration Lawyer · Specialist PartnerSupports UK immigration and Talent Visa case management where licensed legal input is required.
Vladimir
Germany Immigration Consultant · Specialist PartnerSupports German work immigration cases across process planning, local requirements and case coordination.
Daniela
Portugal Immigration Lawyer · Specialist PartnerSupports Portuguese residence matters that require legal review, representation or procedural escalation.
Petra
Portugal Immigration Consultant · Specialist PartnerSupports Portugal D2, D3, D7 and D8 cases, including clients with different income structures.
Marilia
Portugal Immigration Attorney · Specialist PartnerSupports global mobility for self-employed, founder and highly skilled cases through Portugal D8, D2 and D3 routes.
Thiago
Portugal Immigration Attorney · Specialist PartnerSupports highly qualified professionals and procedural cases involving residence delays and AIMA proceedings.
Vladislav
International Tax Advisor · Specialist PartnerAdvises on international tax structures and non-standard cross-border situations across Europe, Asia and the United States.
Thomas
Crypto & Tax Advisor · Specialist PartnerSupports clients whose move intersects with crypto assets, international business and tax planning.
Our wider specialist network60+
immigration consultants and lawyers
Local coverage for routes and services that require authorised in-country specialists.
Italy questions
Questions people ask before they commit.
What is the difference between the two routes?
The Digital Nomad Visa is for money you earn by working remotely for foreign clients or an employer. Residenza Elettiva is for money that arrives without you working, and it does not permit work of any kind. Different income proofs, different tax treatment.
How much do I need to earn for the Digital Nomad Visa?
From €24,789.93 a year, earned from clients or an employer outside Italy. Some consulates quote €24,789. You also show a qualification and at least six months of documented remote work.
What is the permesso di soggiorno?
It is the Italian residence permit. You file for it at your local police headquarters within eight days of arriving. The consular visa covers the first year; the permit is then renewed in two-year and five-year blocks.
Can I use the €300,000 neo-residenti flat-tax regime?
You can apply if you are becoming an Italian tax resident and have not been one in nine of the last ten years. It caps Italian tax on all foreign income at €300,000 a year for fifteen years, plus €50,000 for each family member. The application is filed in your first tax year, and we coordinate it with an Italian tax advisor as part of setup.
Do I need to buy property in Italy?
No. A registered lease of twelve months or longer satisfies the housing requirement on both routes. Many people buy after the first year, but it is not a condition.
Can my family come with me?
Yes. Your spouse and children under 18 apply on both routes, and Residenza Elettiva can also cover dependent parents. The income you show rises with family size.
How long until Italian citizenship?
Ten years of continuous legal residence, with no long absences. Italian citizenship is EU citizenship. If you have Italian ancestry, citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis) is usually the faster path.
What if I have Italian ancestry?
Citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis) is a separate route and, when it works, usually the fastest one. It applies to a lot of applicants from the US, Argentina and Brazil. We check the line and the documents on the first call.
Your Italy route
Tell us where the money comes from. We will name the route.
Thirty minutes with a consultant. We test your income, your family plan and your documents against both routes before any file is opened.
Book a consultation30 minutes · €40, applied to your package if you proceed