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A residence route designed for people who do not work.
Pensions, rent, dividends, royalties and annuities can carry the case. The proof is about dependable passive income and a real home in Italy.
Italy · passive-income residence
Italy Elective Residence Visa
Residenza Elettiva is for retirees, investors and households with stable passive income who want to live in Italy without working. Work is prohibited, including remote work.
- €31,000minimum annual passive income
- No workincluding remote employment
- 5 yearsto permanent residence
What Elettiva gives you
Benefits of Residenza Elettiva
Turn dependable passive income into Italian residence for the household, without buying property or taking a local job.
Permanent residence in five years
Build five years of continuous legal residence before applying for permanent status.
Family applies with you
Spouse, dependent children and dependent parents can be included when the dependency and family income are documented.
A lease is enough
A registered long-term lease can satisfy the housing requirement. You do not have to buy a home.
Schengen mobility
Your Italian residence status supports short visits across the Schengen area.
Passive income or remote work
Residenza Elettiva, Italy DNV, or Portugal D7?
The honest choice starts with one question: will you keep earning through active work after the move?
Best forIncome typeIncome floorCan you workHousingPath to permanent residence
Italy Residenza ElettivaBest forRetirees and passive-income householdsIncome typePension, rent, dividendsIncome floor€31,000 a yearCan you workNo work of any kindHousing12-month lease or owned homePath to permanent residence5 years
Italy Digital NomadBest forHighly-qualified remote workersIncome typeActive foreign incomeIncome floor€24,789.93 a yearCan you workYes, remotelyHousingLease or hospitality evidencePath to permanent residence5 years
Portugal D7Best forPeople living on passive incomeIncome typePension, rent, dividendsIncome floorfrom €920 a monthCan you workNot as the route basisHousingPortuguese accommodationPath to permanent residence5 years
If you plan to keep working, Elettiva is the wrong route. If the income arrives without work, we compare Italy and Portugal on the proof and the tax timing.
What counts as passive income
The source and payment history must both stay passive.
We classify every income stream before building the file, because occasional remote work can move the whole case to another route.
Use the award and deposits
Official pension evidence and the matching bank receipts show that the income is dependable.
Join the property to the cash flow
Ownership, the rental contract, deposit history and tax records explain the recurring income.
Prove ownership without active work
Statements and agreements must show that the income is passive and that you do not work for it.
Move active work to the Italy DNV
Foreign employment, freelance services and other active income do not belong on Elettiva.
Living in Italy without working
Why Italy for a passive-income move
Elettiva is the residence route. Italy adds healthcare, housing choices and a tax decision that needs to be made in the first year.
National healthcare
Legal residents can register with Italy's Servizio Sanitario Nazionale under the local rules.
A planned tax option
Eligible new residents can apply for the €300,000 neo-residenti lump-sum regime for foreign income.
More housing choices
A long-term lease is enough for the visa, and parts of central and southern Italy remain below comparable European property markets.
A ten-year citizenship path
Ten years of continuous legal residence can open a naturalisation application under the rules then in force.
Apply for the tax regime in the first tax year. We coordinate the timing with an Italian tax advisor before the move changes your residence position.
Fit check
Elettiva fits passive income and bans work.
That rule is simple and absolute. We confirm the route against every income source before you commit.
Elettiva is worth checking if
- Your pension, rent, dividends, royalties or annuities clear €31,000 a year
- The income is recurring and visible in tax returns and bank records
- You will live in Italy without employment or freelance work
- You can secure a registered lease of at least 12 months or own a home
Use another route if
- You will work remotely for a foreign employer or clients
- The €31,000 depends on active company management
- The passive income has no consistent payment history
- The household total misses the spouse or child uplift
Evidence file
What your Elettiva file must prove
The income, home and family evidence must show that you can live in Italy without working.
-
Passive-income source
Pension certificates, rental contracts, dividend statements, royalty agreements or annuity evidence
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Payment continuity
Two to three years of tax returns and bank statements showing recurring receipts
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Household calculation
€31,000 for the main applicant, plus 20% for a spouse and 5% for each child
-
Italian housing
A registered 12-month lease or property ownership evidence
-
Residence setup
Codice Fiscale, Italian bank account and health insurance valid in Italy
-
Identity and family
Passport, criminal record, translations and civil-status or dependency documents
From passive-income review to permit
How your Residenza Elettiva case moves,step by step.
One case manager coordinates the income, housing, consular and first local-residence stages.
- 1Relovisa
Review income and family
Before filingWe test every passive stream against €31,000 a year and calculate the spouse and child uplift.
- 2Client + local partners
Secure Italian housing
Before the consulateA registered lease of at least 12 months or owned property becomes part of the consular file.
- 3Relovisa + client
Set up the tax code and bank
Before filingWe provide the steps for the Codice Fiscale and Italian bank account required by the dossier.
- 4Case team
Build the full dossier
Before the appointmentIncome, housing, criminal record, insurance, apostilles, translations and family evidence are assembled in the consulate's order.
- 5Client + consulate
Attend the consulate
Typically 30 to 60 daysWe prepare the appointment and coordinate booking where the jurisdiction permits it. The consulate makes the visa decision.
- 6Relovisa + client
File the residence permit
Within 8 days of arrivalAfter entry we guide the local residence filing and the Questura follow-up.
The file works when the income remains passive, the Italian home is real and every payment can be traced.
Service scope
One package for the passive-income residence case
The package covers the income and housing review, the consular file and guidance for the first residence-permit filing.
Italy Residenza Elettiva
from €4,990 + €1,490 per family member
- Initial eligibility and household-income review
- Personalised strategy guide and consultation
- Ongoing chat with a dedicated visa expert
- All required forms completed
- Pre-submission document double-check
- Consulate booking where the jurisdiction permits it
- Residence-permit self-filing guide
- Case management through the visa decision
For retirees, investors and passive-income households.
Book your strategy call ItalyElettiva - Passive income from €31,000 a year
- No employment or freelance work
- A registered 12-month lease or owned home
Government, insurance, housing, apostille, translation and other third-party charges are separate. The signed engagement confirms the current scope and payment schedule.
Related passive-income routes
If Italy is not the only country on your list
Compare the work rule, income floor and family proof before choosing the country.
For highly-qualified remote workers who need to keep earning.
Italy Digital Nomad Visa
Foreign employment or freelance income from €24,789.93 a year, with a degree or the required experience and six months of remote work.
- Income
- €24,789.93/year
- Work
- Remote foreign work
- Family
- Partner and children
- Path to PR
- 5 years
- Service fee
- from €3,490
01 IT · DNV For households living on pension, rent, dividends or royalties.
Portugal Passive Income Visa
A lower income floor than Italy, dependent parents can join, and the case follows Portugal's own residence and tax rules.
- Income
- from €920/month
- Work
- Not the route basis
- Family
- Parents can join
- Path to PR
- 5 years
- Service fee
- €2,490
02 PT · D7 For passive-income households who prefer Spain and will not work.
Spain Non-Lucrative Visa
A sibling route with no work permitted and a separate annual income calculation under Spanish rules.
- Income
- about €2,400/month
- Work
- Not permitted
- Family
- Can be included
- Path to PR
- 5 years
- Service fee
- Check live route
03 ES · NLV Relovisa in numbers
Our record so far.
Residence, work, founder and family cases handled end to end.
Historical share of completed cases approved.
Clients across North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the CIS.
The immigration lawyers and consultants on our case teams bring 10+ years each.
Global Relovisa results across every country and route.
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.
Elettiva questions
Residenza Elettiva questions, answered
The live-page questions that decide whether passive income can carry the Italian case.
Does Elettiva allow any work income?
No. Employment, freelance work and occasional remote services are prohibited. If you need active income, test the Italy Digital Nomad Visa instead.
What income proof does the consulate accept?
Tax returns showing recurring passive income over the prior two to three years, bank statements, pension certificates, rental contracts and deposit history, or dividend statements. The exact set follows the income source and consulate.
Can I apply for the neo-residenti lump-sum regime?
Eligible new tax residents can apply to cap Italian tax on foreign income at €300,000 a year, plus €50,000 per qualifying family member, for up to 15 years. You must not have been Italian tax resident in nine of the preceding ten years, and the filing is made in the first tax year.
How does Elettiva differ from Italy's DNV?
The Italy DNV is for active remote work from foreign employers or clients and starts at €24,789.93 a year. Elettiva is for passive income from €31,000 a year and prohibits all work.
Do I need to buy property in Italy?
No. A registered long-term lease of at least 12 months can satisfy the housing requirement.
How long until citizenship?
The standard naturalisation path starts after ten years of continuous legal residence under the rules then in force. Citizenship by descent is a separate route when Italian ancestry applies.
What is the difference between the visa and the residence permit?
The consulate issues the entry visa. After arrival, you file locally for the permesso di soggiorno. Initial permit validity and renewal length depend on the authority and continued eligibility.
Can I rent out my Italian home while living there?
Short-term letting can be treated as business activity and can conflict with the passive-income-only route. Review the exact plan with Italian immigration and tax specialists before renting.
Reviewed by the Relovisa immigration teamLive content checked 2026-08-12
Start with the income source
Bring the passive income. We will test the Italian route.
Pension, rent, dividends, royalties or annuities: show us the sources, the household and the move plan. We confirm whether Elettiva is viable and how to document it.
Book your strategy call30 minutes · €40, applied to your package if you proceed