Moving to another country is forever filled with excitement, but it's equally important to pay attention to the less thrilling aspects.
Here are the essential factors you must keep in mind when relocating from the UK to Italy to ensure a smooth transition to your new life.
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Italian residency requirements
First and foremost, you must ensure your stay in Italy can last as long as you want, whether a few months or indefinitely. Italy allows UK citizens to stay 90 days without a visa, so you should be covered if your move is just for the summer months. If you plan to stay longer, you must ensure you have a long-stay visa for Italy to extend your stay. Generally speaking, this means having a study program, job (including freelancing/self-employment), or retirement plan that can be used as a valid reason for relocating to Italy. Find out more about becoming a resident in our Italian resident permit guide.
Can I get residency when buying a property in Italy?
Italy doesn’t offer a golden visa, one of the schemes some European countries have that rewards foreign real estate purchases with a fast track to residency. However, if you own property in Italy, you may get favourable treatment for a long-stay visa. Italian property owners may find the process goes faster for them. After five years of continuous residence in Italy on a suitable visa, you can apply for permanent residence, provided you meet the Italian resident requirements. A two-year investor visa is available if you’re only looking to relocate to Italy for a few years.
While it won’t grant you instant residency, buying a home can assist the visa process in Italy, and Kyero can help you find the perfect property.
Previously, as members of the EU, UK citizens could move around fellow states as they liked. That meant you could live and work in Italy for as long as you wanted without worrying about visas. Brexit has changed all this. Now, moving to Italy from the UK requires a bit more paperwork. Not only do you need to make sure you follow the correct Italy visa process to stay beyond 90 days, but you also need to consider healthcare.
Moving to Italy after Brexit means you no longer have an EU healthcare card but you can apply for a GHIC to use in Europe which will in most cases reduce costs. You will need to make sure you have arranged your own healthcare cover if you want to ensure a friction-free experience if you need medical attention. Private health insurance is recommended if you want to make sure you can access an English-speaking doctor when needed. To find out more about the healthcare system in Italy read our Italian healthcare guide.
Luckily, when it comes to buying property in Italy after Brexit, there is no impact on your right to purchase a property.
Working life in Italy
Relocating to Italy isn’t just about holiday homes and retirement; if you plan to work in Italy, you will need the correct visa. For those looking to secure long-stay access, the Italy visa application process for a working visa (retirement and study visas do not allow full-time employment) will require you to have a job offer already. Your new Italian employer will need to help you complete the visa application, through the Italian Consulate, while still in your home country.
Finance and taxes in Italy
Finances are crucial to your new life in Italy, which means tax. How much tax you pay will depend on your resident status and overall income. As a non-resident, you will only have to pay taxes in Italy on your Italian income, but as a resident, you must pay tax on all your income. Bear in mind that if you are a freelancer (as declared in your Italy visa application), even if your client is based abroad, if you are paid for work performed in Italy, you are due to pay income taxes in Italy.
The Italian tax rate that applies to you will be based on your total income:
One crucial aspect of moving to Italy from the UK is ensuring you have a bank account in your new home. Not only is this crucial for paying bills and receiving your pension, but it’s also necessary for buying a property in Italy. Start by acquiring your Codice fiscal or tax number from your local tax office, consular, or embassy free of charge; you must be present in person to request it. Once you have your Codice fiscal or tax number, you will need to visit the bank yourself with the following before you can complete your anti-money laundering (AML) compliance and open a bank account in Italy:
Valid ID or passport A residence permit Proof of employment or self-employment (payslips, credit scores etc.)
What you need for retiring to Italy
If you retire to Italy, your visa requirements will be slightly different. You will need an elective visa, given to those who can prove they can stay in Italy without needing to work for financial support. Naturally, this means you will need proof of significant finances to support your relocation to Italy, such as savings or a pension. You will also need to prove you can secure residence with these funds, either as a house you purchase or one you plan to rent. Older residents are also perceived as more likely to need healthcare in time, so you will need to organise private healthcare before retiring to Italy from the UK.
You will need to present the following when applying for a retirement visa at your local Italian Consulate:
Your filled-in application Proof of UK residence A valid passport that covers the length of your stay in Italy A passport photo Proof of financial stability – this cannot be a salary as you cannot work on a retirement visa Proof of ownership of Italian property or a rental agreement Proof of health insurance A marriage certificate if you are applying with your spouse or birth certificates if doing so with children
Retiring to Italy from the UK
If you are retiring to Italy from the UK, you can continue to collect your UK pension while in Italy, but this will need to be set up in advance. Visit the International Pension Centre for more information. Make sure you tell your local council of your move to begin setting up a forwarding address.
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