Finding your Italian Dream Home: Tips and Tricks
Italy, with its rich history, fascinating culture, art cities, and wonderful landscapes, attracts many expats who wish to move to Italy and start a new life.
If you’re considering moving to Italy, it’s crucial to understand the country, as well as the procedures and types of visas necessary to legally live in this Mediterranean nation.
This guide from Spacest.com will provide you with a detailed overview to help you navigate the process of moving to Italy.
Our team has compiled a comprehensive and precise list of actions to take before and after you’ve moved to Italy:
Discover if Moving to Italy meets your needs
If you’re planning to move abroad, specifically to Italy, you should know that this is a significant decision. It’s essential to determine if the country you’re moving to has everything you need:
- Study: If you’re planning to move to Italy for studies, here’s an overview of universities and educational institutions in Italy;
- Internship: Thinking about undertaking an internship? Find out how to secure an internship in Italy;
- Work: If you’re looking to find work in Italy, discover how to achieve this and understand the work culture.
Learn the Basics about Italy
Italian culture is unique, ancient, and multifaceted. By getting to know it well, you’ll not only understand the people and its inhabitants better but also be prepared for any potential cultural shocks!
Italian Culture
The cultural aspects in Italy are among the oldest in Europe and offer a spectrum of peculiarities and uniqueness found only here. From gastronomic and wine culture to art and literature, to different lifestyles between the North and South, and the linguistic and cultural differences between the Regions, Italy is a nation to discover, and perhaps a lifetime won’t be enough to learn everything about its culture!
Italian Language
If learning Italian is a dream of yours, you should know that this poetic language directly descends from Latin and its grammar might be a challenge, especially if your mother tongue is Germanic. Besides the “standard” Italian (mainly spoken in Tuscany), Italy has an innumerable amount of regional dialects, some considered languages in their own right. In Italy, the use of English is widespread, however, learning Italian is crucial as locals prefer it.
Climate in Italy
The Italian climate is generally Mediterranean, with often very hot summers and mild winters. However, there are many climatic differences between the North and South and between inland and coastal areas. The best seasons in Italy are undoubtedly spring and autumn, but if you’re a lover of warmth, sea, and beaches, the Italian summer will be perfect for you.
Choose a City to live in
Deciding which Italian city to settle is both an exciting and challenging experience.
Several factors come into play in the choice, including the cost of living, job opportunities, cultural offerings, climate conditions, openness towards minority communities, and more. Discover the best rental housing listings in Italy.
Each city offers distinctive features, making it important to invest time in finding the one that best suits your needs: cities in Central and Northern Italy are generally more expensive than those in the South, however, it’s possible to find economical solutions in any area.
The cities preferred by expats for moving to Italy are:
- Rome, in the Lazio Region and capital;
- Milan, Lombardy Region;
- Florence, Tuscany Region;
- Bologna, Emilia-Romagna Region;
- Turin, Piedmont Region.
And if you’re interested in delving further into the topic, don’t miss our special guide on The best cities to live in Italy.
Check the Cost of Living in Italy
The cost of living in Italy is on average aligned with that of major European nations like Germany, France, and Spain.
However, the average monthly salaries are not very high, averaging around 1600 euros per month. This figure obviously changes based on the job position, sector, seniority, and individual competence level.
In the last two years, rental costs have increased, and cities like Milan, Bologna, and Florence have become difficult to access without a considerable salary.
However, in Italy, the suburbs, and therefore more accessible and less expensive areas, are very close to city centers, so many expats and locals often live just outside the center and move by car or with the extensive public transport network, as in Milan.
Discover the Requirements and Types of Visa
Before moving to Italy, it’s essential to determine which type of visa suits your needs.
If you’re moving to Italy from another EU country, for example, you won’t need a visa or residence permit.
But if you want to move to Italy from the USA, the UK, or any other part of the world, you’ll need a visa and a residence permit.
Types of Visa
Italy offers several visas for foreigners, including:
- Work Visa: Necessary for those intending to work in Italy. Requires a job offer from an Italian employer;
- Study Visa: For international students wishing to attend courses or training in Italy;
- Family Reasons Visa: For those moving to Italy for family reunification;
- Business Visa: For those entering Italy for temporary business;
- Tourist Visa: Although it does not allow working or studying, it’s useful for exploring the country before deciding to move permanently.
Required Documentation
The required documentation varies depending on the type of visa but generally includes:
- Valid passport;
- Completed application forms;
- Recent passport photos;
- Proof of accommodation in Italy;
- Proof of sufficient financial means;
- Job offer letter or admission from an educational institution (if applicable).
Submit the Application
After gathering all the necessary documents, you’ll need to submit your application at the Italian consulate or embassy in your home country.
It’s advisable to start this process several months before the planned move date, as processing times can vary.
Search for your New Home in Italy
If you’ve already completed enrollment at a university, signed a work contract, or internship, you’ll likely need to search for your new home in Italy.
However, it’s important to inform yourself about rental costs in the city where you’ll live and its various neighborhoods. This aspect is crucial because housing is particularly sought after in Italy, especially in the more crowded urban areas.
To search for your new home in Italy, you can rely on various solutions, including new online platforms, like Spacest.com, specialized in medium to long-term rentals.
With Spacest.com, you can search for rental accommodations in Italy and in various cities and neighborhoods.
Take a look at these examples of apartments for rent in Milan and apartments for rent in Milan in Porta Venezia.
Procedures upon your Arrival in Italy
Obtaining the Residence Permit
Once in Italy with your visa, you’ll need to apply for a residence permit at the local Questura (Police) office. This document is essential for legally living in Italy and requires the submission of additional documents, including the work contract or confirmation of enrollment in a study course.
Registration at the Registry Office
Foreigners intending to reside in Italy for more than three months must also register at the registry office of their municipality of residence. This step is crucial for accessing local services, including healthcare.
National Health System
Italy has a public health system to which residents contribute through the tax system. However, it’s also possible to have private health insurance or turn to private healthcare for a fee to cover services not included in the public system or to reduce waiting times. Remember to subsequently choose your general practitioner who can manage your health initially.
Opening an Italian Bank Account
Opening a bank account in Italy can facilitate the management of daily finances. To do so, you’ll need a tax code (“codice fiscale”), which can be obtained at the Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate ndt). In Italy, there are many banking institutions, both Italian and international: choose the best one for your needs.
Get a Local SIM Card
If you are an EU citizen, your mobile offer for smartphones will also work in Italy, however with some limitations. Therefore, the team at Spacest.com always recommends activating an Italian sim with a monthly data and calls subscription plan (the most used solution in Italy) whether you are an EU citizen or non-EU.
In Conclusion: is Moving to Italy a Good Choice?
To move to Italy, you can find a rental solution that meets all your needs; although it may be difficult to adapt to living in a new country and context, finding a rental accommodation in Italy is very simple thanks to the solutions available on our site.
A new experience awaits you, and we are here to make it as simple as possible thanks to our solutions and technology.
Visit our website and contact our team of experts, who will be able to assist you in these initial search phases: once you have understood the secrets of living in Italy, your new daily life, do not forget to keep yourself updated by reading our blog, where you will always find useful advice and constant updates.
If you are interested in having more information on all the opportunities you can take advantage of by moving to Italy and further exploring the initiatives proposed in the territory and news on events, we recommend not missing our sections entirely dedicated to advice on the best restaurants and the most interesting activities in cities.
For further information and assistance on moving to Italy, visit our support page at Spacest.com.