Italy Long Term Visas

See important updates** after this paragraph. This video provides general information on how to obtain a Long-Term Visa for Italy. Including how to get started, finding and using the Italian Consulate that serves your area, basic requirements, the Italian Visa Application, Visa Appointments, and more.
Important updates**: For the Elective Residence Visa most consulates have changed their requirements for the minimum Financial Autonomous Income needed for married or common-law couples. The requirement is now approximately US$32,000 per person. (Previously it was approximately US$40,000 for the couple).
Index:
Getting Started 0:01
The Italian Consulate 3:11
Basic Requirements for Italian Long-Term Visas 5:26
The Elective Residence Visa 10:07
Making Appointments for Italian Long-Term Visas 18:10
Italian Long-Term Visa Application 22:05
Preparing Your Supporting Documents 23:21
Appointment Day 24:35
After Arriving In Italy 25:53
Helpful links:
Find the Italian Consulate for your area: ambwashingtond...
House Finders Northern Italy
website: www.housefindersnorthernitaly.com
youtube: / @housefindersnortherni...

[@dxmenon]

I generally don’t leave comments. However, this is an exception. Job well done!!! Clear, informative, and succinct.

[@housefindersnorthernitaly]

Thank you!

[@googolmom]

Your presentations are very clear, easy to follow and understand. Thank you very much for all the work you do to collect and present all the information and sharing your knowledge from your personal experiences. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@housefindersnorthernitaly]

Thanks!!!

[@casscara]

This is so great. Thank you so much. I am sold.❤

[@housefindersnorthernitaly]

You are so welcome!

[@Myhappyplace65]

Wow! You are so informed and so clear and precise. I am grateful for what you do. THANK YOU. I bought a home in Salento last year but when I get my finances in place and ready for Tuscany I will be sure to contact you!

[@housefindersnorthernitaly]

Thanks!!! We strive to be an informational channel.

[@luannecarter7590]

This was a fantastic presentation. Thank you for the thorough information and your valuable insights!

[@margaritasoto9105]

I love your videos. They are very informative and have inspired me to buy a house in Italy. I have had that dream for years but after retirement and watching your videos I think is possible. I would like to visit Piedmont for two weeks in order to explore the area. Are there Airbnb with internet access? Which is the closest airport to Piedmont? Thank you for such amazing work.

[@housefindersnorthernitaly]

Wow! Thanks Margarita. If you meet the requirements of the Italian Consulate, it is absolutely possible. All Airbnb's should have internet access unless you are in a remote region - up in the mountains. The closest major international airport is Malpensa - just outside of Milan. There is also an airport in Turin.

[@TradGuyTravels]

For the elective residence visa, does Airbnb suffice for the rental requirement for a place to live?

[@housefindersnorthernitaly]

No. Either a house you own or a rental agreement.

[@gayleb9656]

How do you buy/rent a home before applying for a long term visa? What if they don’t approve you?

[@housefindersnorthernitaly]

Yes that is the dilemma, Catch-22 situation. You can sign a rental agreement with an exit clause - many allow 3 months notice if you want to end the agreement before term. Re buying a house, if there are doubts that you would be approved, best to rent first.

[@johnm.6469]

Hi Lisa! Fantastic information that is explained clearly and very easy to understand! I live in the U.S., am planning to retire next year, and have been researching a possible move to Italy. I consulted with an Italian tax advisor and was informed that based on my situation, I may be subject to as much as 35% income tax in Italy. I'm aware. of the 7% Flat tax regime, but prefer to live in the north of Italy. I'm trying to look at this holistically, so in your opinion, does the benefit of significantly lower healthcare cost and overall lower cost of living offset the high tax rate enough for this to make sense?

[@housefindersnorthernitaly]

Thanks Johnm! I am not a tax professional but let's break down the differences on an annual income of US$50,000. In the US, there is an average 27% tax rate (after standard deduction), leaving a take-home of US$37,000. In Italy, the max tax rate on $50k is 35% leaving a take home of $32,500. The difference of US$4,500 could be a lot or a little depending on your lifestyle and circumstances. In Italy, national health care is free to residents (affordable rate for the first five years then free after five years), if you own your house (as a primary residence and not a "luxury" property) there are no annual property taxes. So those two savings alone could make up the difference. For me, living expenses are considerably lower in Italy. Some examples, cell phone $20/month in Italy vs. $120/month in US, car insurance is about $1,000 per year lower, homeowners insurance is about $1,500 per year lower, utilities about $1,000 lower, i spend about 40% less on groceries of higher quality, dining out is $15-40 in Italy even at excellent restaurants with wine vs. $20-150+++, travel costs (trains, airfares, accommodations) are much lower -- except for gasoline which is about 30% higher, fees for services are lower (car repair, plumbers, dentists, etc.), the cost of goods is lower (furniture, appliances, household items, clothing etc. -- many of which are made in Italy). As you get into a higher earnings bracket, the tax rate climbs but as in the US, the higher your income, the more deductions and tax benefits you get.

[@johnm.6469]

@@housefindersnorthernitaly Thank you so much Lisa! This is very helpful and much appreciated.

[@patstroud6371]

I am about to retire. My wife and son are going to come with me. A question we have and cannot seem to get an answer to (even from the consulate) is: Do we need three separate elective visa applications (one for each of us) or can we submit a single form listing my wife and son with me on a single application?

[@housefindersnorthernitaly]

Each consulate is different with different regulations so I would always choose the safest route. Do a separate application for you and a separate application for your wife. If your son is still a dependent, list him on your applicaiton. If he is not, do a separate application.

[@kb4640]

How do you email you guys for questions? I want to know if you deal with the Santa Fiora area and the offer they were advertising.

[@housefindersnorthernitaly]

Hi. Our House Buying Services cover all areas of Italy but our House Finding Services cover only Piedmont and and Liguria. You can always send questions here through our social media outlets - KZbin and Instagram. If you would like a personal consultation, please see the Contact / About Us page on our website www.housefindersnorthernitaly.com

[@salvatoreemma]

Anyone? If you go to Italy on vacation and want to live there full time, can you apply for a ERVisa at the local town Commune instead of an Italian consulate?

[@housefindersnorthernitaly]

No. You have to apply through the Italian Consulate in the country where you reside.

[@kenrs1362]

This question might be too specific, but I'll give it a shot anyhow. I've compiled a long list of all the information I can find on applying for an elective residence visa, but I cannot find any specific requirements for the Philadelphia Consulate. The only thing I can find is that the consulate uses "VIS", so I'm suspecting that they don't have any specific requirements of their own. Am I wrong?

[@housefindersnorthernitaly]

I'm not sure why the Philadelphia office changed their Visa info. All it really says is that office personnel are available to advise on what type of Visa a person should apply for. Perhaps writing or calling is the best solution. I can't tell if the VIS is going to be for all types of Visas or just for citizens of countries that need a Visa just to travel there.

[@kenrs1362]

@@housefindersnorthernitaly Thanks for the reply! I’ll try to contact them for more info.

[@kenrs1362]

I'm retired and getting all of my ducks in a row to make the move, but I'm totally confused about how I'm supposed to lease a place in Italy before I've even applied for a visa. Any advice?

[@housefindersnorthernitaly]

Yes, it's a bit of a catch-22 situation but you must either have a signed rental agreement for a place to live here in Italy or a house that you own. For the rental agreement, you would have to contract with someone here and submit a copy of the rental agreement with your visa application. Some consulates require that the rental agreement is registered with the Agenzia delle Entrate.

[@sangeethastephen8357]

How can I contact you, mam? I have some doubts about my visa

[@housefindersnorthernitaly]

Hi. You can reach us through the Contact / About Us page on our website at www.housefindersnorthernitaly.com. However, we are not experts on individual situations. And I can really only speak in depth and with experience about the Elective Residence Visa. The rules and regulations outlined on the Italian Consulate websites are the ultimate guidelines.

[@GGLD888]

Lol,.well the terms of the ERV stuffs me! I wanted to buy a house and set up a bricks. N mortar business as I dont have any autonomous income

[@housefindersnorthernitaly]

It's definitely an obstacle to moving here. Any chance you have European ancestry to go the citizenship route?

[@CatacombMan]

Living in Piedmont, can you just visit France or Switzerland for once every 90 days to continue staying in Italy without all this paperwork? It's getting really dicey here in America, you need to do a "fast and loose" moving to Italy video. Bending the law a little, do you know how the law is bent in America with people running across the border 🙂 living here for years upon years. This doesn't exist in Italy does it? (Please don't think this comment isn't valid, I've come to the end of your video and it all sounds so complicated I'm ready to throw myself out the window!). Just give options to someone who doesn't want to deal with all this PAPERWORK!

[@housefindersnorthernitaly]

Hi CatacombMan. I can't give a fast and loose solution. Just like in any country, the only options to stay without going through the proper channels are not legal. Just like in any country, anyone can come here and stay but they risk the consequences. Just like most countries, it is a complicated and lengthy process to obtain residency. As France and Switzerland are EU and/or Schengen countries, the 90-day rule does not apply there.

[@CatacombMan]

@@housefindersnorthernitaly Thanks for replying ♥️ all your videos and info are invaluable!