Visa in Italy

Do I Need a Visa to Live in Italy?

If you have an EU passport and thus EU citizenship, then no. You can hop on a plane and live out your days on the Mediterranean coast, lapping up those beautiful days under the sun. Just remember to tell the Questura (local police) about your arrival, and keep a form of identification on you at all times.

If you don’t and only hold non-EU passports, you are going to need to apply for a visa. So, keep reading and we’ll explain what you need to do to get a visa.

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Applying for a Visa

The fundamentals of applying for a visa are pretty easy, especially when you are looking to move to Italy. Since you’ll be moving for more than 90 days, you’ll need a long term visa, often called a national visa (D type).

The form lists many of the necessary documentation for your application, but here are some of the more common supplementary materials that you’ll need:

• Recent passport-size photograph
• Valid travel document with expiration date three days longer than visa
• Proof of accommodation in Italy
• Proof of financial stability
• Health insurance, if the foreign national is not entitled to health care in Italy by virtue of agreements or conventions in force with their country
• Enrolment or pre-enrolment in the course to be followed in Italy
• “Nulla osta” (authorisation) for work from the relevant SUI (immigration one-counter shop)

You can also use the Italian government’s visa page to list the necessary documents for your visa, a neat little tool!

Now on to applying, so where do you need to apply? That depends on where you are living! If you live in England or Wales (and associated islands), please apply at the London Embassy. If you are living in Scotland or Northern Ireland, please apply at the Consulate in Edinburgh.

Permesso di Soggiorno

Finally, once you have received your national visa, you will need to visit the local Questura within 8 days of arrival to apply for your permesso di soggiorno (residence permit). Once you obtain this, you are golden and can live  your new lifein peace. Just don’t let it expire, which should only happen in 2-5 years, depending, and keep it on you to prove that you have a right to be there.

Applying for an Italian visa is fairly straightforward. So, just stick with it and maybe find a friend who speaks Italian. Otherwise, good luck with your move to Italy!