Italy

ITA

Italy now offers a mature Digital Nomad visa pathway alongside its long-standing Investor visa program, both increasingly used by remote workers and HNWIs seeking EU access. The flat-tax regime for new resident HNWIs remains available but has seen its annual substitute-tax cap raised, reducing its relative attractiveness compared to earlier years. Naturalisation timelines remain among the longest in the EU, with residency-based routes still requiring a decade of continuous stay for most applicants.

Naturalisation: 10 years
Tax system: Residence Based
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Dual citizenship: Allowed
Capital: Rome
Region: europe
Population: 59,240,000
Cost-of-living: 60 /100

→ If you hold a Italy passport, see the Italy nationality guide

Passport Rank

Visa-Free

190

destinations

Country Details

Capital: Rome
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Languages: Italian
Population: 59,240,000
Tax System: Residence Based
Dual Citizenship: Allowed
Naturalisation: 10 years
Schengen / EU: Schengen / EU
Climate: Mediterranean / Alpine
English Proficiency Rank: #36

Italy's Flat Tax Regime offers new tax residents a flat €100,000 annual substitute tax on all foreign-source income regardless of amount, valid for up to 15 years.

Indices

Cost of Living

Safety

Healthcare

Quality of Life

175

Tax Summary

Tax System: Residence Based
Territorial Taxation: No — worldwide income taxed for residents
Naturalisation: 10 years of legal residency
Dual Citizenship: Allowed
Special Tax Regime: Italy's Flat Tax Regime offers new tax residents a flat €100,000 annual substitute tax on all foreign-source income regardless of amount, valid for up to 15 years.

Cost of Living by City

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Monthly cost of living per major city in USD: rent, groceries, utilities, transit pass
City	Rent 1BR centre	Rent outside	Groceries	Utilities	Transit pass
Milan	$1,800	$1,200	$380	$175	$42
Rome	$1,400	$950	$350	$160	$38
Florence	$1,300	$880	$330	$155	$35
Naples	$850	$550	$280	$140	$30

Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.

Climate

Rome

11°J

12°F

15°M

18°A

23°M

27°J

30°J

30°A

26°S

21°O

15°N

12°D

Rainfall range: 15–116 mm/month · Daylight 9h (winter) to 15h (summer)

Milan

4°J

7°F

12°M

17°A

21°M

26°J

28°J

27°A

23°S

17°O

10°N

5°D

Rainfall range: 58–97 mm/month · Daylight 8h (winter) to 15h (summer)

Palermo

14°J

15°F

17°M

20°A

24°M

28°J

31°J

31°A

28°S

23°O

18°N

15°D

Rainfall range: 3–90 mm/month · Daylight 9h (winter) to 14h (summer)

Visa Categories & Immigration Authority

Major Visa Categories

Schengen short-stay visa (type C)
Elective Residence visa (Residenza Elettiva)
Investor visa (Visto per Investitori)
Digital Nomad / Remote Worker visa
Self-Employed / Lavoro Autonomo visa
Subordinate Work visa (Lavoro Subordinato)
Student visa
Family Reunification visa
EU Blue Card
Scientific Research visa
Intracompany Transfer visa

Authority: Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale / Polizia di Stato (Sportello Unico Immigrazione)
Official Portal: vistoperitalia.esteri.it

Naturalisation Details

Residence Years: 10
Language Test: Yes (B1)
Civic Test: No
Oath Required: Yes
Dual Allowed: Yes
Fee: $250
Processing: ~48 months

Real Estate

Avg price/sqm (capital): $4,000
Transaction taxes: 9%

Foreign buyers: No restrictions for EU nationals; non-EU buyers subject to reciprocity principle — most Western nationals face no practical barrier.

International Schools

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International schools by city, curriculum, and annual tuition
School	City	Curriculum	Tuition (USD/yr)
St Stephen's School Rome	Rome	American	$20,000–$32,000
International School of Milan (ICS Milan)	Milan	IB	$18,000–$28,000
Florence International School	Florence	IB	$14,000–$22,000

Daily Life Logistics

Internet

100 Mbps median

75% fibre coverage

eSIM: TIM, Vodafone IT, WindTre, Iliad IT

Driving

IDP required

Exchange eligible: EU member states, UK, Switzerland +1 more

Pet Relocation

Quarantine: none

Rabies titre not required

EU pet passport: accepted

Safety

GPI Rank

#33

Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)

Common Risks

⚠Tourist overcharging at colosseum cafes
⚠bracelet trick (Rome/Florence)
⚠taxi meter fraud
⚠distraction theft on trains

Examples of areas to avoid: Napoli Stazione Centrale periphery, Tor Bella Monaca (Rome), San Siro periphery late night (Milan)

LGBTQ+ Legal Status

Same-Sex Marriage: Not legal
Civil Partnerships: Recognised
Anti-Discrimination Law: Yes
ILGA Rank: #35

Religious Life

Halal Food: Widely available
Kosher Food: Widely available
Prayer Facilities: Limited

Sample Citizenship Test Questions

Q1. What does the Italian Constitution guarantee as inviolable rights?

Answer: Inviolable rights of the person both as individual and in social groups

Source: Italian Constitution Art. 2; Ministero dell'Interno test guidelines

Q2. Who is the head of state in Italy?

Answer: The President of the Republic

Source: Italian Constitution; Ministero dell'Interno test guidelines

Q3. How many chambers does the Italian parliament have?

Answer: Two

Source: Italian Constitution Art. 55; Ministero dell'Interno test guidelines

Related Guides

Fastest paths to an EU passport in 2025

A sourced comparison of the shortest EU naturalisation timelines, from 2-year descent fast-tracks to 5-year residency routes — plus the hidden requirements that extend them in practice.

Zero and low-tax residencies: the real list

Countries with zero personal income tax, territorial-only taxation, or special expatriate regimes — and what each one actually requires from you to qualify as a resident.

Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave

Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.

Related on The Citizenship Desk

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Citizenship

10y

Verified 2026-07-07

Hospitals

Humanitas Research Hospital

Milan, Italy ITA

JCI

OncologyCardiologyOrthopaedicsNeurosciences+2

5 languages

Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli

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Citizenship by Descent

Italian Citizenship by Descent (Jure Sanguinis)

Italy

Est. Cost

$2,000– $15,000

Processing

6–48mo

Verified 2026-04-20

Sources & last verified

Last verified 2026-06-20