Be aware that before applying for the residence permit in Italy, you need to apply for a long-stay visa at the Italian consulate or embassy in your country of residence.
A visa is not a residence permit, nor is the residence permit a visa. A visa is a permit to enter a country for a specific purpose, and is a prerequisite that must be fulfilled in order to proceed with an application in Italy for a residence permit. This means that the first step for you will be to ask for a Visa and after obtaining it and during itìs validity, you can come in Italy and apply for a residence permit.
A residence permit is a document that allows non-EU citizens to legally stay in Italy for more than 90 days regardless of the reason for the stay (e.g. work, retirement, study), and it must be renewed periodically in order to maintain it.. It is issued for the same motive that the Visa was issued. In other words, the residence permit is associated to the Visa applied for.
For example: you apply for an elective residence Visa. When you come in Italy, you will have to apply for the elective residence permit.
The Italian law on immigration grants non-EU citizens, planning to stay in Italy for more than 3 months, two types of residence permits: Temporary (Permesso di Soggiorno) and Permanent (EC long term residence permit ex Carta di Soggiorno).
A non-EU citizen that enters Italy and wants to apply for a residence permit for the first time will have to apply for a temporary residence permit.
Only after obtaining a temporary residence permit and meeting the following requirements, the applicant can apply for a permanent residence permit
The Elective Residence Visa permits a long-term stay for foreigners who intend to retire in Italy. It has been introduced for individuals who are able to support themselves autonomously, without having to rely on employment while in Italy, whether as dependent employees, as self-employed employees, or employees working remotely online.
An applicant cannot finance their residence in Italy by any type of work in Italy. Resources must be derived from stable asset-based revenues (annuities or pensions), property ownership, stable economic/financial activities, or other sources not related to employment.
For a single person, the minimum financial requirement is €31.000 per year.
Be aware that the threshold may vary at the discretion of the immigration authorities.
Applicants have the possibility to relocate with their family once they provide proof that their family’s lifestyle can be supported by them for the entire duration of the visa.
Who are Digital Nomads? How can they enter Italy?
Digital nomads are highly skilled professionals who work remotely using technology—either as freelancers or for companies abroad (or even in Italy). Italy now welcomes them with a dedicated visa!
Remote workers vs. Digital nomads:
Remote workers are employees with a traditional contract.
Digital nomads are self-employed professionals.
How to Apply for the Italy Digital Nomad Visa?
Visa application: apply at an Italian consulate in your home country.
Permit of stay: Within 8 days of arrival, request your residence permit at the local police station.
Approval: authorities verify your documents (contract, income, insurance) before issuing the permit.
Key Requirements:
Minimum income proof
Highly qualified work evidence
Health insurance coverage
The permit lasts 1 year (renewable)—no strict minimum stay required! No prior work authorization is needed.
Bringing your damily? Yes! spouses and minor children can join you.
Tax and social security rules vary case by case.
Family members of a Union citizen not possessing the nationality of a Member State shall apply to the competent police headquarters for the territory of residence for the residence permit for family member of a Union citizen. This type of residence permit does not require a Visa, so the person will come directly in Italy and make the request without passing through the step of the Consulate or Embassy in the state of residence.
It is s valid for five years from the date of issue.
In order to obtain an entry visa, it is necessary for the spouse residing legally in Italy to submit an application for a Nulla Osta (authorization) for reunification at the Sportello Unico (Unified Immigration Desk).
Once the competent Sportello Unico has received the application, it will convene the applicant, by means of a special appointment, for the presentation and validation of documentation relating to the availability of accommodation and minimum income requirements.
Income parameters are updated annually. The required income increases according to the number of family members to be reunited. The necessary income is calculated on the basis of the annual amount of the social allowance, increased by half for each family member to be reunited.
It is possible to request reunification for the following family members:
It is intended to significantly simplify the procedure to issue entry visas, by embracing three main distinctive principles:
1. Centralisation: although the procedure involves a number of administrations, there is a single contact point between the applicant and the Italian State.
2. Digitisation: the entire procedure is carried out on line, through a dedicated IT platform, used for all communications between the visa applicant and the administration. The issue of the visa will takes place in person at the Embassy or Consulate responsible for the area of residence of the applicant.
3. Speed: the applicant is notified of the outcome of his/her visa application within 30 days of sending the complete documentation. As a result, the time required for the entire migration process is significantly reduced.
The visa is only issued in circumstances that can be defined, for various reasons, as of public interest:
A. Government Bonds issued by the Italian Republic: Treasury Certificates (CCT/CCTeu), Zero-coupon Treasury Bonds (CTZ), Long-term Treasury Bonds (BTP), Long-Term Treasury Bonds index-linked to Eurozone inflation, and BTP ITALIA.3 For each typology, a minimum residual maturity of no less than two years is required.
B. Companies incorporated and operating in Italy: The recipient company may be either listed or unlisted. Its name and tax code are a substantial and mandatory piece of information and must be indicated at time of application.
C. Innovative startups: The official list of innovative startups, which is updated every week and accessible free of charge, is available on the portal startup.registroimprese.it, administered by the Italian Chambers of Commerce system.
D. Philanthropic donation: Donation supporting a project of public interest in the fields of culture, education, immigration management, scientific research, preservation of cultural and natural heritage.
The investor visa applicant must be:
• an individual (i.e. natural person) over eighteen years of age;
• a foreign legal entity, identified in its legal representative, i.e. the person who, on the basis of the deed of incorporation and the articles of association of the entity, is authorized to commit the will of the foreign legal entity and is over eighteen years old
The investor residence permit It is the two-year residence permit, renewable for further three-year periods that is issued to investor visa holders after they arrive in Italy.
The conditions for issue and maintenance of the permit are:
• the execution of the investment or donation declared in the visa application within three months of the date of entry into Italy;
• the maintenance of the original investment for the entire period of validity of the permit.
Accordion Content
Are you a foreign citizen holding a EU long-term residence permit issued by another European Union member state and wish to establish yourself in Italy?
It possible for a holder of a long-term residence permit issued by another EU Member State to apply for the conversion of their residence permit into an Italian residence permit
Italian citizenship is primarily acquired by descent (iure sanguinis), meaning that a person is born an Italian citizen if at least one parent is Italian, or if they are adopted by an Italian citizen. There is a limited possibility of acquiring citizenship by birth on Italian soil (iure soli) in specific cases, such as being born to stateless parents, parents of unknown identity, or parents who cannot pass on their citizenship under the laws of their home country.
Foreign nationals can apply for Italian citizenship after legally residing in Italy for at least 10 years (with some exceptions reducing this period) and meeting certain requirements. Additionally, citizenship can be obtained through marriage to an Italian citizen, subject to conditions such as duration of marriage and legal residence in Italy.
Italian citizenship automatically grants European Union (EU) citizenship, as Italy is an EU member state. Unlike national citizenship, EU citizenship does not require a separate acquisition process—it is an additional status that comes with being a citizen of an EU country.
Key rights of EU citizenship include:
Freedom of movement and residence within any EU member state.
Voting rights in municipal and European Parliament elections in the country of residence.
Consular protection from any EU embassy or consulate if the home country is not represented in a non-EU country.
Right to petition the European Parliament and file complaints with the European Ombudsman.
In summary, Italian citizenship provides both national and European rights, facilitating opportunities for living, working, and participating in democratic processes across the EU.
The descendant of an Italian emigrant who has not acquired foreign citizenship can also claim Italian citizenship through descent. Italian citizenship by descent is acquired through birth from an Italian ancestor (whether male or female), without generational limits, but with some exceptions.
Before the judgment No. 30 of February 9, 1983 of the Constitutional Court, Article 1 of Law No. 555/1912 did not provide that a child of an Italian mother is an Italian citizen by birth.
In fact following the Constitutional Court’s ruling that declared unconstitutional Article 1, the legal equivalence between men and women in matters of citizenship was established.
Therefore, descendants of Italian mothers can also request recognition of Italian citizenship “ius sanguinis,” provided they were born after January 1, 1948 (the date the Constitution came into effect), and that the mother possessed Italian citizenship at the time of the children’s birth.
However, the Supreme Court (Corte di Cassazione), in a United Sections judgment of 2009, recognized the right to obtain Italian citizenship “ius sanguinis” through judicial proceedings even for descendants through the maternal line born before 1948. Consequently, even the descendant of an Italian mother born before 1948 can have their status as an Italian citizen by descent (iure sanguinis) recognized.
The Public Administration continues not to follow this jurisprudential approach, instead believing that the female ancestor only transmits citizenship from the enactment of the Constitution onwards.
As a result, while descendants of Italian mothers born after January 1st, 1948 (similar to descendants of Italian fathers) can obtain the recognition of citizenship directly through administrative channels (via a Consulate if residing abroad, or through an application to the Mayor if temporarily moving to Italy or already residing there), if the descendant of an Italian mother was born before 1948, they will necessarily have to initiate a legal action in Italy, with the mandatory representation of a lawyer.
To qualify for jure sanguinis, you have to prove that the citizenship was transferred to you by an Italian-born ancestor within the Italian law.
The application for recognition of Italian citizenship “ius sanguinis” can be submitted in two ways:
ADMINISTRATIVELY by submitting a request to the | JUDICIALLY by filing a petition with the representation of a lawyer |
– Consular Authority (if the applicant resides abroad) – the processing time varies considerably depending on the Consulate (San Paolo Consulate is known to currently have a waiting time of around 10 years for appointments). In this case, is in the applicant’s best interest to proceed with a petition to the Civil Court of Rome to have their citizenship recognized by a judge. | – In the case of the children (and descendants of children) of Italian women who lost their citizenship due to marriage before 1948 to a foreigner and who were born before 1948, the only way to obtain citizenship recognition is by initiating legal proceedings through an attorney registered in Italy. |
– Mayor of the Municipality of residence (if the applicant resides in Italy) – In order to submit the application, the applicant does not necessarily need to possess a residence permit, a declaration of presence is sufficient. This procedure takes approximately 2 years.
| – in cases of descendants through the paternal line when the relevant Consulate has an excessive waiting list for processing administrative applications. An example is the San Paolo Consulate that takes more than 10 years to process applications). |
Through the legal process, it is possible to save time and financial resources!
In fact, it would not be necessary to move to Italy and rent an apartment, as your lawyer could handle the entire procedure even in your absence.
To initiate the legal process, the interested parties need to grant power of attorney to the Italian lawyer and send the original documents proving Italian descent to Italy.
For foreign nationals married to Italian citizens, obtaining Italian citizenship represents more than just legal status – it’s an opportunity to gain full EU membership privileges. The process, while clearly defined in law, requires careful navigation of administrative requirements and timelines.
Key eligibility requirements:
Residency duration: 2 years in Italy post-marriage (reduced to 1 year with children) or 3 years abroad (18 months with children)
Continuous marital union (no separations or divorces during processing)
B1-level Italian language certification (with specific exemptions)
Critical distinctions from other citizenship pathways:
Unlike citizenship by residency, this route:
Has no minimum income requirement
Assesses criminal history differently (with rehabilitation often sufficient)
Follows a more standardized approval process
Processing timelines:
Applications filed pre-December 2020: 48 month maximum
Current applications: 36 month statutory limit
(Note: These represent legal maximums, not guaranteed timeframes)
The administrative reality:
While the law establishes clear parameters, many applicants experience extended delays due to:
Backlogs at the Ministry of Interior
Extended verification processes
Inefficiencies in inter-agency communication
Our strategic approach:
We implement a proactive management system that:
Establishes regular, protocol-compliant follow-ups
Engages directly with relevant administrative offices
Monitors all procedural milestones
Addresses potential bottlenecks preemptively
This structured methodology differs significantly from generic reminder letters, representing instead a comprehensive case management solution designed to keep applications moving efficiently through the system.
According to Italian legislation, citizenship can also be granted to foreign individuals who have legally resided in Italian territory for a certain period.
Citizenship through residency can be requested by:
Attention! For all foreign citizens applying for citizenship through residency, in addition to the certification of Italian language proficiency not lower than level B1, possession of another requirement that of personal or family income is also required.
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