Moving to Italy: your relocation checklist
How to move to Italy: the visa and residency routes, cost of living, banking, healthcare and taxes you'll deal with, organized by phase. Generate a free plan tailored to your passport, family, and budget below.
Consumer prices run about 3% below the EU average, the average advertised salary is about €22,364 a year and English proficiency is rated “moderate” (EF EPI).
Moving from the United States? See the Italy from the USA guide.
Budgeting the move? See the cost of living in Italy.
Italy at a glance
Live and regularly refreshed data, each fact with its source.
Climate · Rome
Jan 10° · Jul 27°
Open-Meteo
Air quality · Rome
AQI 25 · Good
WAQI
Prices vs EU average
−3%
Eurostat 2025
Internet
~90 Mbps median
Ookla
Messengers
No known issues
OONI, 6 months to July 2026
Foreign-born residents
11.0% of population
World Bank 2024
Population
58.9M
World Bank 2025
Population density
199 / km²
World Bank 2023
Unemployment
6.4%
World Bank 2025
Avg advertised salary
€22,364 / yr
Adzuna, June 2026
English proficiency
moderate
EF EPI
Safety advisory
Level 2 · Exercise Increased Caution
U.S. State Dept
Currency
EUR
ISO 4217
Timezone
UTC+2
Open-Meteo
Inbound workers regime (impatriati)
50% of employment income tax-exempt up to ~€600k · 5 years
For new tax residents who worked abroad for the previous 3 years; the pre-2024 70–90% exemption was cut by the 2024 reform. Scaled back in 2024 (was up to 70–90% exempt).
Verified June 2026 · Agenzia delle Entrate
7% flat tax for foreign pensioners
7% flat tax on all foreign income · up to 10 years
Only when settling in a southern-Italy municipality with under 20,000 residents; requires a foreign pension.
Verified June 2026 · Agenzia delle Entrate
Getting set up in Italy: key steps & official resources
The main immigration, tax, healthcare and housing bodies you'll deal with, with the official portals and typical costs. Curated and hand-verified — last reviewed June 2026. Figures are approximate; always confirm the current numbers on the official site.
- Apply for the permesso di soggiorno within 8 days of arrival — pick up the kit at a Poste Italiane Sportello Amico, then attend the Questura (questure.poliziadistato.it).
- Codice fiscale (tax code) comes from the Agenzia delle Entrate (www.agenziaentrate.gov.it); register your residence (residenza) at the Comune's Anagrafe office.
- Public healthcare is the SSN with a tessera sanitaria. Italy introduced a Digital Nomad Visa in 2024.
- Main housing portals: Immobiliare.it (www.immobiliare.it), Idealista (www.idealista.it), Casa.it. Emergency number is 112.
- Key figures (approximate — verify current values): the permesso di soggiorno costs ~€100–130 all-in (electronic permit fee €70–100 + €30 kit postage + €16 marca da bollo stamp) and must be applied for within 8 working days of arrival; the codice fiscale is free at Agenzia delle Entrate; rental deposits are typically 2–3 months.
The Italy relocation checklist at a glance
1Before you go
- Confirm which visa or residency route fits your situation
- Gather and, where needed, apostille/translate key documents
- Sort out international health insurance for the gap period
- Budget the move and notify your bank of the relocation
2First week
- Register your address with the local authority
- Get a local SIM / mobile number
- Start the local bank account application
- Locate the nearest clinic and pharmacy
3First month
- Complete residency registration and get your ID number
- Enroll in the healthcare system or private insurance
- Set up utilities and a long-term rental contract
- Understand your tax residency obligations
4First 90 days
- Exchange or apply for a local driving license if required
- Build a local support network and language basics
- Review and optimize banking, taxes, and insurance
- Handle school enrollment or childcare if you have kids
This is a general outline. Your personalized plan above adapts every step to where you're moving from, your visa status, and your situation. Always verify official requirements: this is not legal or immigration advice.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to move to Italy?
It depends on your passport and why you are moving: tourist entry rules are different from working, studying or joining family. Generate a free plan above and we check the visa route for your exact passport and situation, using a 238-country visa matrix.
Does Italy have a special tax regime for newcomers?
Yes: Inbound workers regime (impatriati). 50% of employment income tax-exempt up to ~€600k · 5 years. For new tax residents who worked abroad for the previous 3 years; the pre-2024 70–90% exemption was cut by the 2024 reform. Status: recently changed, verified June 2026 against Agenzia delle Entrate.
What is the weather like in Italy?
In Rome, average daily temperatures run about Jan 10° · Jul 27° (Open-Meteo historical data, 2025). Regional climates can differ a lot; a city-level plan uses data for your exact destination city.
Can I use WhatsApp and Telegram in Italy?
Network measurements over the last six months show Telegram, WhatsApp, Signal, Facebook Messenger working normally in Italy (OONI, 5 January 2026 to 7 July 2026). This reflects measured reachability, not an official policy statement.
What do jobs pay in Italy?
The average advertised salary is about €22,364 a year (Adzuna job listings, June 2026). For a benchmark role like software engineer, the median advertised band starts around €40,000. Advertised salaries skew toward roles that are posted online, so treat this as a signal, not a guarantee.
How high are taxes on salaries in Italy?
The OECD tax wedge is about 46% (2025): that is the share of what a job costs an employer that goes to income tax and social contributions for a single average worker. It is not your personal income-tax rate, but it is the honest way to compare countries.
How current is this data?
Climate, inflation and life expectancy were refreshed 12 July 2026; prices, taxes and air quality 7 July 2026; messenger reachability 7 July 2026. Tax regimes are hand-verified against official government sources. Every fact on this page shows its source.