IS IT EASY TO RELOCATE TO ITALY?
September, 2023
Green Hills of Umbria has already written about the implications brought on by the post Brexit Withdrawal Agreement for UK citizens willing to buy or rent a property in Italy, highlighting how there is no restriction on property purchases or rentals in Italy.
You can read about it HERE – Brexit – Buying a property in Italy
Also, some bilateral treaties between the UK and Italy are still in force. Among them,the most important is the Convention against double taxation. Finally, a Bilateral Agreement between the UK and Italy on the exchange of driving licenses has entered into force as of the 30th March 2023.
Given that UK nationals’ right to own or to buy a property in Italy is therefore not affected, our aim with this article is to provide you with further insight of how taxation will be applied in case you wished to relocate from UK to Italy.
The following F.A.Q are anyway tailored to ALL nationalities.
TO RELOCATE TO PORTUGAL AND SPAIN RATHER TO ITALY IS EASIER. IS IT TRUE?
No, we do not notice a significant difference, in the procedure or costs to relocate, between Italy, Spain and Portugal. In fact, all three are countries of the European Union, and most of the “immigration” rules are similar. Also – as long as you avoid big Italian towns like Milan, Rome, Florence – there is no significant difference in terms of cost of living. Living in small towns in central or southern Italy can indeed be really cheap.
WHICH VISA IS ADVISABLE?
Among all of the available Italian long-stay visas, the Elective Residency Visa (residenza elettiva) is mostly used by those who wish to retire in Italy.
The requirements are:
- disposing of available accommodation to be chosen as residence (owned or rented, with a signed contract; e.g. purchase deed, cadastral certificate, OR rental agreement), and
- disposing of sufficient financial means (at least EUR 31,000 per year) from pensions, savings, or other sources to provide for themselves.
We can assist with the Visa processing beside the Italian Consulates in the UK, as well as providing assistance during the entire process (logistic, administrative, legal), even arranging courses of Italian Language in collaboration with Artelingua.
ARE THERE ANY TAX RELIEFS AND BENEFITS TO RELOCATE TO ITALY?
Yes, the Italian government has recently issued a provision specifically tailored to retirees who choose to move their residence to a small town – with no more than 20,000 inhabitants in the Regions of Central or Southern Italy. The tax benefit consist of a 7% flat tax rate.
IS HEALTH CARE GUARANTEED?
Once a resident, the foreign citizen can join the Italian National Healthcare system, Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN), that provides residents with free or low-cost healthcare that includes access to general practitioners (GPs), treatment at public hospitals, subsidized medicines, lab services, ambulance services and certain specialist care.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER PROS TO RELOCATING TO ITALY INSTEAD OF OTHER COUNTRIES?
Yes, Italy has a mild climate, great food, and high-quality lifestyle. It is included (along with the United Kingdom, United States, India, China, Japan) among the “cultural superpower” countries.
Not really sure? Tell us your qualms and questions: info@greenhillsofumbria.com
