Moving to Italy in 2026: Step-by-Step Official Guide
Italy offers several legal routes to non-EU citizens, and they have little in common. Work depends on annual quotas and an employer. Study depends on a university place and a fixed sum of money. Elective residence depends on private income and forbids work altogether. What every route shares is the ending: a national visa, then a residence permit requested within days of arrival. This guide walks through the choice and the steps, using Italy's consulates, ministries and statistics institute, as read on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
For a stay of more than 90 days, a non-EU citizen needs an Italian national visa, which costs 116 euro, or 50 euro for study. Work visas need a nulla osta obtained by an employer within the annual quotas: 76,200 non-seasonal entries are authorised for 2027. Students must show €10,179.85 a year. After entering Italy you must report to the questura within 8 working days to apply for a residence permit. The average household in Italy spent 2,782 euros a month in 2025.
Step 1: Choose your route
| Route | Core condition | Can you work? |
|---|---|---|
| Subordinate employment | A nulla osta requested by an employer in Italy within the annual quotas | Yes |
| Self-employment | A nulla osta from the questura, suitable lodging and income above 8,500 euro; 650 entries authorised for 2027 | Yes, self-employed |
| Digital nomad or remote worker | A highly qualified profession, at least 6 months of experience and annual income of at least triple €8,500 | Yes, remotely |
| Study | University pre-enrolment and funds of €10,179.85 a year | Part-time, up to 20 hours per week and 1,040 hours a year |
| Family reunification | A nulla osta from the immigration desk, issued no more than 6 months earlier | — |
| Elective residence | Substantial and stable private income, not from employment, and a registered lease or property deed | No |
The Italian consulate in London describes the elective residence visa as meant only for people who plan to move permanently, and it is explicit that the visa does not allow the holder to work. Income from subordinate work is not counted; pensions, annuities, property and investment income are.
Step 2: Understand the work quotas
If you are coming for a job, timing matters. Employers apply on fixed click days. For 2027:
- 23 October to 7 December 2026: employers pre-fill the applications.
- 12 January 2027: seasonal work in agriculture.
- 9 February 2027: seasonal work in tourism.
- 16 February 2027: non-seasonal employment.
- 18 February 2027: family care.
The authorised numbers for 2027 are 76,200 non-seasonal entries, 89,000 seasonal entries and 650 for self-employment.
Step 3: Apply for the national visa
- Find your consulate. You apply at the Italian mission for the area where you legally live.
- Book an appointment and attend in person with the long-term application form.
- Bring a passport valid at least 3 months with at least two blank pages, a photo not older than 6 months, a one-way ticket reservation and the documents for your route.
- Pay the fee: 116 euro, or 50 euro for a study visa, in local currency. It is not refundable.
- Wait. Processing differs sharply by route: up to 90 days for a long-stay study visa and up to 120 days for a digital nomad visa, according to the London consulate.
Consulates stress that a complete file does not guarantee a visa and that they can request further documents.
Step 4: The first 8 working days in Italy
A national visa gets you in. It also lets you move within other Schengen countries for up to 90 days within 6 months from the start of its validity. It is not the document that lets you stay.
- Report to the questura within 8 working days of entry to apply for the residence permit, the permesso di soggiorno.
- Register with the local registry office, the Anagrafe. The London consulate lists this alongside the questura step for family members.
- Keep the permit current. It is the document that makes your presence in Italy legal, and it must be renewed before it expires.
The consulate's warning is direct: failing to report to the questura might compromise your ability to reside legally in Italy.
Step 5: Insurance and health cover
Consulates ask for health insurance before they issue a visa. For students the minimum coverage is €30,000 for emergency hospital and repatriation expenses. Digital nomads need insurance covering all hospital and medical costs for the entire stay.
Step 6: Budget with real numbers
| Measure, 2025 | Euros per month |
|---|---|
| Average household spending | 2,782 |
| Median household spending | 2,338 |
| One-person household | 2,070 |
| Households in the North-east | 3,087 |
| Households in the South | 2,215 |
These figures were published by Istat on 8 October 2026. Where you settle matters: households in the North-east spend 39.3% more than those in the South. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels take 36.0% of the average budget.
Bringing family
The family reunification visa covers spouses who are not legally separated and not under 18, civil partners, unmarried children under 18, dependent adult children with total disability, and dependent parents in defined cases. The relative in Italy first obtains a nulla osta from the immigration desk, and it must have been issued no more than 6 months before the visa application. Family members of EU and EEA citizens are exempt from the visa fee.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move to Italy without a job?
Yes, through routes that do not need an employer: study, with funds of €10,179.85 a year, or elective residence, which requires substantial private income and does not allow work.
How much does an Italian long-stay visa cost?
116 euro for a national visa and 50 euro for a national study visa, paid in local currency. The fee is not refundable.
What do I have to do when I arrive in Italy?
Report to the questura within 8 working days of entry to apply for a residence permit. The permit, not the visa, makes your stay legal.
How long does an Italian visa take?
It depends on the route. The Italian consulate in London says long-stay study visas can take up to 90 days and digital nomad visas up to 120 days. New York gives a general range of 7 days to several weeks.
Can I retire to Italy?
The elective residence visa is designed for people with a steady and adequate income from pensions, annuities, property or investments who plan to live in Italy permanently. It does not allow work.
How much does it cost to live in Italy?
Istat put average household spending at 2,782 euros a month in 2025, and 2,070 euros for a person living alone.
When do Italian work visa applications open?
For 2027, employers pre-fill applications from 23 October to 7 December 2026, and the click day for non-seasonal employment is 16 February 2027.
Official sources
- Consulate General of Italy in London — Visas: general information
- Consulate General of Italy in London — Elective residence visa
- Consulate General of Italy in London — Digital nomad visa
- Consulate General of Italy in London — Family reunification visa
- Ministry of Labour and Social Policies — Decreto Flussi 2027 circular, 1 October 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation — FAQ: Study in Italy
- Consulate of Italy in Detroit — Visa fees 2026
- Consulate General of Italy in New York — Visas: general information
- Istat — Household consumption expenditure, year 2025
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. Requirements differ between consulates, so check the page of the one where you apply. Information, not legal advice.