Moving to Italy from the USA in 2026: Official Guide
An American can spend 90 days in Italy with nothing more than a passport. Staying longer is a different matter: Italy requires a national visa issued by the Italian consulate for the US state where you live, obtained before you leave. This guide covers the routes open to US citizens, how the consulates work, what it costs and what follows you from home, the IRS included. Sources are Italy's consulates in the United States, Italian ministries, the US Department of State and the IRS, read on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
US citizens can stay in Italy for 90 days without a tourist or business visa. To live there you need a national visa: 116 EURO (135 USD in early 2026) or 50 EURO for study. Apply in person at the Italian consulate with jurisdiction over your state; the New York consulate lets you book up to 180 days before departure. Within 8 working days of arriving you must report to the questura for a residence permit. As a US citizen you remain subject to US tax on worldwide income.
Visiting first: the 90-day rule
| Point | What the State Department says |
|---|---|
| Visa | Not required for stays of less than 90 days |
| Passport validity | At least 3 months beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen area; a 6-month validity is recommended |
| Blank pages | 2, for the entry stamp |
| Cash | A 10,000 Euros currency limit, or equivalent, on entry and on exit |
A scouting trip is easy. For a longer stay you need a national visa, which is issued by an Italian consulate.
Which route fits
| Route | Who it suits | Core condition |
|---|---|---|
| Elective residence | Retirees and people living on investments | Substantial and stable private income from pensions, annuities, property or investments, and a registered lease or deed in Italy. No work allowed |
| Digital nomad or remote worker | Highly qualified professionals working remotely | Annual income of at least triple €8,500, at least 6 months of experience, health insurance and lodging |
| Study | University and long-course students | Funds of €10,179.85 a year; pre-enrolment on Universitaly |
| Subordinate employment | People hired by an employer in Italy | A nulla osta within the annual quotas |
| Family reasons | Spouses, children and dependent parents | A nulla osta from the immigration desk in Italy |
| Investor | People making a qualifying investment | A simplified procedure, not subject to the annual quotas |
For the elective residence visa, the Italian consulate in London asks for the last 2 years of income tax returns and official letters from banks or financial institutions, and counts no income from employment. That consulate also notes that the visa can be issued to a dependent spouse and minor children.
How Italian consulates in the US work
Italy's visa offices in the United States each cover a set of states, and you can only apply where you live. The Consulate General in New York, for example, serves New York, Connecticut, part of New Jersey and Bermuda. Its rules:
- Appointment only, booked through the Prenot@mi portal, which is free of charge. You confirm the appointment online 3 to 10 days before it.
- Timing: you can schedule the appointment starting a maximum of 180 days before your intended departure.
- In person: all applicants must appear on the day.
- Proof of residence: a driver's license with your current address, a state ID or a tax return.
- Passport: valid at least 3 months beyond the last day of your trip, with at least two empty visa pages.
- Return of passport: by mail only, in a prepaid US Postal Service priority envelope that you supply.
Non-US citizens applying from the United States must also show the document that lets them reside there legally. A B1/B2 visitor visa does not qualify.
Fees and how to pay
| Visa | Euro | US dollars, January to March 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| National visa (type D, more than 90 days) | 116 | 135 |
| National study visa | 50 | 59 |
| Schengen visa (type C) | 90 | 105 |
- The dollar amount is updated at the end of each quarter with the exchange rate, so check the consulate's current table.
- The national visa fee applies to every applicant, adults and minors.
- Pay by money order or cashier's or certified bank check for the exact amount. Personal checks are not accepted.
- Fees are not refundable, and rush procedures are not available.
How long it takes
New York gives the general picture: processing varies from 7 days to several weeks depending on the type of visa and the citizenship of the applicant. Some routes are slower. The London consulate, which publishes more detail, says long-stay study visas can take up to 90 days and digital nomad visas up to 120 days. Work visas depend first on the employer's place in the annual quotas: 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.
Your first days in Italy
- 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.
- Renew the permit before it expires. It is the document that makes your presence in Italy legal.
Until the permit arrives, the national visa lets you travel within other Schengen countries for up to 90 days within 6 months from the start of its validity.
US taxes follow you
The IRS states that the rules for filing income tax returns are generally the same whether you are in the United States or abroad, and that US citizens are subject to tax on worldwide income.
- Foreign earned income exclusion and foreign tax credit: available to many Americans abroad, but only by filing a US return.
- FBAR: foreign financial accounts above the reporting threshold must be reported on FinCEN Form 114, generally by April 15, even if they produce no taxable income.
- Form 3520: the IRS cautions that a foreign pension or retirement plan may be treated as a foreign trust.
What life costs
Italy's statistics institute, Istat, published 2025 household spending on 8 October 2026. The average household spent 2,782 euros a month and a person living alone 2,070 euros. Region matters: 3,087 euros in the North-east against 2,215 euros in the South. In the central municipalities of metropolitan areas the average was 2,991 euros.
Frequently asked questions
Can a US citizen move to Italy?
Yes, with an Italian national visa for the purpose of the stay, such as elective residence, study, work, family reasons or remote work. It must be obtained from the Italian consulate for your US state before you travel.
How long can Americans stay in Italy without a visa?
US citizens can stay in Italy for 90 days without a tourist or business visa, according to the State Department.
Can Americans retire in Italy?
The elective residence visa is the route. It requires substantial and stable private income from sources such as pensions, annuities, property or investments, plus a registered lease or property deed, and it does not allow work.
How much is an Italian long-stay visa for US applicants?
116 EURO, which the consulate in Detroit listed as 135 USD for January to March 2026. The study visa is 50 EURO. Dollar amounts change each quarter.
Where do I apply for an Italian visa in the US?
At the Italian consulate with jurisdiction over the state where you live, in person and by appointment. New York books appointments through the Prenot@mi portal.
Do I still pay US taxes if I live in Italy?
You must still file. The IRS says US citizens are subject to tax on worldwide income, and benefits such as the foreign earned income exclusion require a US return.
What do I do when I arrive in Italy?
Report to the questura within 8 working days of entry to apply for a residence permit.
Official sources
- Consulate General of Italy in New York — Visas: general information
- Consulate General of Italy in New York — Visas to enter Italy
- Consulate of Italy in Detroit — Visa fees, 1 January to 31 March 2026
- Consulate General of Italy in London — Elective residence visa
- Consulate General of Italy in London — Digital nomad visa
- Consulate General of Italy in London — Visas: general information (residence permit)
- US Department of State — Italy travel information
- Internal Revenue Service — US citizens and resident aliens abroad
- Ministry of Labour and Social Policies — Decreto Flussi 2027 circular
- Istat — Household consumption expenditure, year 2025
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. Each consulate sets its own procedures, so check the one for your state. Not tax or legal advice.