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Move To Italy

Italy draws expats with its rich culture, safety, modern infrastructure, and significantly lower living costs outside major cities. Americans can enter visa-free for short stays, but longer moves require a residence visa and permit, along with proof of accommodation and financial means. Relocators benefit from duty‑free import of household items and even cars if requirements are met early on.

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Should You Move To Italy?

Key Takeaways: Move To Italy in 2026

Relocation offers practical benefits beyond scenery.
Rural areas offer significantly lower costs than major cities.
Rural Italy is generally safe with low crime.
Duty-free import of goods applies under specific conditions.

So, moving to Italy is on your mind… Whether you’re in the middle of a career or preparing for retirement, today’s globalized world offers good reasons to consider a move abroad.

With modern communications and travel, living in another country isn’t always the total break with home that it was for immigrants in past years.

A modern country like Italy can offer American expats all of the conveniences they expect while adding significant benefits unique to the Italian way of life.

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Reviewed By Lief Simon

Lief Simon is the managing editor of Global Property Advisor, Simon Letter, and Offshore Living Letter. He has purchased more than 45 properties, investing in 23 different countries around the world.

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Reasons To Consider Moving To Italy

There are a number of attractive aspects that make Italy a top destination for expats looking for another home. While many choose Italy because the beauty of its landscape, the history of its ancient cities or the friendliness of its people, there are a number of more mundane yet important reasons to consider relocation to the country.

Safety

Like most countries of the EU, Italy is remarkably safe. While every urban area has crime, Italy’s major cities are significantly safer than most big cities in the United States.

Despite stereotypes about Southern Italy and some continuing issues in places like Naples, rural areas are generally even safer, with residents in some villages still keeping their doors and cars unlocked. Public transport is safe and efficient.

Infrastructure

Italy has a modern and developed infrastructure. Issues remain in a few newer areas; internet speeds, for example, are still quite slow by EU standards.

Nonetheless, whether for travel, leisure or business, Italy has a transport, communication, and utility infrastructure you can depend on.

Cost Of Living

While prices are still high by world standards, Americans can save a lot on cost of living with a move to Italy. How much you save will depend on where you live in the country.

Major international cities like Rome and Milan can be quite expensive, but rural areas and smaller villages will feature costs far below the American standard for rents, groceries, and some other necessities.

Visa Options

For short visits to Italy, American citizens need only a valid passport and a plane ticket. Longer stays will require the both an appropriate visa and a long-stay permit (the “permesso di soggiorno”).

To obtain these documents, you’ll need a valid passport, proof of accommodation and financial support and a statement of the purpose of your visit.

You can the apply for the long-stay permit once you’re in Italy. While this permit can be a hassle to obtain, once you have it, your situation in Italy will be secure from the legal point of view.

How To Move To Italy

If you’ve decided that a move to Italy is the right option for you, then you’ll need to plan the logistics of the move.

Moving Goods & Appliances To Italy

Most Italian homes are up to two and a half times smaller than the average American home. Therefore, you may have to do some significance downsizing to prepare for your Italian move.

Before you make you choices about what to part with, be sure to see what appliances or furniture might already be in your new home or available cheaply in Italy.

Generally, Italian customs authorities allow a one-time duty-free goods importation for people relocating to Italy from abroad. As long as you have owned the goods for at least a year, lived in the country of origin for a year or more and have used the goods yourself for at least six months, then you’re covered by this policy.

Moving A Car To Italy

If you have received an Italy certificate of residence, you have six months to import a car duty-free. You’ll have to register the car in Italy and obtain Italian license plates. To qualify, you will need to have owned the vehicle for at least one year prior to the move.

Moving Pets To Italy

There a number of requirements for bringing your pets from the US into Italy. Dogs, cats, and ferrets must have current vaccinations for rabies and an ISO-compliant, implanted microchip.

You must have a current health certificate for each pet, issued by an accredited veterinarian. If you’ll be traveling with more than five pets, special rules apply.

Relocating To Italy With Children

If you’re planning on relocating from the US to Italy permanently, you should strongly consider giving your children some instruction in the Italian language before making the move.

School is free for all children resident in Italy and compulsory from ages six to 16. If you have children in this age range, it will help their adaptation to Italian school immensely if they already have made a start with the language.

Even simple greetings and basic phrases can help with the transition. For younger children, public nursery schools are available and also free. However, they may have very long wait times.

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Where To Move In Italy

If you’re ready to say, “I want to move to Italy!”, then you should investigate different options in the country’s various regions. Here, we’ll highlight two very different parts of the country that expats might consider.

Rome

Rome is the bustling capital of the country and the popular destination for tourists and expats alike.

Housing can be scarce and expensive, however, so if your budget is limited you may be priced out of Rome.

On the other hand, the well-developed public infrastructure and access to modern amenities may save you money in other ways.

Overall, Rome is the best choice if your work requires you to live in the capital.

Abruzzo

More and more expats are discovering this gem of rural Italy. If you’re considering moving to Italy from America on a budget, this affordable and picturesque region might be the choice for you.

Real estate costs remain relatively low compared to other parts of the country. However, as with other rural areas, some up-to-date conveniences (like speedy internet service) may be in short supply.

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Reviewed By Lief Simon

Lief Simon is the managing editor of Global Property Advisor, Simon Letter, and Offshore Living Letter. He has purchased more than 45 properties, investing in 23 different countries around the world.