Obtain Elective Residency Visa in Italy

Foreign citizens interested in immigrating to Italy have several options depending on their intentions. One can relocate to Italy for work or business reasons or can even retire to Italy. There are several types of visas which can be issued for non-EU citizens, among which the Italian elective residency visa is quite sought. Our lawyers can offer you full assistance on the immigration formalities required for this visa type.

Quick Facts
What is an elective residency visa?	This can be obtained by foreigners who want to live in Italy on a long-term basis and who dispose of an income obtained from activities developed outside Italy. The document does not grant the right to work in Italy.
Individuals who need to apply for the visa	Third-country (non-EU) nationals
Where to initiate the application for Italian Elective Visa	Through Italian Embassies/Consulates with prior legal advice
Documents necessary for the application	In order to obtain an elective residency visa in Italy, the following documents are necessary: – a valid passport; – the completed application form; – recent passport photos; – documentation that shows the applicant has the minimum funds required by the Italian law; – documentation attesting the place of residency in Italy; – health insurance, etc.
Minimum conditions imposed to applicants	Applicants must have an age of minimum 18 years old and must have sufficient financial funds to finance their stay in Italy.
Financial threshold applicable (yes/no)	Yes
Financial requirements for individuals who arrive in Italy alone	Minimum EUR 31,000 per year
Financial requirements for applicants who relocate with family members	At least 20% more for a spouse (about EUR 37,200 per year in total) and at least 5% more for each dependent child (consular practice; may vary by consulate).
Signing health insurance (yes/no)	Yes
Validity of the visa	1 year
Renewal (yes/no)	Yes
Do visa holders need to apply for a residence permit?	Foreigners who will obtain an elective residency visa in Italy must also apply for a residence permit.
Institution in charge of the issuance of the residence permit	The police headquarters located in the city/region where the foreigner will have his/her Italian residency.
Duration of the visa processing	Maximum 90 days
Legal services offered by our team	Our lawyers can help clients prepare their application file and assist in any immigration formality that can appear after the relocation in the country. We can also assist other family members who want to relocate here and who can’t be included on the elective residency visa application.

Those who want to obtain an elective residency visa in Italy must comply with a few requirements. They should also know that certain conditions come once this type of visa has been obtained. Below, our immigration lawyers in Italy explain the requirements related to obtaining an elective residency visa. We can also assist those interested in obtaining such a visa during the application procedure.

Who can apply for an elective residency visa for Italy?

As mentioned above, the elective residence visa can be obtained by non-EU citizens only (EU citizens do not require any type of visa for entering Italy). However, there are a few conditions that must be met by those who want to immigrate to Italy through this type of visa. This visa is not itself a residence permit: holders must apply for a permesso di soggiorno within 8 days of arrival.

Conditions for obtaining an Italian elective residency visa

If you are a foreign citizen and you want to immigrate to Italy, the elective residency visa is suitable for you if:

you are at least 18 years old (you can also bring dependents – spouse and children – if you want);
you have sufficient funds to support yourself and the dependents during the stay in Italy;
you will have to prove that you will also be able to generate a passive income while living in Italy;
you must submit evidence that you have a place to stay in Italy (a rental contract will be sufficient);
you will have to have health insurance which covers medical expenses for a duration of 1 year.

Our immigration lawyers in Italy can offer the necessary support in preparing the documents needed for applying for an elective residence visa. After 10 years of legal residence, you may also be able to apply for Italian citizenship. We invite you to watch a short video on the Italian elective residency visa:

How to obtain an elective residency visa in Italy

The first and most important aspect to consider is that you cannot apply for an Italian elective residency visa from Italy. You will need to address the Italian Embassy or Consulate in your country of legal residence. This is why we offer expat support for those seeking to immigrate to Italy through this visa. We can also support you if you want to apply for Italian citizenship.

Also, a prior appointment for submitting the documents must be scheduled. The documents which need to be provided to the Italian Embassy or Consulate are:

the application form (it can be obtained online or directly at the Embassy or Consulate);
the passport of all the applicants (in case you want to bring other family members along);
two recent passport-sized photos (no scanned or photocopied photos are accepted);
the document(s) indicating the funds you will use to support yourself in Italy (a bank statement will suffice);
the document proving you have a place to stay in Italy (the rental agreement);
the health insurance policy (each member must have an individual policy).

Other documents could be required depending on the duration of the stay. You can ask our Italian immigration lawyers about the additional documents which could support your application.

An important aspect to be considered when applying for an Italian elective residency visa is the amount of money necessary for proving sufficient funds. For a single person, at least EUR 31,000 is necessary. For a married couple, the amount is increased by at least 20% (about EUR 37,200). For each child, an additional 5% of the initial amount is required.

What types of income are considered passive in Italy?

As mentioned earlier, the foreigners must provide evidence on having sufficient financial resources obtained from passive income. One can obtain an elective residency visa in Italy only when having these types of incomes, because working in this country is not allowed under this visa type.

Therefore, the immigration document is addressed solely to those who already dispose of a significant capital, which is maintained throughout the years of staying here. Luckily for foreign applicants, there are several types of incomes which can be accepted in this case, as follows:

owning companies located outside Italy;
having bank deposits with stable funds;
company income obtained from owning shares in a company or more, or income obtained from working as a non-executive director;
income obtained from real estate rental;
it is also possible to become a shareholder of a company based in Italy, with a special approval from the Italian authorities (this is allowed as long as the foreigner does not receive a monthly salary paid by the respective company).

However, for business and investment purposes, our immigration lawyers in Italy advise foreigners to apply for other visas, more suitable for this purpose. For instance, foreigners could apply for the Golden visa in Italy.

How much does it cost to obtain an elective residency visa for Italy?

The Italian elective residency visa is one of the “cheapest” immigration visas for Italy because of the amount of money necessary as proof of living. The other costs related to obtaining such a visa are:

the health insurance which must cover at least EUR 30,000 in medical expenses per year;
the housing costs – these depend on where you will live and the type of house you rent;
the authentication of the documents to be filed with Italian Embassy or Consulate;
the visa application fees which depend on the country you are coming from.

The visa is issued in a maximum of 90 days, which means you will need to make all arrangements a few months ahead if you have established a timeline for immigrating to Italy. Once arrived in Italy, you will have 8 days to register with the police department in the city/town you will live in.

What is the process of obtaining an Italian residence permit?

If you want to obtain an elective residency visa in Italy or another visa issued for a long-term stay, it is mandatory to go through the residency permit formalities. These must be done in the first 8 days after the arrival in the country, as mentioned above.

In Italy, foreigners can obtain the residence permit application kit from any local post office operating in the area where the person has his or her residency. After the foreigner completes the application, he or she must return the documentation to the post office from where the kit was obtained.

Along with it, the applicant must submit photocopies of all the documents required in the application. At the post office, the foreigner will receive information on the appointment made at the local police station, where it is necessary to arrive with the original documents submitted with the kit.

The police station will carry out specific formalities on immigration to Italy and will then proceed to the issuance of the residency card. Similar formalities will be carried out for those who want to turn their elective residency visa into permanent residency. This can be started after 5 years of staying here.

Permanent residents also have the right to apply for citizenship in Italy, but this is not an obligation. A foreigner can permanently move to Italy and retire here without the obligation to become a citizen.

It is important to note that the Italian elective residency visa has a limited duration of one year and can be renewed. After living for a sufficient number of years, one can also apply for a permanent residence permit in Italy. If you want to immigrate to Italy by applying for an elective residency visa, do not hesitate to contact our immigration lawyers for support.