Italian Immigration Options

Italy Plans “Digital Nomad” Visa to Entice Remote Workers

The Italian government has announced that remote workers will soon be able to apply for a “Digital Nomad” Visa, permitting them to work in the country for up to one year. The move is part of a package of measures designed to help Italy recover from Covid-19. The hope is that these professionals will come to the country for the Dolce Vita and spend lots of money in the process.

The details are yet to be released, but it is specifically aimed “highly qualified professionals” who are able to work remotely because of modern “technological tools”. The pandemic has upended working practices around the world. While many companies are trying to tempt people back to the office, or permitting hybrid working practices, others have gone fully remote. This adds to a trend that was already growing before the pandemic, and it is these people Italy is seeking to reach.

It is not clear how Italy plans to define “highly qualified professionals” and what the visa criteria will be. There may be a minimum income requirement, an educational-attainment requirement, and/or a job seniority/experience requirement. We will keep you updated as the rules are set.

The visa will be valid for up to one years and it is not yet clear whether there will be options to extend. However, for anyone who falls for the Italian way of life and wishes to remain longer, there are multiple options for staying on. The Elective Residency Visa is currently our most popular Italian option and offers residency to anyone who can prove funds of €32,000/year earned outside of Italy to support themselves.

Visit our Italy Practice page for full details on all your Italian immigration options.


This article is published for clients, friends and other interested visitors for information purposes only. The contents of the article do not constitute legal advice and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Davies & Associates or any of its attorneys, staff or clients. External links are not an endorsement of the content.


Business Immigration from the UK to the USA

UK Scraps Investor Visa – What are my options?

The US investor visa requires an investment amount five times lower than the UK investor visa

The UK Government has announced it will be scrapping its Tier One Investor Visa program. The program had come under fire for the perception that it provided a legitimate route for illicit wealth to enter the United Kingdom.

The UK Investor Visa program was relatively expensive when compared with other countries’ residency and citizenship by investment programs. The minimum investment requirement started from £2 million – which is around five times as much as the corresponding US program, the EB-5 Immigrant Investment Visa Program. Investors had the option of investing more money to reduce the length of time before they could be granted Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK and by extension applying for citizenship a year after.

United States EB-5 Investor Visa

The price tag of the UK investor visa meant that it only attracted a few hundred applicants each year. That contrasts starkly with the US EB-5 investor visa, which attracts thousands and regularly meets its annual quota of 10,000 visas – thanks in part to a large backlog of Chinese applicants.

The US program currently has a minimum investment requirement of $500,000, which must create ten jobs. A key aspect of the program – the Regional Center program – is likely to come before Congress in the very near future and the rumor is that the investment amount may increase. This could be to $700,000 or $750,000, but this is only speculation and there are no guarantees.

The popular Regional Center route is currently closed awaiting reauthorization. This could potential occur within the next few weeks if it is included in Congress’s spending legislation. The alternative so-called “Direct EB-5” route is currently open at the minimum $500,000 threshold right now.

Grenada Citizenship by Investment

One of the most cost-effective citizenship or residency programs around the world is offered by Grenada, an island in the Caribbean. Grenadian citizenship starts from just $150,000 for a donation or $220,000 for an investment. Processing times are relatively fast and can take less than three months. Grenada has a relatively strong passport and it hold an E-2 Treaty with the United States. There is no tax on income earned outside of the island’s jurisdiction.

Turkey Citizenship by Investment

You can obtain citizenship of Turkey in around 6 months in exchange for a $250,000 investment in real estate or holding deposits in excess of $500,000 with a Turkish bank for at least three years. Turkey is a global transportation hub and it also holds an E-2 Treaty with the United States. This means that, like Grenada, you could become eligible for the US E-2 Visa by first obtaining Turkish citizenship.

Italy Investor Visa

Italy’s investor visa starts from just €250,000. However, most of our clients prefer the country’s elective residency visa, which allows you to live in Italy provided you have €32,000/year from funds earned outside Italy to support you. The country also offers generous flat tax rates to high-net-worth-individuals.

Contact us to discuss any of the options listed above.


This article is published for clients, friends and other interested visitors for information purposes only. The contents of the article do not constitute legal advice and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Davies & Associates or any of its attorneys, staff or clients. External links are not an endorsement of the content.


Italian Immigration Options

Italy Launch New Booking Portal for Consular Services

The Italian Foreign Ministry has launched a new portal for booking consular services appointments at its consultates around the world. Appointments are open to both expatriate Italians seeking citizen services and prospective immigrants applying for Italian residency, citizenship and other services. Called Prenota Online, it is being rolled out worldwide this year. Click here to find your local Prenota site.

Davies & Associates is a one-stop shop for all Italian immigration services. We provide legal assistance with Italian residency, citizenship, tax, property, student visas. We also offer Italian-language support for Italians seeking to move from Italy to the United States. Our Italian presence in the United States is led by Matteo Tisato in Miami. The South of Florida is home to one of the largest Italian expatriate communities in the United States. Matteo is also the key point of contact for our US and global clients seeking Italian immigration and business services. Matteo works closely with our teams located in Florence, Rome and Milan.

Visit D&A Italy Practice Homepage


Cambia il servizio di prenotazione dei consolati Italiani all’estero. Sia che tu sia un cittadino italiano residente all’estero o un cittadino americano che intende fare richiesta per un visto italiano, da oggi potrai utilizzare un nuovo servizio di prenotazione “Prenot@Mi”, il quale sostituisce il servizio precedente aggiungendo funzionalità innovative e semplificate.

Il nostro studio da anni fornisce assistenza legale in materia di immigrazione, assistendo una vasta clientela in materia di residenza, cittadinanza, tassazione, compravendite immobiliari, visti. Offriamo anche supporto in lingua italiana per gli italiani che cercano di trasferirsi negli Stati Uniti. La nostra presenza italiana negli Stati Uniti è guidata da Matteo Tisato, il quale gestisce il nostro ufficio di Miami, in quanto la Florida ospita una tra le più importanti comunità di espatriati italiani nel continente americano. Matteo è inoltre il punto di riferimento per tutti nostri clienti statunitensi e globali che cercano servizi di immigrazione e affari in Italia. Matteo lavora quotidianamente a stretto contatto con i nostri teams situati a Firenze, Roma e Milano.

Italian Residency

The most popular Italian visa category for our firm is the Elective Residency Visa. To apply you need to be able to prove you have at least €32,000/year in funds earned outside of Italy and a place to stay. An alternative pathway to residency is through investment – the Italian government slashed the prices of its Investor Visa last year and now options start from $250,000. A new tax system designed to attract High Net Worth Individuals and retirees as well as self-employed workers was introduced three years ago.

Italian Citizenship

After ten years’ residency a person can apply for Italian citizenship (2 years for EU citizens and a less clear picture for British post-Brexit). An alternative path to Italian citizenship is through lineage. If you are able to prove you have an Italian ancestor you may be eligible for citizenship. This option is especially popular in Latin America – Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela – because of considerable Italian migrant exodus in the early twentieth century.

Other Services

Italy can be quite bureaucratic at times and Davies & Associates network across Italy can help with relocation including explaining all the necessary steps on arrival, and help with finding and signing on a rental or purchased property.

Services for Italians

D&A has helped many Italians move to the United States. The most popular visa is the E-2 Treaty Investor Visa, which allows the holder to move their families to the US to invest in and run a business. Spouses are eligible for work authorization. The visa is renewable indefinitely, so long as the underlying business remains in operation.

Alternative visas are the L-1 Visa for the transfer of a manager or specialized knowledge employee from the Italian office of your firm to the US office (if you do not yet have an office you can create one and apply for the L-1 Visa). The EB-5 Investor Visa requires a $900,000 investment for US permanent residency – it is only used by a small number of Italians each year.

Whether you are looking to move to Italy or you are an Italian living overseas, Prenota will be your online booking system for all future consular appointments. For any questions about Prenota, Italian immigration, or Italian emigration, contact Matteo Tisato for a free consultation.

I nostri servizi per la clientela Italiana
Davies & Associates assiste centinaia di Italiani nel trasferirsi negli Stati Uniti. Nella maggioranza dei casi, la nostra clientela Italiana decide di richiedere il Visto E2, il quale consente all’investitore e alla propria famiglia di trasferirsi in America a seguito di un investimento sostanziale. Questo visto è sempre rinnovabile, a condizione che il business sia operativo.

In alternativa, una soluzione può essere data dal Visto L-1, che si rivolge a Manager d’azienda o lavoratori specializzati che necessitano di lavorare in una succursale americana. Una parte minoritaria decide invece di richiedere direttamente la Green Card grazie ad investimenti di almeno 900,000 dollari.

This article is published for clients, friends and other interested visitors for information purposes only. The contents of the article do not constitute legal advice and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Davies & Associates or any of its attorneys, staff or clients. External links are not an endorsement of the content.


Italy Reopens to Travel – Options for Immigration

Italy Reopens to Travel – What are the Options for Immigration?

The Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has just announced that Italy is to reopen its borders from the middle of May as it seeks to welcome back people who have been vaccinated or can produce a negative Covid-19 test. The main aim is to welcome back tourists ahead of the summer season, but it is also good news for anyone seeking a move to the country.

So what are the options for your Italian dream?

Italian Residency Options

Our firm’s most popular Italian visa is the Elective Residency Visa. This offers Italian residency to anyone who can prove they have a minimum of €32,000/year earned outside Italy to live on, and who can also find qualifying accommodation. The visa route was temporarily shut as a result of Covid, but it is now reopen and Italian embassies and consulates are welcoming applications once again.

In order to attract more people to its shores, Italy also offers an advantageous tax residency program. Pensioners are eligible for a flat tax of 7% on their overseas income (e.g. their pensions), high-net-worth individuals can avail themselves of a flat tax of €100,000 per annum, and certain workers can reduce their tax burden by 70% for the first five years they work in Italy. Conditions inevitably apply, please view our Italian Tax Residency page for more details.

Another way to quickly obtain Italian residency is through investment. The Italian government offers various cost-effective investment pathways. This includes and investment in a start-up, government bonds, or philanthropic donations. The starting investment requirement is just €250,000 and increases to a maximum of €2 million depending on the type of investment.

Italian Citizenship

It is possible to naturalize as an Italian citizen by virtue of ancestry or residency. Anyone who can document an appropriate Italian ancestor can apply for Italian citizenship. There are millions people in Brazil, Argentina, Venezeula, Mexico and the United States who are eligible for this visa.

Alternatively, if you establish your residence in Italy, for example through the Elective Residency Visa or the Investor Visa, it is possible to eventually become a citizen of Italy. European Union citizens only require two years’ residency in Italy before being eligible for citizens, for people from the rest of the world, you must wait ten years. The situation for British citizens is more complicated because of Brexit. We advise you to speak to our team for clarification on this.

Italian Property

Buying property in Italy can be complicated by bureacracy. Our Italy team can help you navigate each step of the process providing a reliable, bilingual partner to make sure you make the best decisions. Watch the webinar we hosted on the One Euro home program. We gathered key experts on Italy’s €1 Home to provide rounded advice to people thinking of taking advantage of the program.


This article is published for clients, friends and other interested visitors for information purposes only. The contents of the article do not constitute legal advice and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Davies & Associates or any of its attorneys, staff or clients. External links are not an endorsement of the content.


Italy Reopens to Travel – Options for Immigration

Live your Italian Dream through the Elective Residency Visa

By Matteo Tisato. Matteo is a Senior Immigration Analyst in our Italy Practice Group. Connect with Matteo on LinkedIn.

With offices across Italy, Davies & Associates is able to help foreign nationals obtain the right to live, work or claim citizenship, collect debts, and pay taxes in the country.

In the first of a series of blogs from the Italy Practice Group, Matteo Tisato examines the benefits, requirements, and timelines of the elective residency visa.

The Italian elective residency visa allows entry into Italy for an open, long-term visit to foreigners who intend to establish their residence in Italy and who are able to do so by showing financial incomes without the need of employment.

Individuals must submit suitable and documented proof of housing (to be purchased or rented) in Italy and an income of more than EUR 32,000 of regular and stable financial resources which are likely to remain steady in the future. Resources must derive from prolific revenues (annuities, rents, pensions, bonds), properties ownership, stable economic-financial activities or other sources other than subordinate employment. This type of visa allows these individuals to enter Italy for an indefinite period of time.

The visa application will involve completing the relevant application form and providing supporting documentation. The Consulate has the right to issue the visa within 90 days, but the processing time is usually between four to eight weeks, depending on the Consulate’s workload, time of year, and applicant’s nationality. The applicant will need to show assets from a portfolio. The Consulate may request original financial statements from banks, investments/brokerage firms, or social security, all indicating current balances.

As soon as the Elective Residence Visa is issued, the foreigner may enter Italy and apply for the Permit of Stay, also called “Permesso di Soggiorno”, within eight days of arrival. Once the Permit of Stay is issued, the immigration process is completed and the foreigner will have proper legal status in Italy.

An individual who obtains an elective residence visa shall not pay taxes in Italy if: (1) is not registered in the City Hall (Comune) of the place where living; (2) and lives in Italy less than 183 days during the fiscal year (January to December); (3) and does not have his habitual abode in the country (e.g. his family lives in Italy and he has in Italy his principal center of business and interests)

Holders of an elective Permit of Stay can apply for the EC Permit of Stay for long-term residents after 5 years of legal stay in Italy. In order to be eligible, they must have registered as residents of Italy and filed tax returns. After 10 years of legal residency in Italy, an individual should be eligible to apply for Italian citizenship.

TIMELINE

Elective Residence Visa Application2-6 Weeks
Residence Permit Application3-5 Months
Residency Registration1-3 Months

This blog is for informational purposes only. Nothing in this blog constitutes legal advice. Please contact us to discuss your specific circumstances.