Expat Exchange
Free MembershipSign In

Italy Expat Forum

Planning our move. Any advice / recommendations would be appreciated.

New Topic Newest First
twojacks
  7/25/2021 18:16 EST

My wife and I are starting to plan our move to Italy and are hoping to make the move in a year or two but we have a lot of questions.

I'm a 100% disabled military veteran and my wife and I both have Tricare/ChampVA medical insurance and receive about $3300/mth from the VA. By the time we move we will have no debt and hope to have at least $50k in the bank before we start selling off everything else. We don't plan to work for an income and don't have children. I'll be 52 and my wife will be 42 when we make the move. That's our background.

We'd like to stay close, but not super close, to Naples so we can use the Naval base there for healthcare and buying things on base. Our thoughts are purchasing a country house that has a couple of acres, traveling and getting involved in the community.

We'd like any recommendations but would like to know if our income will be sufficient. I know that depends on us but we live modestly. How hard is it to get visas to stay if we don't plan on working? I've heard that the Naples area isn't all that great.....any feedback on that?

Thank you,
David / Sonia

glorirz
  7/25/2021 19:41 EST

You will need a visa to stay in Italy for more than the 90 day tourist visa. The one you’ll have to qualify for is the Elective Residency Visa. It specifies that you can’t work, and must have a minimum of a certain amount of passive income such as your VA payment. Check the requirements on the Italian Consulate website that handles your US region.

Allianz CareAllianz Care
Get Quote

Allianz Care's plans ensure that you have access to quality healthcare whenever you need it. Our flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. You can submit your claims digitally and our helpline is available 24/7 to help you anytime.

Allianz CareAllianz Care

Allianz Care's plans ensure that you have access to quality healthcare whenever you need it. Our flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. You can submit your claims digitally and our helpline is available 24/7 to help you anytime.
Get Quote

codybrandy
  7/26/2021 02:26 EST

Dear Twojacks, We retired to the north in Liguria (love it, excellent weather not too hot not too cold and terrific health services) so I'm sorry can't comment on Naples. But as far as retirement (in pensione) that will be an easier Residence Visa than if you planned on working. Read the requirements on your local Italian consulate website...each consulate is different but all require you have a good amount of $$ in the bank to prove you will not be on the Italian dole. You will need a signed lease, bank statements, health insurance, and a ton of other docs. You are smart to start the process early. What you can do right now is apply for a Codice Fiscale...you will need one for you and one for your wife to buy many things and it is asked for constantly. You can get them from the consulate. Your wife needs to insist that hers is in her married name...it MUST match her passport...(Italians often don't understand this) As far as buying...rent for at least a year...it's easy to buy...it's very difficult to sell if you want to move....places stay on the market for years. Good Luck

tomandmaje
  7/26/2021 02:38 EST

Twojacks, the rental agreement for purposes of a visa has to be over one year. Also, there's an Army post in Vicenza and an AF base in Aviano. We decided to live in Bozen because we've been in Germany for many years and like the culture there. It's about a 2 hour drive to Vicenza when we need US shopping. Are you old enough to add in your SSN? My understanding is that for a married couple the yearly amount of passive income is 38,000 Euro. Like codybrandy said, a lot depends on your consulate. I feel lucky that we'll be applying in Germany for our ER visa.

Maje

rsetzer99
  7/26/2021 02:40 EST

Your income will be sufficient to live on, but may or may not be sufficient to be approved for an elective residence visa

rsetzer99
  7/26/2021 02:43 EST

We did elective visa. Here is my how to blog. Www.theslowtourist.com

Allianz CareAllianz Care
Get Quote

Allianz Care's plans ensure that you have access to quality healthcare whenever you need it. Our flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. You can submit your claims digitally and our helpline is available 24/7 to help you anytime.

Allianz CareAllianz Care

Allianz Care's plans ensure that you have access to quality healthcare whenever you need it. Our flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. You can submit your claims digitally and our helpline is available 24/7 to help you anytime.
Get Quote

codybrandy
  7/26/2021 02:49 EST

Oh, I sooo second that! Vicenza is magnificent.

Lanonnade5
  7/26/2021 04:44 EST

Dear David and Sonia,

I really don’t have anything to add except to say that you have come to the right place for solid, down to earth advice. This is an amazing group of people. Very knowledgable and supportive.

My husband and have decided to settle in the north region (close to Vicenza where some have suggested) for two reasons; family and healthcare. My husband is Italian and his extended family all live in and around Milano. Also, we have been adivised by Italians that hospitals and healthcare in general are better in the north than the south. I am in my 70s with a chronic condition and need specialty care. That alone sealed the deal for us.

I wish you luck find your spot in the Italian sun.

Lanonnade5
  7/26/2021 04:49 EST

P.S. An addendum to my previous message: I do not wish to offend or to imply that healthcare is not good in Southern Italy. This is what we have been told by many Italians including those who live in the south. Personally, I love southern Italy and would have wanted to settle in Basilicata or Puglia. But alas…

whidden39
  7/26/2021 05:36 EST

There are a some answers to questions posed that rely on a north vs south preference (bias?). If you consult the archive on health and climate comments, for instance, you will get a more complete story. For over 25 years I travelled to most areas of Italy and I live in Puglia by choice informed by firsthand experiences. As for climate Puglia is hot, but it is dry heat and that makes all the difference to me. Even more moderate temps with high humidity are disdainful to me. I also have a pool and a multitude of clean beautiful beaches nearby. I hardly ever use my air conditioning because my position affords reliably cool evenings during summer. Ask the locals where these incredible microclimates are that provide cooling breezes at night. Martina Franca is just one of these spots. I love summer here! Health care is another of those loaded topics. Don’t rely on northern Italians to tell you where healthcare is better unless you qualify their reference points. Italians are not well travelled in their own country. Perhaps they might vacation in Puglia for a summer vacation, but that might be their only reference point. Qualify all answers; seek info from diverse sources. I have had a few too many medical challenges since retiring here. I tried to do my research for each situation and am pleased to say that the hospitals and surgeons I utilized were top notch with modern facilities. An Achilles Tendon operation, an ischemic stroke, and a prostatectomy (cancer) gave me much confidence in the services available in the south. I am living an active full life because of Italy’s health care in the south. Two of my health challenges required immediate action; so I had no time to do a lot of research beforehand. But the prostate cancer gave me pause to consider going back to my native Boston, a premier health care center of the world. I did much research. I had a renowned Italian doctor perform my robotic surgery with no complications. Three years of semi-annual checkups continue to show no evidence of cancer. Bottom line: Do your own research and listen to your own mind, values and tolerances. These are just a few of the many important, but very personal, decisions you’ll need to undertake to live well in Italy. Buona fortuna.

Italmio
  7/26/2021 07:38 EST

whidden39 - very well said. Excellent advice and congratulations on overcoming your medical challenges!

Allianz CareAllianz Care
Get Quote

Allianz Care's plans ensure that you have access to quality healthcare whenever you need it. Our flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. You can submit your claims digitally and our helpline is available 24/7 to help you anytime.

Allianz CareAllianz Care

Allianz Care's plans ensure that you have access to quality healthcare whenever you need it. Our flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. You can submit your claims digitally and our helpline is available 24/7 to help you anytime.
Get Quote

Italmio
  7/26/2021 08:34 EST

Naples is one of those cities that one either hates or loves, or both, depending on the time of day! Arguably the most aggressive drivers in Italy but I actually enjoy driving there, but it is not for the timid. Like any large metropolitan area, it living there takes it toll. It is dirty, noisy, and people everywhere. Bins are overflowing, trash is piled up on some streets and ugly graffiti is everywhere including historic landmarks. Naples is the most densely populated city in Europe I believe. Pickpocketing and thievery are very lucrative career.choices for young Italian men. With that said, for every scoundrel there are dozens of warm and friendly Napoletani. The food is some of the best in Italy, cucina povera at is finest, more seafood based and the mozzarella is without question the best in the world! With all that said, locating oneself further south in the Cilento would be my choice and when needed it is a relatively short train ride to the Naval base in Italy.

whidden39
  7/26/2021 09:02 EST

I always said that Naples wasn’t for the faint of heart. Only Palermo might compete for the title of craziest drivers. I actually witnessed a car in Naples riding the rails to avoid city traffic. Even crazier was the Carabiniere doing the same thing! I agree with your take on Naples’ charms; but I never really considered living in the city itself. But I enjoy Naples when I visit. Having grandparents from Campania and hopelessly intrigued with antiquity and archeology paved the way for my fascination with this great city. I enjoyed extended apartment stays in two quieter trendy neighborhoods high in the hills — Vomero and Posillipo. A funicular gets you to the action below. I think living in these neighborhoods could be very pleasant. Another lovely place is the island of Proscida, a short ferry ride to Naples. Naples is calling out to you. Perhaps you’ll make living there a rewarding experience.

twojacks
  7/26/2021 20:16 EST

Thank you for the information.

twojacks
  7/26/2021 20:24 EST

Thank you. We've looked up north as well and I think that would be our preferred choice. We're hoping to do a lot of traveling and feel like being in Northern Italy offers more/easier destination choices and from what I'm now just understanding, with the healthcare we both have, Naples isn't necessary.

Our plan is to rent for a while until we figure out where we want to be. My wife wants to live in an old city and be able to walk out the front door and walk to markets and shops. I prefer being out in the country and having some space for hobbies. Since we're at opposite ends of what we're looking for I think renting will give us time to decide.

When you say a good amount of $$ in the bank, how much are we talking?

Thanks again

twojacks
  7/26/2021 20:35 EST

I was fortunate enough to be able to explore both Germany and Italy while I was in the military. Something about Italy just draws me back there but Germany was amazing too.

I'll be 52ish when we make our move. Not old enough to draw my SSN. We'll be getting $3300 / mth from the VA and there are no taxes on that which equates to approximately $54,000 USD ($46,000 euro) before taxes.

This move is something we've talked about for a couple of years but now that our daughter just enlisted in the Navy we're really starting to plan it and are looking forward to it. We'll probably make two or three trips over there during different seasons and do some more exploring just to get a feel for some areas. Thanks for the info you provided.

mchaves
  7/26/2021 21:14 EST

Hi, although it's not a guarantee of residency but could help getting a long stay visa. Check the 1 euro houses. Good luck.

Lanonnade5
  7/27/2021 01:15 EST

Thank you Whidden39 for an excellent post. Just confirms my opinion of this blog. I’m so glad I found it.

codybrandy
  7/27/2021 03:07 EST

ER Visa...Elective Retirement Permesso di Soggiorno...that's what you will be applying for at your consulate in the US. Along with a ton and 1/2 of documentation (keep copies of everything!) they will ask for your finance situation. Each consulate has different acceptable amounts...on this forum we've heard c. $30K and up...a consulate in Calif. might be very different than say Mass. We've never been asked again when renewing Visas so you need to gather as much as possible for the initial Visa application. Copies of all current bank statements, all pension funds, everything. You will be amazed at the bureaucracy and this does not change once here. Also considering where to live: In some areas of Italy the P.diS is good for 1 yr...in Liguria 2yrs and with all the hassle to obtain thank heavens we only do it every 2yrs.

rsetzer99
  7/27/2021 07:11 EST

We are Americans who took the Elective Residency route. Because there it was nearly impossible to find actual what we needed to know in one place, let alone factual information (I'm looking at you facebook) I blogged every step of our process. How much, what docs, moving pets, buying a house. Then after we arrived I continued with how-to's on Permesso, Residency, Health Care. http://www.theslowtourist.com No ads, no selling just info backed up with as many actual documents and links to documents as I could collect.

Lanonnade5
  7/27/2021 07:16 EST

Thank you!

glorirz
  7/27/2021 15:20 EST

I just did a quick glance at your blog. It’s amazing!
Beautiful photos too!
We’re heading over in September for two months. Do we need the Covid forms? We’re vaccinated.
Thanks!

SGP
  9/13/2021 19:29 EST

Hi rsetzer,
Just read the Elective visa section of your blog.
Two questions for now....
- Can you send me a link to the consulate checklist?
- Must one express the intention to retire in Italy? or in my case, the honest answer would be to try it out for a year or two?
Thanks.

mchaves
  9/14/2021 02:16 EST

Buy a $1 euro house and move there. It's a kind of gray area, but the local commune will help you to stay - if you want to stay there. Your income is more than enough... A lot of Italians live on less 1k a month. Food in south is ridiculously cheap, so is the wine =).

codybrandy
  9/14/2021 02:52 EST

Unless you are already an experienced contractor at home be very wary of the 1E homes... Start by watching the many youtube videos. These are usually earthquake damaged homes that need structural, electrical and plumbing. Not for the do-it-yourselfer.
Most towns have strict rules when acquiring and time limits and amounts of Euro you need to put into the house the first year.
If you do not speak near perfect Italian, finding good honest workmen will be difficult (we've lived here 7 years and it's still tough). Also the work will probably take 2-3X as long as you expect. Supposedly, because of Covid building supplies are at a minimum and scarce.
Good Luck to you.

rsetzer99
  9/14/2021 04:06 EST

SGP - Wanting to try it out for a year or so will almost certainly be turned down. The ER Visa is a retirement visa and one must show they have the income stream to support themselves for the rest of their lives. - I am unclear on Consulate Checklist. Do you mean what the Consulate requires? Each one lists the requirements for each type of Visa they offer.

SGP
  9/14/2021 11:15 EST

Rsetzer99,
Yes, I understand that i need to show the required income in order to have the visa approved, regardless of whether I'm staying for a year or forever. I was just wondering if i need to say that my is to stay forever.
As for the "consulate checklist", I saw that term used in your blog, and was wondering if you still have the list. I still have not heard back from the consulate / embassy.

Allianz Care
Allianz Care

Flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. Use Promocode: LIFE10 and get 10% off your international health insurance for life!
Get Quote

Allianz CareAllianz Care

Flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. Use Promocode: LIFE10 and get 10% off your international health insurance for life!
Get Quote

Living in Italy GuideLiving in Italy Guide

Expats in Italy discuss the pros and cons of living in Italy. From bureaucracy to expensive cities, Italy can be a challenge. Most expats find that the amazing food, charming countryside, beautiful beaches and public healthcare make up for the cons.

Italy Forum Italy Forum
Join our Italy forum to meet other expats and talk about living in Italy.

Contribute to Italy Network Contribute
Help other expats and newcomers by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Italy.

Best Places to Live in Italy Best Places to Live in Italy

If you're considering a move to Italy, here are the 15 Best Places to Live in Italy in 2023.

Healthcare in ItalyHealthcare in Italy

An overview of the healthcare system in Italy - public and private hospitals, Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN), getting your Tessera Sanitaria (healthcare card), Covid-19 entry requirements, vaccinations for Italy, prescription medication availability and more.

Cost of Living in ItalyCost of Living in Italy

Expats offer insight into the cost of living in Italy.

Moving to ItalyMoving to Italy Guide

Expats moving to Italy envision a romantic lifestyle in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. However, it is important to make sure that you do comprehensive research and fully understand what it will mean to move to the city, town or village you choose.

Real Estate in ItalyReal Estate in Italy

Real estate listings in popular cities and towns in Italy.

Pros Cons of Living in ItalyPros & Cons of Living in Italy

Take off your rose-colored glasses and learn what expats have to say about the biggest challenges and the greatest rewards of living in Italy.

Retiring in ItalyRetiring in Italy

Advice for people retiring in Italy.

Visa and Residency ItalyItaly Visa & Residency Guide

Expats share their experiences obtaining residency in Italy. They discuss the ins and outs of the applying for the permesso di soggiorno, recent travel issues, permanent residency in Italy and more.

10 Tips for Living in Italy10 Tips for Living in Italy

If you've recently arrived in Italy, here are 10 tips for digital nomads living in Italy.

Allianz Care
Allianz Care

Flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. Use Promocode: LIFE10 and get 10% off your international health insurance for life!
Get Quote

Allianz CareAllianz Care

Flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. Use Promocode: LIFE10 and get 10% off your international health insurance for life!
Get Quote

Contribute to Italy Network Contribute
Help others in Italy by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Italy.

Allianz Care
Allianz Care

Copyright 1997-2024 Burlingame Interactive, Inc.

Privacy Policy Legal