Visas and Residence Permits for UK Citizens Moving to Italy

Williams & Yates is not an immigration adviser. The visa information in this guide is provided to help readers understand the landscape. Always take specialist immigration advice before applying.

Before Brexit, moving to Italy from the UK was administratively straightforward. EU free movement meant that UK nationals could live, work, and settle in Italy without a visa. That changed on 1 January 2021. UK nationals are now treated as third-country nationals under Schengen rules, which means a national long-stay visa is required before you can make Italy your permanent home.

Getting the right visa in place before you move is not just a formality. Italian consulates can have long waiting times, and the visa must be granted before you travel. Starting this process early, ideally six months or more before your planned move date, gives you the time to gather documentation, wait for processing, and sequence the administrative steps correctly once you arrive. For a fuller picture of what the whole relocation involves, see our complete guide to moving to Italy from the UK.

As a UK national, you can visit Italy, and the wider Schengen Area, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. That is sufficient for a holiday or a short-stay visit, but it does not allow you to live there. If you plan to stay beyond 90 days, whether permanently or for an extended period, you need an Italian national long-stay visa before you enter.

The main visa routes available to UK nationals moving to Italy are:

• Elective Residence Visa – for those with sufficient passive income who do not intend to work
• Digital Nomad Visa – for remote workers employed by non-Italian companies
• Self-Employment Visa – for freelancers and those establishing a business in Italy
• Citizenship by Descent (Jure Sanguinis) – for those with Italian ancestry, which confers citizenship outright rather than a visa

Which route is right for you will depend on your circumstances: whether you intend to work, the nature of your income, and whether you have Italian heritage. Each route has its own documentation requirements, processing times, and post-arrival obligations.

The Elective Residence Visa is the most commonly used route for financially independent UK nationals who wish to retire to Italy or relocate without taking employment. It is designed for those with stable passive income, typically from pensions, investments, rental income, or dividends, and it does not permit you to work in Italy. This includes remote work for overseas employers. If you intend to continue working from Italy for a foreign company, the Digital Nomad Visa is the correct route.

There is no single statutory income threshold written into Italian law for this visa. Instead, Italian consulates apply their own guidance when assessing applications. The figures commonly referenced are approximately €31,000–€32,000 per year for a single applicant and approximately €38,000 for a couple, with an additional 20% per dependent child. These are not guaranteed minimums and individual consulates may require more, so confirming the current position with the Italian Consulate General in London before applying is essential.

Documents typically required include: a valid passport, a completed visa application form, proof of passive income (bank statements, investment statements, pension letters), evidence of accommodation in Italy (a signed lease of at least one year, or property ownership documents), private health insurance with minimum coverage of €30,000, a criminal record certificate, and passport photographs. All documents originating outside Italy will need official translation into Italian.

Applications are submitted to the Italian Consulate General in London, or whichever consulate covers your region of residence in the UK. Processing typically takes up to 90 days, though timings vary. Applying at least four to six months before your planned move date is advisable.

Italy introduced its Digital Nomad Visa under Decree Law No. 79/2024 in early 2024, making it available to non-EU nationals who carry out highly qualified remote work for employers or clients based outside Italy. Unlike the Elective Residence Visa, this route is specifically for those who are actively earning from remote employment or freelance work, not passive income.

The income requirement is statutory and set at three times the Italian healthcare contribution exemption threshold, which translates to approximately €28,000–€30,000 per year. Applicants must also demonstrate a relevant qualification: either a university degree, a government-licensed professional certification, or a minimum of five years’ professional experience in their field (three years for ICT specialists). Health insurance with minimum coverage of €30,000, proof of accommodation in Italy, and documented evidence of at least six months of remote work experience are also required.

The key distinction from the Elective Residence Visa is the nature of the income. Where the Elective Residence Visa demands passive income and prohibits any form of work, the Digital Nomad Visa is built around active professional earnings from outside Italy. If you intend to work remotely and earn from a UK or international employer or client base, this is the appropriate route to explore.

If you plan to work as a freelancer in Italy or establish a business there, the Self-Employment Visa (visto per lavoro autonomo) is the relevant route. This visa covers a range of activities including self-employed professionals, entrepreneurs, company directors, and certain artists and academics. The Italian Consulate General in London publishes the applicable categories and financial reference figures.

A critical feature of this route is that it requires a nulla osta, a pre-authorisation issued by Italian authorities, before the visa application can proceed. The process is also subject to Italy’s annual decreto flussi, the immigration quota system that determines how many self-employment visas are available each year. Application windows open for limited periods and are not available year-round, which means timing is important and delays are common.

Given the complexity of the quota system, the nulla osta process, and the sector-specific requirements that apply to different professional categories, specialist immigration legal advice is strongly recommended before pursuing this route.

For those with Italian ancestry, citizenship by descent, known as jure sanguinis or “right of blood”, is a distinct pathway that sits outside the visa system entirely. Rather than granting permission to live in Italy, it confers Italian citizenship outright. If you qualify, you would move to Italy as a citizen, with all the associated rights including the right to live and work anywhere in the EU.

The rules changed significantly in 2025. The Tajani Decree (Decree-Law No. 36/2025, converted into Law No. 74/2025 in May 2025) introduced a generational limit on automatic recognition. Claims through great-grandparents are no longer automatically recognised for applications submitted after 27 March 2025. Recognition is now limited to those with an Italian parent or grandparent born in Italy, or those who had a formal application or confirmed consular appointment in place before that date.

If you believe you may qualify, applications are submitted through the Italian Consulate General in London. Documents require apostille certification and official translation into Italian. Given the 2025 rule changes and the complexity of tracing lineage through historical records, specialist legal advice is the right starting point.

Securing the visa is the first part of the administrative sequence. Once you arrive in Italy, several further steps are required, and the order in which you complete them matters.

Codice fiscale

Your codice fiscale is the Italian tax identification number and it unlocks almost every other administrative process: opening a bank account, signing a rental contract, registering with a GP. The most practical approach is to obtain it before you travel, through the Italian Consulate in the UK via the Fast IT online portal or an in-person appointment depending on the consulate’s current process. You can also obtain it after arrival from the Agenzia delle Entrate, but having it ready before you arrive removes a significant bottleneck.

Permesso di soggiorno

Under Legislative Decree No. 286/1998, you must apply for your permesso di soggiorno (residence permit) within 8 working days of arriving in Italy. The application is submitted in person at a Poste Italiane office that provides the Sportello Amico service, after which the local questura (police headquarters) will call you for a biometric appointment and process the permit. Actual issuance typically takes several months, but submitting within the 8-working-day window is the legal requirement and missing it can complicate your status.

Anagrafe

If you are staying for more than three months, you are required to register with the anagrafe, the civil registry held by your local municipality. This registers you as a resident and is needed to access a range of local services. Registration is done at the local town hall and requires your passport, visa, and proof of address.

The sequencing of these steps matters practically as much as it does legally. Your dedicated move coordinator can help you plan the timing of your physical relocation around the administrative calendar, so that nothing stalls once you arrive. Visa and immigration advice, however, should always come from a qualified specialist. We work alongside trusted specialists regularly and can make an introduction if that would be helpful.

When you are ready to plan the move itself, our removals to Italy service covers every aspect of the physical relocation, from packing and crating to customs documentation and delivery to your Italian address.

Can I Visit Italy While My Visa Application Is Being Processed?

Yes, you can visit Italy as a tourist while your visa application is under review, provided your visit falls within the 90-day Schengen allowance. You should not enter Italy intending to stay as a resident until your national long-stay visa has been granted and you are able to apply for your permesso di soggiorno on arrival.

How Long Does the Elective Residence Visa Take to Be Approved?

Processing times vary by consulate and by the complexity of the individual application. The Italian Consulate in London typically processes applications within up to 90 days, though it can take longer. Applying at least four to six months before your intended move date gives a reasonable buffer, particularly if additional documentation is requested during the process.

Can My Family Members Join Me in Italy?

Yes. Spouses, minor children, and in some cases dependent parents can typically apply for a family reunification visa to join you once you are legally resident in Italy. Each family member will need their own visa application and documentation. The income threshold assessment for your initial visa may also take into account the number of dependants, so confirming requirements with a specialist before applying is advisable.

Do I Need to Renew My Permesso di Soggiorno?

Yes. The permesso di soggiorno is not a permanent document. Initial permits are typically valid for one to two years, depending on the visa type, and must be renewed before they expire. After five years of legal continuous residence, you may be eligible to apply for a long-term EU residence permit, which offers greater stability. Your immigration adviser can guide you on the renewal process and timelines.

Can Williams & Yates Help with the Visa Application?

We are not immigration advisers and we do not handle visa applications. What we can do is help you plan and time the physical move so that it fits around your administrative milestones, whether that means flexible removal dates, temporary storage of your belongings while permits are processed, or careful coordination of customs and delivery to your Italian address. If you need an introduction to a trusted Italian immigration specialist, your dedicated coordinator will be glad to assist. To discuss your relocation, get in touch with our team.