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Italy Elective Residence Visa for Financially Independent People
A residence permit for people of means who live on passive income from outside Italy. You cannot work in the country on this status, not even remotely.
The Italy elective residence visa (Residenza Elettiva, literally "chosen residence") is for people who can support themselves without working. You need a steady passive income from abroad: rent, dividends, interest or a pension. The benchmark is about €31,000 a year for the main applicant, and the amount rises for family members. You also need housing in Italy before you apply: property you own or a registered long-term lease. First you get a national visa at the consulate, and within 8 days of arrival you apply for the residence permit.
The main limitation is a complete ban on work, including remote work for a foreign company. Remote workers have the digital nomad visa instead. Consulates look closely at how regular your income is: one-off payments or savings alone usually do not convince them. The whole process up to the residence card takes about six months on average.
Who it is for
- Retirees with a pension paid from abroad
- Property owners with rental income
- Investors living on dividends and interest
- Families who want to live in Italy without working
Requirements
- Regular passive income from abroad, with about €31,000 a year for the main applicant as a benchmark
- A higher income if your family is coming
- Housing in Italy before you apply: property you own or a registered lease
- A ban on any work, including remote work
- Health insurance for the whole period
- No criminal record
What we do
- Check your sources of income and how regular they are
- Advise on how to present your income so the consulate has no doubts
- Help with housing and registering the lease
- Arrange Italian translations and apostilles
- Prepare the file and book your consulate appointment
- Support the residence permit application after arrival and later renewals
Key documents
- Passport and application form
- Proof of passive income: pension, rent, dividends or interest
- Bank statements
- Lease agreement or property documents in Italy
- Criminal record certificate with an apostille and translation
- Health insurance policy
- Marriage and birth certificates if your family is coming
How it works
- Income checksources, regularity and the amount needed for your family
- Housing and documentslease or purchase, translations, apostilles and insurance
- Consulatenational visa application and waiting for the decision
- Arrival and permitwithin 8 days, the application through the post office, then biometrics at the police headquarters (questura)
- Card and registrationcollecting the card and registering with the local municipality (comune)
Timeline
About six months on average from preparation to residence card; the consulate review takes up to roughly 3 months.
Timelines are approximate: government agencies, consulates and banks set them.
What to watch out for
- Income in a currency other than the euro can drop below the threshold when the exchange rate falls
- Consulates often do not accept savings without regular income as a basis
- Hotel bookings and invitation letters do not count as housing
- Any work, including remote work, breaks the conditions of the status
FAQ
How much does it cost?
Our service fee is from $10,500. Government fees, translations, insurance and other mandatory costs are paid separately; we send the full estimate before you sign.
How much income do I need for the Italy elective residence visa?
The benchmark is about €31,000 a year in passive income from abroad for the main applicant. If your family is coming, the amount is higher. The exact threshold depends on the consulate, so we calculate it for your situation during the consultation.
Can I work remotely with this permit?
No. The status prohibits any work, including remote work for a foreign company. Only passive income is allowed. If you work online, the digital nomad visa is the right fit, and we will tell you which option is more reliable for you.
Can I show savings instead of income?
Savings on their own are usually not treated as a stable passive income, but they can strengthen the application on top of regular payments. We will look at how best to present your assets and income so the consulate is left with no questions.
Do I need housing before I apply?
Yes, you need a registered long-term lease or property you own. Hotel bookings and invitation letters are not accepted. We help you choose an option and draw up the lease correctly so the consulate accepts it the first time.
How long does the process take?
About six months on average from preparation to card. The consulate takes up to roughly 3 months to review the visa, then after arrival you apply for the residence permit and wait for the card from the questura. The first card is issued for one year and then renewed.
Can my family move with me?
Yes, a spouse and minor children can be included in the application as family members. The income requirement goes up accordingly. You will need documents proving your family ties, with an apostille and translation.
Do you guarantee the result?
No. Decisions are made by government agencies, consulates and banks. We are responsible for preparing and checking documents, filing and support, and we tell you about the risks upfront.
Related programs
Let’s discuss your case
We will check whether the program fits your citizenship, income and family, and send an estimate with the full list of costs.
