Work and life of American citizens in Italy
American citizens looking to relocate to Italy for work, temporarily or permanently, must first obtain a work permit from their prospective employer. Once obtained, this permit allows them to apply for an entrance visa to Italy through an Italian consulate in the United States. In most cases, a work visa is also required before arrival. An Italian consulate can also provide this visa which suffices as an entrance visa.
Of course, not all employment scenarios are the same. Business owners, entrepreneurs, self-employed or seasonal workers looking to relocate to Italy may face similar bureaucratic challenges. But they may want to find different ways to resolve those challenges. With that in mind, here are a few options to consider for work and life in Italy.
Work options
1. Business Partner/Associate
To qualify for this option, you need an existing company (neither newly set-up nor to be set up upon arrival). If your position in the company is that of Chairman, CEO or member of the Board, that position alone qualifies you. If your role in the company is that of executive partner (or an equivalent role), you will need to provide more information (balance sheets, declaration from the CEO regarding salary, etc.). Before arriving in Italy, it is necessary to obtain a visa for self-employment from an Italian consulate. When you arrive, you must request the relevant permit to stay for self-employment (as a business partner).
2. Setting up your own business in Italy
The Italian government sets employment-based quotas for this option. Consequently, there are more rigorous controls on the release of work visas. In 2019, the Italian government set a quota of 2,400 self-employment visas (Law Decree of April 2019). Citizens could check the availability of these visas online by filling out an application.
The official process begins with submitting paperwork about your potential business to the Italian Questura (in the area where the business will be set up). This paperwork must provide evidence of: housing in Italy, sufficient personal disposable income (about 10 thousand euros), a Chamber of Commerce assessment of the investment’s feasibility, investment funds, clearance of licensing authority, etc. If clearance for your activity is granted, the Questura will submit it to your local Italian consulate for the consulate to provide you with a work visa (for self-employment). When you arrive in Italy, you must request the relevant permit to stay for self-employment (as a self-employed worker).
Life in Italy: Establishing residence
If you plan to reside in Italy without working, you will need a specific visa, known as “elected domicile”, provided by an Italian consulate. To obtain this visa you must show evidence of housing availability in Italy (rented or otherwise) and sufficient personal disposable income (about 30 thousand euros). The consulate only can determine your eligibility for “elected domicile” status. If you receive this visa, upon arrival in Italy you must request the relevant permit to remain under this status. This permit cannot, however, be converted into a work permit, neither at that time nor later.
Read more articles on our website:
- The Minor Case: which Italian Dual Citizenship petitions are getting rejected?
- Italian Real Estate: can Americans buy property in Italy?
- What are the risks involved when declaring a residence that is not your actual one?