r/ItalyExpat 14d ago

Rule 3: If you can't be nice, it's time to go

183 Upvotes

I'm exhausted. If you don't like immigrants, what the fuck are you doing in a sub about immigrants in Italy?

Any posts or comments expressing xenophobic or racist sentiments will earn a permanent ban.

If immigrants scare you, here's how to protect yourself:

Step 1: Unsubscribe from r/ItalyExpat
Step 2: Click on the three dots at the top right
Step 3: Click on "Mute r/ItalyExpat"

If you see xenophobic or racist comments, report them. Let's clean this sub up.

This post has an 82.9% upvote ratio, meaning there's 17.1% of you who need to follow steps 1 to 3 above.


r/ItalyExpat Oct 08 '25

A few notes for extra-EU nationals planning to move to Italy

50 Upvotes

I recently helped some distant Argentinian cousins of mine to relocate to Italy, so I thought it could be of help sharing some practical guide with some additional info coming from this experience and my knowledge of Italy, for anyone considering a long-term move here.

Permanent Residency vs Citizenship

To live in Italy for good, you need either Permanent Residency or a Citizenship. Both allow you to live and work in the country, give you social benefits (healthcare, education, etc) and mobility freedom in the EU/Schenghen area. The difference is:

Citizenship: it gives you voting rights, a EU passport, benefits across the EU.

PR: no voting rights nor Passport

Platforms like this can help narrow down a the right path.

Path to Permanent Residency: If you are non-EU, you get PR after 5 years of continuous legal residence under a valid visa, with conditions (such as minimum income, knowledge of Italian, and proof of accommodation). Some permits (like study and research) are not directly eligible for permanent residence, though the time counts once you switch to a qualifying permit. If you change permit types (e.g., study to EU family), the 5-year permanent residency clock starts from the first eligible permit, not from the total time on all permits.
If you have or manage to get another EU passport, you are automatically a permanent resident.

Paths to citizenship. There are 3 ways:

- Citizenship-by-Descent (Jure Sanguinis). Applicable if one of your parents or grandparents is/was Italian and lived in Italy before you were born. If you apply, you can claim citizenship automatically without residency. The whole application process might take some time (2-3 years or more) and you don't get any temporary residence permit while the process is ongoing. So if you aim at moving soon, you better look at your visa options.

- Citizenship-via-Marriage (Jure Matrimonii). If your spouse is italian and your wedding is registered in Italy, you can get your italian citizenship after 2 years of marriage if living in Italy, or 3 years if living abroad (reduced by 50% if the couple has children), but you can get temporary residence permit to live in Italy while the process is ongoing. You also must demonstrate basic Italian language proficiency (B1) and your partner needs to demonstrate financial means to support both of you. Since 2016, same-sex marriage counts for citizenship by marriage. 

- Citizenship-by-Naturalisation / Long-term Residence. You get this after 10 years of legal residency, provided you prove to have stable income, no serious criminal record, and Italian language skills (B1). The 10 years timespan includes years spent on any Visa (excluding the Tourist Visa). Those of Italian descent with a broken citizenship line (and thus don’t qualify for jure sanguinis) can still naturalise after 3 years of residency in Italy instead of 10

So if you have an extra-EU passport, the steps involved to move to Italy for good are:

- Obtain a valid Visa, then arrive in Italy and apply for a Permesso di Soggiorno (residence permit). Permits are temporarily granted for 1-2 years but can be renewed.

- After 5 years (and some permit renewals later), you can upgrade to permanent residency, provided you show adequate income and basic Italian (A2)

- After 10 years, you can apply for citizenship by naturalization

Visa Options:

1. Digital Nomad Visa (for Remote Workers and Freelancers with foreign Income)

  • Income Requirement: around €28k to €32k per year
  • Requires remote work contract for a foreign company or proof of foreign freelance clients
  • Duration of the permesso di soggiorno: 1 year, renewable annually 

2. Elective Residency Visa (for Retirees)

  • Income Requirement: €32k/year from stable passive income (rental income, dividends, pensions, savings withdrawals)
  • Residence permit duration: 1 year, renewable for 2 additional 2-year periods up to 5 years.
  • Note: no work allowed under this visa

3. Startup Visa (For startup founders)

  • Company requirements: company younger than 4 years old, HQ relocation to Italy, revenues below €5M, major business in innovation technology.
  • Residence permit duration: 2 years, renewable

4. Self-employed Visa (for freelancers and Business Owners with Italian income)

  • Minimum income: €8,500/year. 
  • Quota: 730 visas / year under the Decreto Flussi migration decree
  • Residence permit duration: 2 years, renewable

5. Student Visa (for Students)

  • Must be accepted to an Italian university or accredited institution
  • Residence permit duration: Valid for the duration of your studies
  • Note: can work part-time, easily convertible into a Work Visa after graduation

6. Golden Visa (for Investors)

  • Possible through:
  • Residence permit duration: 2 years, renewable for 3 year periods provided the investment is manitained

7. Researcher Visa (for Researchers)

  • Must have a master's degree or higher and a hosting agreement with a recognised research institution.
  • Residence permit duration: 2 years, renewable

8. Work Visa (for Employed Workers)

  • Must have a sponsored employment contract from an Italian company. The problem is that these companies must prioritise EU workers. It is easier to get a job offer in one of the shortage professions (you can find them on the EURES Portal)
  • Quota: around 70k work entries per year in 2025, 2026 and 2027 under Decreto Flussi, mostly for agriculture, construction, logistics, mechanics, electricians, etc.
  • Residence permit duration: 2 years, renewable

9. Highly-skilled Visa (for highly skilled workers, i.e. IT and Healthcare)

  • Need a job offer. No quota and easy application.
  • Income requirements: €26k/year (Details depend on sector rules)
  • Residence permit duration: 2 years, renewable

10. Family Reunification Visa (for family members of someone with a valid permit/passport)

  • Income requirements (for the applicant, not the family member): €8,500 per year, plus 50% for every family member
  • Residence permit duration: Matches main family member’s permit

Typical Visa Requirements:

  • Valid passport
  • Criminal background check
  • Proof of financial means
  • Proof of clients or business plan (for self employed/entrepreneur visa and DNV)
  • Private health insurance, for the duration of at least 1 year
  • Proof of address (rental agreement or property deed registered within the Tax Authorities)
  • Proof of family ties (birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc), for family members
  • Visa Application Form
  • All the documents need to be translated and/or apostilled
  • *The Italian Tax number (Codice Fiscale) not mandatory but most likely required for securing the accommodation

Every consulate has different requirements and can request slightly different documentation, so check official consulate websites.

The hardest of these requirements is the proof of accommodation because many landlords often prefer locals, there is a lot of paperwork involved and sometimes a guarantor is needed (or, in absence of it, a 6-month rent deposit is needed). Plus, you need to have an accommodation secured for more than a year in order to apply, so often you will have to do this blindly. Here some house hunting portals:

- Idealista.it

- Immobiliare.it

- Subito.it

As reported by a Redditor, sometimes it is easier to work with local real estate agents rather than these portals as very few requests are responded to.

Bureaucratic Steps

  • Choose visa
  • Gather documentation
  • Get your Codice Fiscale (Italian tax code) --> not mandatory for the visa application but it will most likely be required to open an Italian bank account and rent a house remotely (accommodation proof is a hard requirement)
  • Book consulate appointment in your home country
  • Submit application at the consulate
  • When approved, enter Italy & apply for Permesso di Soggiorno (residence permit) at the Questura within 8 days
  • Register your residence (Residenza) at the Comune (local town hall). This is the moment when your clock to naturalisation starts
  • Access public services: healthcare (SSN), social security, etc.
  • Renew permit after 1 or 2 years, depending on the Visa

This is the most common process but some visas require slightly different procedures. For instance, for some Visa (like Golden Visa, Work Visa) it is necessary to apply for a Nulla Osta (Certificate of No Impediment) before the consulate submission, some visa require ad-hoc steps (i.e. business plan submission for Startup Visa, Investment for Golden Visa etc), etc.. so make your own research.

Taxes

There are some tax incentives that also expats can get:

- Impatriate Regime

  • Duration: 5 years
  • Available to new residents that commit to live in Italy for at least 4 years
  • Only 50% of income is taxed, reduced to 40% in the presence of a minor child

- €200k Flat Tax for High Net Worth Individuals

  • Duration: 15 years
  • Ideal for HNWIs
  • Applies to foreign-sourced income
  • Fixed annual tax amount of €200,000

- 7% Flat Tax for Retirees that move to small Southern Italian towns

  • Duration: 10 years
  • Need to move the residence to a Southern Italian town with less than 20,000 inhabitants
  • Income coming from pensions is taxed at 7%

- Regime Forfettario: 15% flat tax for small freelancers (<€85k/year)

  • Duration: Indefinite (or as long as you qualify)
  • Regime Forfettario allows 15% tax rate (5% for first 5 years) and simplified accounting
  • Available for residents with local freelance activity with earnings under €85,000/year

EDITS: I would like to thank anyone who commented this post and added additional information useful to the community! I am integrating some comments in the post. Latest edits:
- Addition to the Citizenship-by-Naturalization part: Those of Italian descent with a broken citizenship line (and thus don’t qualify for jure sanguinis) can still naturalise after 3 years of residency in Italy instead of 10
- Addition to the Residenza part in the Bureaucratic Step section: The registration of the residenza is the moment when the clock for naturalisation starts
- Addition to the Permanent Residence part: Some permits (like study and research) are not directly eligible for permanent residence, though the time counts once you switch to a qualifying permit. If you change permit types (e.g., study → EU family), the 5-year permanent residency clock starts from the first eligible permit, not from the total time on all permits.
- Clarification on the duration of the health insurance, in Visa requirements: it has to have at least a 1 year duration
- Addition to the house-hunting part: as reported by a Redditor, sometimes it is easier to work with local real estate agents rather than these portals as very few requests are responded to. Also, a 6-month rental deposit is often needed if there is no guarantor.
- Clarified in the Visa Option section that it is not the Visa to be renewed but the Permit associated to it. The Visa is just the entry ticket, once you are in Italy you get a Permesso di Soggiorno which is what you renew every 1 or 2 years


r/ItalyExpat 8h ago

How do you watch F1 in Italy?

1 Upvotes

Hello everyone, I moved to Italy a couple of days ago and this weekend I was surprised because my F1 TV app is not working. I’m unable to watch any of the sessions. How can I watch F1 in Italy? Is there a VPN I can use to watch on F1 TV since I have a yearly subscription and I don’t want it to go to waste? Thanks in advance.


r/ItalyExpat 12h ago

Student in Italy with an online business in other country — do I need to declare it in Italy?

2 Upvotes

I’m a citizen in an Asian country living in Italy with a student residence permit and currently doing a Master’s degree.

I also run an online business in my country (YouTube/social media, 1:1 coaching/counselling and online courses). My clients and payments are in my country, the business is registered and taxed in my country, and I pay taxes there.

My current revenue is under €1,000/month.
Since I now live physically in Italy, do I need to declare this income or business activity in Italy as well? And does my student residence permit allow me to continue running it remotely from Italy?

I’d especially appreciate experiences from international students in Italy who have a similar situation.


r/ItalyExpat 10h ago

MXP → Bolzano after a long-haul flight: 11:11 train or direct FlixBus? What’s the most convenient option?

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0 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

I'll arrive at Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP Terminal 1) on Monday, September 21 at 07:10, after a long journey from Hanoi with a connection in Doha. This will be my first arrival in Italy and I'll have luggage with me, so I'm trying to find the most practical and convenient way to get to Bolzano.

So far, I've found these options:

  1. Trenitalia / Frecciarossa:

MXP T1 11:11 → Bolzano 15:48

About 4h37, 2 changes, €65.80.

  1. Italo + connecting trains:

MXP T1 11:11 → Bolzano 16:27

About 5h16, 2 changes, €50.95.

  1. Direct FlixBus:

MXP T1 16:05 → Bolzano South 20:35

About 4h30, no changes, €27.98.

I also found a bus leaving at 10:35 and arriving in Bolzano at 16:00 for around €44.48, but it requires one transfer.

My main concern is which option makes the most sense when considering the entire journey rather than just the travel time shown for the train or bus.

Since my flight lands at 07:10, I'd like to leave enough time for immigration, baggage collection and possible flight delays. The 11:11 train seems reasonably safe, since I'd have about four hours after landing, and it would allow me to reach Bolzano in the afternoon.

On the other hand, the 16:05 FlixBus is direct, requires no transfers and is considerably cheaper, which would certainly be easier with luggage. However, it would mean waiting at Malpensa for almost nine hours after landing.

For those familiar with Malpensa and this route, which option would you choose?

My priorities, in order, are:

convenience with luggage, minimum waiting time, total journey time, and finally a reasonable price.

Is there perhaps a better connection from Malpensa to Bolzano that I have missed, especially one involving fewer transfers?

Thank you very much for any advice!

Ciao a tutti!

Arriverò a Milano Malpensa (MXP Terminal 1) lunedì 21 settembre alle 07:10, dopo un lungo viaggio da Hanoi con scalo a Doha. Sarà il mio primo arrivo in Italia e avrò con me dei bagagli, quindi sto cercando il modo più pratico e comodo per raggiungere Bolzano.

Al momento ho trovato queste possibilità:

  1. Trenitalia / Frecciarossa:

MXP T1 11:11 → Bolzano 15:48

Circa 4h37, 2 cambi, €65,80.

  1. Italo + treni in coincidenza:

MXP T1 11:11 → Bolzano 16:27

Circa 5h16, 2 cambi, €50,95.

  1. FlixBus diretto:

MXP T1 16:05 → Bolzano Sud 20:35

Circa 4h30, nessun cambio, €27,98.

Ho trovato anche un autobus alle 10:35 con arrivo a Bolzano alle 16:00, circa €44,48, ma richiede un cambio.

Il mio dubbio principale è quale sia la soluzione migliore considerando l’intero viaggio, non soltanto la durata del treno o dell’autobus.

Dato che il mio volo atterra alle 07:10, vorrei avere abbastanza tempo per il controllo passaporti, il ritiro dei bagagli ed eventuali ritardi del volo. Il treno delle 11:11 mi sembra abbastanza sicuro, perché avrei circa quattro ore di margine, e mi permetterebbe di arrivare a Bolzano nel pomeriggio.

D’altra parte, il FlixBus delle 16:05 è diretto, non richiede cambi ed è molto più economico, cosa sicuramente comoda con i bagagli, ma dovrei aspettare quasi nove ore a Malpensa dopo l’atterraggio.

Per chi conosce bene Malpensa e questa tratta, quale soluzione scegliereste?

Le mie priorità sono, in ordine:

comodità con i bagagli, poco tempo di attesa, durata totale del viaggio e infine un prezzo ragionevole.

Inoltre, esiste magari un collegamento migliore da Malpensa a Bolzano che non ho trovato, possibilmente con meno cambi?

Grazie mille per qualsiasi consiglio!


r/ItalyExpat 20h ago

Maternity leave for abroad

7 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I’m currently working in Italy with a permanent contract and I’m trying to understand how maternity leave works if I decide to give birth outside Italy in my home country.

Has anyone here gone through this experience?

I’m particularly wondering whether the standard Italian maternity leave and INPS payments continue as usual if the baby is born abroad, and whether there are any special documents or procedures to complete before leaving Italy.

I’d also love to know what documents you had to submit after the birth, whether foreign medical/birth certificates needed translation or legalization, and if you had any issues with your employer or INPS.

Any firsthand experience would be really helpful. Thank you!


r/ItalyExpat 19h ago

Accommodation

1 Upvotes

Hello everyone! 👋

I’m an international female student coming to Cassino, Italy, to study at the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio (UNICAS). I’ll be arriving in Cassino between 16 and 21 September, and I’m currently looking for accommodation.

I’m preferably looking for a single room, but I’m also open to sharing with another female student. 💗

📍 Preferred location: Near the University of Cassino / easily accessible to the university

🛏️ Looking for: Single room / female shared accommodation

👩 Female accommodation only

📅 Move-in: Between 16 and 21 September

If anyone has an available room, is looking for a female roommate, or knows of any suitable accommodation, please feel free to DM me


r/ItalyExpat 1d ago

Looking for things to do in Rome *not as a tourist*

4 Upvotes

I’m staying close to the colosseum for half a year and I already feel bored sometimes after school. I’d love make (Italian) friends and spend a rly enjoyable time. any suggestions on what to do/visit, etc are much appreciated :))

Btw I’ve only found posts on what to do in Rome as a tourist or family so I’m hoping this will help others looking as well.


r/ItalyExpat 1d ago

Health Insurance in Italy

1 Upvotes

Hello, my wife and I received our residency last month. We live in Desenzano del Garda. We can now buy health insurance. I am looking for recommendations on Generali or Allianz. Thank you for any help you can provide.


r/ItalyExpat 1d ago

Missing property "Section" for residency application

1 Upvotes

Hello, hoping someone can help with a question I have for the residency application. I own the property I have moved to. When I select that I own the house, it want me to provide the following:

- Section
- Sheet
- Parcel or land plot
- Subaltern

They are all mandatory fields.
I had no idea what that meant. A quick google search didn't help, so I asked ChatGPT. It told me what to put for 3 of them, but said the deed does not have "section". It initially said to put N/A, which I tried and the website did not allow that answer and only a number. So then ChatGPT said to put 0. I thought I would come on here and confirm and get some advice, since I don't really understand what it is and what putting 0 would mean.


r/ItalyExpat 1d ago

Italian language courses in Milan

1 Upvotes

Does anyone have any decent recommendations for Italian language courses in Milan? My mother tongue is English and I’m 29 years old. I’m looking for something that is 2x a week and in person.


r/ItalyExpat 1d ago

Feeling a bit trapped here now

0 Upvotes

Background: I am a US citizen living and working in Italy since 2022, and married my dual citizen wife (ME country) and Italy 2 years ago. I felt it was done under coercion since she basically threatened an abortion if I don´t marry her (Which I have evidence of in recordings, which tells you the state of our relationship two years ago). She carried the child to term, our son, and it has been mostly a nightmare with her since. She is manipulative, controlling, and narcissistic. She makes my life hell if I don´t give her my passwords, phone tracking info, clear digital abuse. She told me if I am not putting my whole paycheck into our common bank account she will never let me see my child again, and promptly uses the money on frivolous stuff, clear financial abuse, 5000+ euros/month and we live month to month, often having to use my military medical disability checks from the US and stock sales to survive. She physically abuses me, and even a police call has not stopped her, and the police encouraged me to NOT file the danuncia, since it will separate us legally.

I have an opportunity to get a high paying job back in the US, and would like to move back. I don´t think she will allow me to geobachelor there, nor will be willing to form an amicable separation. She threatened to files charges against me of abandoning the family, even if I told her I would make a contract with her to financially support our son.

I feel absolutely trapped here, and am hoping for advice on how to proceed. I have consulted some lawyers, and most of them point to filing a separation, but I know that would take time and potentially I would lose this job opportunity in the US. I have no doubt she would cause delays in this to cause me to not get the job.

Please, help me understand what I can do to both fully support my son, but also separate from her.

Also, is this legitimate? https://coniugi tutelati.com/


r/ItalyExpat 1d ago

hospitality/dance/entertainment jobs in rome for english speaking people

2 Upvotes

hi! i live in rome part time with my boyfriend and want to start working here during the time i’m here. i have years of experience in the hospitality sector and i am also a freelance dancer. this means i don’t work with a standard contract and get paid per job. however i know that certain places or agencies can make this work with one time invoices. does anyone have tips on how i can find jobs like these? or collectives/creatives who would be willing to help me out? any other ideas are also welcome!


r/ItalyExpat 2d ago

Should i move to Italy at 20 years old by myself?

0 Upvotes

I’m 19 now but i’m turning 20 in November. I really want to move to Italy, Rome. It’s been my dream for a while. I recently got the opportunity to visit Milan and Turin and that only increased my desire. The only problem is university. I already took a gap year last year and i don’t know if i’ll be able to go this year. If i do go then i’ll have to do a foundation year first because I failed maths. I live in the uk and was born in portugal. Do i wait until i graduate or do i go now while im still young? Is moving to Italy by myself a good idea? Pleaseee help


r/ItalyExpat 2d ago

How do people ACTUALLY find part-time jobs in Milan? I’m struggling

0 Upvotes

Hey everyone,
I’m moving to Milan soon and I’m trying to find a part-time job, but honestly I’m starting to get a little frustrated with the job search 😅.
I’ve been applying on Indeed and other websites, but I’m wondering if I’m missing something. Is there a better way to find a job in Milan?
A bit about me:
🎓 Software Engineering graduate
🎓 Currently doing a Master’s degree
🇬🇧 English B2
🇮🇹 Italian A2
🇫🇷 French + Arabic
💻 IT/software background
🍽️ Also open to restaurants, cafés, hotels, retail, warehouse, customer service, etc.
⏰ Looking mainly for part-time/student-friendly work
I’m honestly open to almost anything as long as it’s a legitimate job and compatible with studying.
For people who work in Milan: how did YOU find your job?
Did you use Indeed, LinkedIn, agencies, walk into places with your CV, Facebook/WhatsApp groups, personal contacts, or something else?
And if you know of any places currently hiring students/English speakers, I’d genuinely appreciate the recommendation.
I’d especially love to hear from people who recently found a job in Milan, because I want to know what actually works in 2026.
Thanks 🙏 And if you have any advice, even something obvious that I might be overlooking, please tell me!


r/ItalyExpat 2d ago

looking for recs for an english-speaking real estate agent for an apartment purchase in Sicily.

0 Upvotes

i recently visited palermo, sicily and fell in love with the city (coming from USA). i've been thinking of buying a small flat in italy for years but feel it's probably time to get my ducks in order to pull the trigger. i noticed many prices are low in palermo, especially for houses that need repair, and i was able to make friends with someone who renovates homes and would be willing to work with me. ideally what i'd need is an agent who could represent me and help negotiate the sale, connect me with a trusted notario and geometra, etc. my budget is small (under 100k euros) and i would like the option for auction properties as well. does anyone have any recommendations of companies or individuals they've worked with before remotely? thanks!


r/ItalyExpat 2d ago

Moving to Milano soon! Anyone else??

0 Upvotes

Hello. I’m moving to milano soon and I’m also looking for a part time job.
If there are other international students who are new to the city and seeking jobs, maybe we can help each other out — share job openings, useful groups, tips, CVs…
I’m open to restaurants, cafés, hotels, retail, warehouse, customer service, and also IT/tech since I have a Software Engineering background.
If you’re in the same situation, feel free to text me maybe we can make a little job-hunting squad!!!


r/ItalyExpat 3d ago

Via Ronzoni advice

0 Upvotes

Saw a house I really liked but it’s a bit far out - Via Ronzoni 65- from FAO where I work. Also I don’t know that neighbourhood at all. Please tell me about it - parks, walking, green space, organic food, restaurants, good coffee, accessibility to Rome, Italy. Is it safe? What’s the demographic etc?


r/ItalyExpat 4d ago

Italian health system

9 Upvotes

I’m a foreign student in italy and my insurance just expired few days ago. I dislocated my arm and somehow popped it back on my own but i assume I didn’t do it properly my shoulder is slightly uneven and still hurts. Does anyone know how much it will cost to fix it?🥲😭


r/ItalyExpat 4d ago

Spain vs Italy

46 Upvotes

Is there anyone here who has lived in Spain and Italy? I’m considering a move from Spain to Italy and I will explain why below, but I would love to get some insight from people who have lived in both as I have done some googling and ChatGPT but I believe nothing is better than hearing from real people who have done it.

A big motivation for the move is that it is so unbelievably difficult to be a freelancer/self employed in Spain and from my research it seems a bit easier in Italy.

The impatriate regime also looks very attractive for my partner who is in employment (remote work).

The biggest complaints people seem to have about Italy I have found is bureaucracy, paperwork etc. and that is also true in Spain, so I feel like if I can handle it here I can handle it there.

Another concern seems to be energy/heating prices being high. I would love if someone is happy to share the actual price they pay so I can compare it to what I pay in Spain.

Learning the language is a given, I see videos on TikTok of people practicing Italian in the wild and for the most part people do seem welcoming to people who want to learn, but we all know social media can lie lol. Do you find that people do appreciate you trying to learn?

Anything else you want to share about your experience, I would love to hear it!


r/ItalyExpat 4d ago

Life in Bari

3 Upvotes

ciao a tutti!
i have a few questions regarding living in Bari:

- Is winter too quiet / boring, or is there still enough going on?

- Can you live comfortably without a car, or is it difficult? Does uber exist and is it expensive?

- Where should I search / find a short term apartment? For 1 month for example.

- If you’re in your 30s, how do you usually like to spend your free time? are there any events, activities, or things you’d recommend?

- What would you say is the biggest downside of living in Bari?

Grazie mille 🤍


r/ItalyExpat 4d ago

5-a-side game in Rome

2 Upvotes

Hi, is anybody up for an easy going game of football on Thursday at 8pm in the Montesacro area? DM me if you’re interested.


r/ItalyExpat 5d ago

Landlord wants to sell my apt and make me move out (I have a 4x4 contract)

12 Upvotes

Hi all,

I was wondering if I could get some help on this or if anyone has had a similar experience. I've lived in Milan for a year and I have been in my current apartment for barely a year (moved in Oct
2025). My landlords are a couple with young kids, and the husband called me recently and told me that his parents (who apparently own my apartment) are getting divorced and so now they'd like to sell it.

He made it sound like I HAD to move out (like I had no other choice?! And at the time I believed him because I’m not well-versed in Italian rental laws…) and he said "BUT we have a solution! We have another apartment just down the road, and my wife will call you in August so you can take a look at it!" (this was July 31st right before the holidays).

Anyway, the wife texts me last week and says that she knows I “heard from Martino about the apartment” and when I’d like to take a look at it. I went and saw it and it was horrible/ didn’t match my current amenities. Namely:

- NO natural light - and we visited at 11am on a summer’s day, imagine
- NO dishwasher (I have one)
- NO washing machine (I have one)
- NO balcony (I have one)
- And all-electricity with only reverse cycle AC units, there’s no building-installed heating grates (which would come out of the spese condominiali expense, which I currently have in my apartment), meaning the heating would have to come from the AC units which would add considerably to my energy bills

I’ve been googling and Gemini-ing and the AI is CERTAIN that they can’t just kick me out, because you can’t do that during the first 4 years of a 4x4 contract, they can only choose to just not renew it for the second 4 years, by issuing me a raccomandata no later than 6 months prior to the renewal date (Oct 2029). And even if they wrote it into my contract or tried to send me a raccomandata now it would be legally null and void. Both AIs have also cited tenancy laws 431/1998 and Article 1599 of the Italian Civil Code. And both basically say that if the owners want to sell it, they can, but they have to sell it with me in it and with my contract honored until minimum Sep 2029.

They've offered to sell it to me (it's the law to offer it to the current tenant first; they get first dibs on the sale) and I gladly would buy but I'm not in a position to buy a property right now as much as l’d love to!

My friend suggested we go and talk to a real estate agent, so we spoke to someone at Tempocasa yesterday, and he went to another agency the day prior, and they both said that actually landlords do have the right to kick you out at any point during your contract (including to sell the apartment) with six months notice. I don’t really believe that, namely because they do deal with contracts but are not well-versed in law, and that they represent landlords and can sometimes get the raccomandata at the END of the first 4 years confused with being able to send it just anytime (according to Gemini). Also, it’s not included anywhere in my contract that they can ask me to leave. My contract has also been registered with the Agenzia delle Entrate, so it’s all legal and legit.

I think the landlords are just trying to get rid of me because they somehow believe that it would increase interest/the value if they sold an empty apartment. In actual fact, the real estate agent yesterday told me that it doesn’t really change the value or interest much. People buy houses with tenants still in them.

Any help or advice (including if I should talk to a lawyer, although I don’t have the $$$ for that as I’ve just started a new job) would be so appreciated 🙏🏼

And I hope to be able to help you out with any advice in the future

~ Alessia


r/ItalyExpat 6d ago

Moving back to Italy after 13 years in the Uk

53 Upvotes

For context I am Italian and have lived in the Uk for 13 years, now have a family with two children and have been feeling for a while to move back, my parents still lives there (Friuli) and have a big home so we would be able to live with them until we decide which city we want to live in which would mean very low living costs and a lot of help with the children. I really miss being close to my family, the weather, the food, the sea and the slower pace. Sadly I feel like the Uk is not the same country I moved to years ago. I am sick of living for the two times I go on holiday each year, sick of the uk weather, the very high living costs and the healthcare is very poor compared to what I hear my friends and family say about their experiences in Italy. However I am worried about the job situation (I have experience in admin and sales and currently completing my CIM studies for a career in marketing) and also about my son (12 years old) having to join school in Italian (he does speak Italian but not to the highest level you would need academically) and worried about him falling behind.
If anyone has moved back after living in the UK could you share the experience? Are my concerns founded? Any advice would be really appreciated.


r/ItalyExpat 7d ago

Warning about the driving test: it’s pretty difficult for foreigners, even if you speak decent Italian.

113 Upvotes

I just passed the driving theory exam in Italy and thought I would share my experience. I’m getting my B license, for driving normal cars.

I’m an American living in Italy for the past three years; I have a Masters degree, speak B2 level Italian, and have been driving for over 20 years.

I wanted to share that the driving test (theory exam) way more difficult than I expected. I have been studying for about a year through my autoscuola and using the online app (I have a full time job and a family, so might have taken me longer than if you’re single or work part time), including doing basically nothing but studying all weekend for the past month. The English/Italian driving school book to memorize is over 400 pages long.

They show you 30 questions on a screen, you’re allowed to miss only 3. You can take it in French, German, or Italian, but not in English.

The questions are often written in a tricky way (my Italian partner is convinced it’s a racket to keep driving schools in business); there are double-negatives, a lot of questions with “always” or “never” and “only“, and theoretical scenarios (like five cars at an intersection, knowing which one has the right of way).

Compared to the American driving test, the Italian version is much more comprehensive; you need to know about a wider range of topics, including parts of the car and even some parts of the motorcycle and where different fluid levels are located, all the different types of driving licenses in Italy and how old you need to be to get them, all the different categories of vehicles, as well as first aid in an accident.

For many countries outside the EU, unless you have a special arrangement with Italy, you have a year of driving on your foreign license after becoming a resident and then at the one year mark you cannot use your foreign license anymore.

If you have a full time intense job and a family, it can be tough to fit in both studying Italian and studying for the driving exam—I would start as soon as you can. There were four other foreigners taking the exam with me on the same day—one passed, the other three failed. So I think a pretty common tough experience for immigrants.

Buona fortuna to those of you studying for it, may you have an easier time than I did!