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Local Italy
2 days ago
- Business
- Local Italy
What are the best ways to move to Italy after the government's citizenship clampdown?
A controversial government reform introduced major restrictions on who can apply for ancestry-based Italian citizenship (or citizenship ius sanguinis) earlier this year. While previously anyone with an Italian ancestor could apply for citizenship if they could prove an unbroken chain of descent, the new law applies a two-generational limit, meaning only those with an Italian parent or grandparent are now eligible. Bar a few exceptions, the new rules also require people born outside Italy to have a parent or grandparent who 'holds, or held at the time of death, exclusively Italian citizenship' in order to apply for ancestry-based citizenship. That means parents and grandparents who hold dual citizenship cannot pass Italian citizenship on to children or grandchildren born abroad unless they renounce their other, non-Italian citizenship. The Local's readers who found themselves abruptly blocked from accessing Italian citizenship due to the new rules described the reform as ' heartbreaking '. But for people in this situation, there are alternative routes to Italian residency. We spoke to Marco Mazzeschi, an Italian immigration lawyer at Mazzeschi Legal Counsels, as well as Italian relocation consultant Federica Grazi, about how non-EU nationals affected by the rule change can move to Italy in 2025. The best Italian visa options Italy's elective residency visa (ERV) for pensioners and digital nomad visa (DNV) for remote workers are 'the two big ones' Grazi recommends to people looking to relocate to Italy. The ERV is aimed at people who receive a passive income (such as rental income or a pension), while the DNV, launched last year, is for self-employed workers or fully remote employees. The fact that both visas require applicants to show they have pre-existing income gives them an advantage over people looking for work in Italy, as 'the local job market is quite regulated, both locally and at the EU level,' Grazi says. While the ERV and DNV require applicants to overcome a number of obstacles, including lengthy waits for appointments at Italian consulates and the need to already have long-term accommodation in Italy, the Local has gathered testimonies from people who show it can be done. Another option that Mazzeschi describes as 'underrated' is Italy's startup visa. This visa, which falls under Italy's annual decreto flussi work visa quotas, is targeted at would-be entrepreneurs with available capital of at least €50,000 and an 'innovative' startup project proposal. 'The focus is on 'innovative': so it must be technological, IT,' says Mazzeschi, and you must be able to demonstrate relevant professional experience. 'If I filed a project for a startup in nuclear technology,' he says by way of example, 'they'd look at me and say, 'you're kidding – what is your knowledge?' So they look at the background.' A key advantage is that you don't need to invest any money until your application is approved, making it 'no risk', Mazzeschi adds. Once in Italy, you need to earn over €8,263.31 per year (the minimum threshold for making healthcare co-payments) to remain in compliance with the terms of your visa. The visa options to avoid If you've been researching ways to move to Italy, you may have come across the self-employment visa, which like the startup visa is subject to Italy's decreto flussi work visa quotas. Given how oversubscribed this visa is and how few of them are released each year, Mazzeschi strongly discourages clients from applying, describing the process as a 'nightmare' and warning that they will 'almost surely' be denied. Grazi says she's also had clients ask about joining relatives in Italy on a family reunification visa, but advises them that this is only available for spouses, minor children, dependent parents over 65, and severely disabled adult children of legal residents. The requirements for family reunification are 'very strict,' she notes, adding that 'it's usually not applicable for people that have siblings or an older parent or grandparent.' More realistic visa alternatives include the EU Blue Card, the investor visa, and the intra-company transfer visa: learn more about these HERE. Fast-track residency-based citizenship If you have a dual-national Italian parent or grandparent and have been blocked from accessing ius sanguinis citizenship due to the latest changes, you may still be eligible to apply for fast-track Italian citizenship through residency. The new rules allow people with an Italian parent or grandparent, including those with dual citizenship, to naturalise as an Italian citizen after just two years of legal residency (down from a previous three-year time limit). residency-based citizenship requirements, including demonstrating proficiency in Italian and meeting a minimum income threshold.
Local Italy
12-06-2025
- Business
- Local Italy
How hard is it to move to Italy from the US in 2025?
A growing number of US citizens have relocated to Italy in recent years. In 2024, 2,000 more people made the move compared to 2022, as Italy gained 16,534 new American residents. The trend has so far looked set to continue, with a rising number of queries from Americans reported by everyone from relocation consultants and immigration lawyers to members of The Local's Living in Italy Facebook group. But, while interest in moving to Italy may be on the rise, has the country made the process of becoming a resident harder? Some recent news reports from Italy might suggest so. But whether or not anything has changed for your relocation plans will depend on the route you were planning to take to obtaining Italian residency. Citizenship via ancestry There were sudden changes to the rules on claiming citizenship via ancestry in March, imposing a two-generational limit for eligibility, which left many would-be applicants dismayed. Having Italian citizenship, or citizenship of any EU member state, would make a move to Italy considerably easier as it removes the requirement for a visa. But experts stress that this doesn't necessarily mean people will be unable to move to Italy in future. In fact, "despite these changes, residency in Italy remains very accessible," says relocation consultant Federica Grazi, Founder and Managing Director of Mitos Relocation Solutions. Visa options Italy offers several different visas for new residents, depending on their personal circumstances. 'The most straightforward options are for those with income sourced outside of Italy,' Grazi advises. 'In 2024, Italy introduced a Digital Nomad Visa for qualified remote employees and independent professionals. "There's also the well-established Elective Residency Visa (ERV), ideal for retirees and individuals with passive income.' described it as a challenge, though it's obviously possible for many people to succeed. We have some detailed advice on completing the process here. Citizenship via residency Also in the news in early June was a vote on a proposed amendment to the law on gaining citizenship via residency, which would have made the process quicker - though, ultimately, nothing has changed there. Many existing residents had hoped that they might be able to apply for citizenship sooner if the law was changed. However, this issue seems unlikely to affect the existing plans of anyone hoping to move to Italy in future. Some of those who are no longer eligible to apply for citizenship via ancestry following the law change have told The Local that they are now exploring the residency route instead. Other requirements While adding a visa requirement makes things more complicated, readers often tell us that the process of moving to Italy from the US was always far from straightforward. In fact, there are several important things to consider beyond the applications for a visa and residency permit. New residents have long needed to navigate healthcare requirements and tax rules, as well as meet a requirement to re-sit their driving test - in Italian. 'Many Americans already call Italy home — and despite the recent tightening of citizenship laws, that trend is very likely to grow,' says Grazi.
