Moving to Italy: every visa & residency route in 2026
There are 4 ways to move to Italy legally as of 2026 — spanning digital nomad, retirement, investment and ancestry routes. Here's every one, what it actually requires, and where it leads.
All 4 routes checked against official government sources · July 2026 · how we verify
Every route, side by side
| Route | Type | Requirement | Leads to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Nomad / Remote Worker Visa | Digital nomad | $2,900/mo income | Citizenship in ~10 yrs |
| Elective Residence Visa | Retirement | $2,800/mo income | Citizenship in ~10 yrs |
| Investor Visa (Startup Route) | Investment | $290,000 investment | Citizenship in ~10 yrs |
| Citizenship by Descent (Jure Sanguinis) | Ancestry | Italian parent or grandparent born in Italy (post-2025 reform: great-grandparent line generally no longer qualifies) | Direct citizenship / passport |
Digital nomad route to Italy
Compare digital nomad visas across every country →
$2,900/mo income
Driven by a $2,900/mo income bar and annual renewal.
~€28k–32k/yr plus health insurance and ~6 months' experience; for highly-qualified work. Renewable and can count toward the 10-year citizenship route.
Official source →Retirement route to Italy
Compare retirement & passive-income visas across every country →
$2,800/mo income
Driven by a $2,800/mo income bar and annual renewal.
~€31k/yr passive income (doubled per family member); working prohibited. PR after 5 years, citizenship after 10. A 7% flat tax exists for retirees in some southern towns.
Official source →Investment route to Italy
Compare golden visas & residency-by-investment programs across every country →
$290,000 investment
Driven by $290,000 of committed capital.
Four options: €250K into an innovative Italian startup, €500K into an Italian company, €2M in government bonds, or €1M philanthropic donation. Pre-approval granted before you invest; 2-year permit renewable for 3 more years, no minimum-stay requirement. Citizenship by naturalisation takes 10 years of residence.
Official source →Ancestry route to Italy
Compare citizenship & residency by descent across every country →
Italian parent or grandparent born in Italy (post-2025 reform: great-grandparent line generally no longer qualifies)
Modest by comparison: proof of descent rather than money.
EUR 600 consular fee per applicant, non-refundable whatever the outcome, charged on submission. Converted at ~1.08 USD/EUR. Fee source (checked 2026-08) →
MAJOR RESTRICTION 2025: Law 74/2025 (the 'Tajani decree', upheld by the Constitutional Court March 2026) ended unlimited descent. Automatic recognition is now limited to those with an Italian parent OR a grandparent born in Italy — the classic great-grandparent claim is largely closed. Cases filed by 27 March 2025 keep the old unlimited rules. 'Pre-1948' cases (female-line before 1948) still need a court petition.
Official source →Next steps: the money side
Set up your finances before and after you move.
Planning a move to Italy?
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
Moving to Italy: FAQ
How many ways are there to move to Italy?
This dataset tracks 4 residency or visa routes into Italy as of 2026, across digital nomad, retirement, investment, ancestry pathways. Each has its own income, investment, or heritage requirement.
Does Italy have a digital nomad visa?
Yes — the Digital Nomad / Remote Worker Visa lets remote workers live in Italy. It requires about $2,900/month in income, and it can lead to permanent residency. ~€28k–32k/yr plus health insurance and ~6 months' experience; for highly-qualified work. Renewable and can count toward the 10-year citizenship route.
What's the lowest-income way to get residency in Italy?
The most accessible income-based route is the Elective Residence Visa at roughly $2,800/month. Requirements reset annually and move with exchange rates, so confirm the current figure with the official source before you apply.
Can I get Italy citizenship by descent?
Italian parent or grandparent born in Italy (post-2025 reform: great-grandparent line generally no longer qualifies) MAJOR RESTRICTION 2025: Law 74/2025 (the 'Tajani decree', upheld by the Constitutional Court March 2026) ended unlimited descent. Automatic recognition is now limited to those with an Italian parent OR a grandparent born in Italy — the classic great-grandparent claim is largely closed. Cases filed by 27 March 2025 keep the old unlimited rules. 'Pre-1948' cases (female-line before 1948) still need a court petition. This is a direct route to a passport, not just residency.
Does moving to Italy lead to a second passport?
Yes — at least one route to Italy has a defined path to citizenship. The exact timeline and physical-presence rules vary by program; check each route's official source below.
Italy, compared
Visas, cost, and healthcare side by side with the alternatives people weigh.
