Find out the requirements and steps to apply and obtain a visa for your chosen place of residence

1. What is the visa for the chosen place of residence in Italy?

The Italy Preferred Residence Visa is intended for foreign citizens who want to live in Italy without an employment contract, while being able to support themselves (e.g. pensioners, people with a self-sufficient income and greater financial resources). In fact, one of the main requirements is that the applicant must not support his stay in Italy with any work and have sufficient passive income.

2. Reasons for applying and validity period of the visa for the chosen place of residence

Anyone wishing to move to Italy can apply for a visa for their chosen place of residence. However, the applicant must demonstrate that it has sufficient financial resources. The validity of the visa depends on the length of stay.

For the above purpose, it is granted for one year and can be extended.

3. Visa application requirements for the chosen place of residence in Italy

As already suggested, the main requirement for applying for a permanent residence visa is to have sufficient economic resources to support your stay in Italy. This must be documented: for a single person, the minimum financial requirement is €31,000 per year, although the threshold may vary at the discretion of the immigration authorities.

If you are moving with your family, your monthly income should increase by 20% for your spouse and at least 5% for each child. It does not matter whether the latter is a minor or a dependent adult.

Adequate and documented guarantees must be provided regarding the availability of a house that can be used as a home, as well as sufficient autonomous, stable and regular economic resources, the continuity of which can be reasonably expected into the future.

In any case, it is not allowed to work in Italy if you intend to apply for an elective residence visa, so you must demonstrate that you can support yourself in ways other than income from work (eg pensions, annuities, capital income , income from shares, dividends, loan agreements, lease agreements, etc.).

3.1 What documents are required to apply for the chosen place of residence in Italy?

In addition to proving that you have sufficient economic resources, you will also need to provide a number of documents to apply for a visa:

Duly completed application form for a long-term visa D to Italy ( click here to open the form in pdf format )
Passport: Must be valid for at least 3 months after visa expiration.
Passport size photo;
Civil documents such as birth or marriage certificate, if applicable;
Letter of application indicating:
Reason for intended residence in Italy,
Stay time
Place of residence in Italy,
Name of persons accompanying the applicant (for example, spouse and children);
Proof of residence, for example:
A rental agreement signed in accordance with Italian rental legislation or a document of ownership of an apartment or residential building in Italy and a certificate of registration with the tax office.

3.2. Do I need health insurance to apply for an Italian visa for my chosen place of residence?

Yes, you must have international health insurance before applying for a visa. The insurance must cover 30,000 euros per year and all medical expenses.

Holders of a residence permit for the chosen place of residence, in addition to the right to reside throughout the country and return there for a period corresponding to the validity of the residence permit, can register with the National Health Service for insurance coverage of health care costs. However, the owner must have health insurance before entering the country.

4. Application and steps to obtain a visa for the chosen place of residence in Italy

To obtain a visa you must (in the following order):

Make an appointment at the Italian embassy or consulate in your country to provide all the necessary documents. Check here for the competent embassy or consulate for your country of origin/residence.
Pay the Italy visa fee (approx. €116) and wait for your visa to be processed.
Your country's consulate or embassy will eventually issue a visa allowing you to enter Italy.
Within 8 days of the foreign national's arrival in Italy, it is necessary to apply for a residence permit for the purpose of the chosen place of residence.

The same permit may be issued to the visa holder's partner, minor children, adult children living with and dependent on the visa holder, and dependent parents living with the visa holder if there is sufficient financial capacity.

4.1. Converting a residence permit to a visa for the selected place of residence

In case of transfer from another residence permit, the visa holder must have a residence permit for employment, self-employment or for family reasons. The visa will be issued as a conversion of a residence permit, provided that he receives a pension in Italy.

The type of pension does not matter, nor does the fact that the organization paying the pension is Italian, foreign or international: what is important is that it is a pension (i.e. a permanent economic benefit and that it is actually received in Italy).

The application will only be accepted if all required documents are submitted at the time of appointment. If all of the above elements are not submitted, the applicant will have to make a new appointment.

If you are considering applying for a D visa based on your chosen residence, keep in mind that the processing time for this visa can be up to 90 days, so you may want to consider at least that depending on your needs.

Regulatory requirements:

• Directive of 1 March 2000
• Interdepartmental resolution of May 11, 2011 No. 850
• Decree of the President of the Republic of August 31, 1999 No. 394