Can a retired U.S. citizen move to Italy? (2023)

Can American retirees move to Italy?

While a visa is unnecessary if you're merely visiting Italy from the U.S., you'll need to apply for one in order to gain permanent residency. You will also have to provide proof of sufficient retirement funds with which you can support yourself.

If you have Social Security credits in both the United States and Italy, you may be eligible for benefits from one or both countries. If you meet all the basic requirements under one country's system, you will get a regular benefit from that country.

Elective Residence Visa

The foreign citizen must be retired with a minimum annual income of €31,000. For married couples, this annual income amount increases to €38,000. If children will accompany the retiree/s, a minimum of €20,000 annually is required for each dependent child.

As a general rule, American pensions are taxed in Italy. However, there are few exemptions as explained by the double taxation treaty with US.

In case you are an Italian citizen or you are applying for Italian citizenship, then you will be liable to pay Italian taxes on your public US pension. In this case your American pension will be counted as a foreign income, therefore you must declare it in your income tax return and pay tax on it.

US Expat Taxes - Italy. US citizens, as well as permanent residents, are required to file expatriate tax returns with the federal government every year regardless of where they reside.

Generally speaking, if you have qualified for Social Security by working and paying into the program for 40 quarters, then you will be eligible to collect benefits as an expatriate and retire in a foreign country.

Once you have been outside the U.S. for 30 days in a row, you will continue to receive benefits if you stay in the U.S. for 30 days in a row before the end of the sixth calendar month after the date you left.

Turin, Palermo, and Naples are the cheapest cities to live in in Italy. The cost of living in Milan is just slightly higher than the living costs in Rome. The cost of living in Florence is only slightly lower than the cost of living in Rome. The cost of living in Turin is 19% lower than in Florence.

Retirement is Italy is surprisingly affordable outside of Rome and Florence. July 21, 2020, at 2:02 p.m. Retirement in Italy tops the charts for overall quality of life. It's a land of historic significance, architectural marvels, beautiful cities, never-ending feasts of culture and amazing food.

Does Italy have free healthcare?

Universal coverage is provided through Italy's National Health Service (Servizio sanitario nazionale, or SSN), established through legislation in 1978. The SSN automatically covers all citizens and legal foreign residents.

The United States is 34% more expensive to live in than Italy. The only areas where American prices are more affordable are clothing and gas.

The good news is that buying a house in Italy as an American is possible. If you're a US citizen you can buy property in Italy thanks to bilateral agreements between Italy and the US — often known as reciprocal agreements.

A handful of countries on our list, including Australia, Costa Rica, Malaysia, Panama, the Philippines and Uruguay, don't tax any foreign income of expat retirees, while several others, including Colombia, Dominican Republic, France and Thailand, don't tax pension and Social Security payments.

The 7% flat tax applies to all foreign income sources, including: Pension Income. Interest Income.

This includes Americans who will work or transact business and persons who want to simply live in Italy. Americans must have an entrance visa which should be obtained at an Italian consulate before coming to Italy, in order to remain in Italy more than three months and gain resident status.

Yes, if you are a U.S. citizen or a resident alien living outside the United States, your worldwide income is subject to U.S. income tax, regardless of where you live. However, you may qualify for certain foreign earned income exclusions and/or foreign income tax credits.

There are more than 15,000 Americans living in Italy. Most of them have chosen as the place of residence popular, large Italian cities, such as Milan or Rome, but they can also be found in other Italian regions.

What countries can I move to and still collect my Social Security?

If you are a resident of a country that has a U.S. social security agreement, (other than Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, or Switzerland), we will continue your U.S. Social Security payments.

If you renounce your U.S. citizenship and do not already possess a foreign nationality, you may be rendered stateless and, thus, lack the protection of any government. You may also have difficulty traveling as you may not be entitled to a passport from any country.

Living permanently in the US would be possible only if you first obtain a green card, which requires going through the same immigration process as everyone else. Other general considerations are as follows: Renunciation of US citizenship is permanent and irrevocable.

If you are a U.S. citizen, you may receive your Social Security payments outside the U.S. as long as you are eligible for them. However, there are certain countries to which we are not allowed to send payments.

What happens to a Social Security account if an individual leaves the United States? The SSN number remains valid. However, generally, if an individual leaves the United States for more than six (6) months, he or she is no longer eligible for Social Security benefits.