Can a US citizen rent an apartment in Italy?
Non-EU residents will need to prove their legal residency in order to get an apartment. While it's possible to get a visa as a student or under other extenuating circumstances, most visas are work visas, and will only be issued to those who have secured jobs in Italy.
DOWN PAYMENT AND SECURITY DEPOSIT
It's not uncommon for the landlord to ask to see an employment contract, a bank statement, or references to prove that you have the financial stability to afford the apartment you are wishing to rent. (Credit scores similar to the American one, do not exist in Italy).
no visa required (US and many other countries) If you wish to stay longer than 3 months you need to apply for the 1 year Visa at your local Italian consulate…. once you arrive in Italy you may apply for a resident Visa (1–2 years depending on where in Italy).
Italy has 2 short term rental and 2 long term rental contract options. You'll find that housing with short term contracts usually come furnished, whereas housing with long term rental contracts are typically unfurnished. The short term rental contracts are a) for tourism purposed or b) for temporary purposes.
All non-residents are required to complete a declaration of presence (dichiarazione di presenza). Prospective residents or anyone intending to stay in Italy for longer than 90 days must obtain a permit of stay (permesso di soggiorno).
Italy is notorious for being quite difficult with visas and it's safe to say that the visa options for Americans to move to Italy are few and will take quite a bit of effort to obtain. But Italy is one of the most beautiful countries in the world!
Understand the Legal Requirements on Moving to Italy
You are free to live and work there without a visa. However, a work visa is necessary for everyone else coming to Italy for non-tourism purposes. Expats need to organize more than just their work visas. The length of your stay determines the next step.
Any non-EU national who wants to stay in Italy for longer than three months needs to apply for an Italian long-stay visa as well as Italian Residence Permit (Permesso di Soggiorno). You have to apply for a residence permit for Italy regardless of the reason you want to live there, like work or study.
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Here's a sample of regular monthly expenses for two people and some prices on staple items:
| Expense | U.S. $ |
|---|---|
| Rent (two bedroom apartment) | $650 |
| Utilities | $220 |
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.
How long can you stay in Italy without residency?
You can travel to Italy visa-free for a total of 90 days within a 180 day period. You'll need a visa and a residence permit if you're going to Italy for work, study, family reunification, or a simple visit of more than 90 days.
- Proof of ID, such as your passport or driver's license.
- Proof of employment, such as an offer letter from your current employer.
- Bank statement(s) that prove you have enough savings to pay rent for a few months.
- References from previous landlords, if any.
Housing rent and utilities in Italy
Rent in a big city will range from around €400 to €700 for a furnished apartment. In small towns, you can find accommodation from €300.
Rent Prices by Region and Main City
The average rent price in Italy is 800 EUR (880 USD) a month. However, this is just the average—you will find rental prices to range from 490 to 1,550 EUR (540 to 1,700 USD). Below is a table with monthly rental prices by region, from most expensive to least expensive.
Renting an apartment is very different in Italy than the US. Whereas in the US most apartments are just for rent, and often managed by a full-time property manager, in Italy they are almost always rented by owners. Find a rental-only apartment building is very difficult.
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.
How many Americans live in Italy? There Are 15,658 Americans living in Italy today. Although most of them reside in bigger cities like Rome and Milan, there're plenty of beautiful Italian destinations to choose from, depending on your priorities.
- Canada. If you have your heart set on living in North America but don't qualify for any visas in the United States, their neighbor to the North might be a good choice for you. ...
- France. ...
- The Caribbean. ...
- Spain. ...
- Mexico. ...
- Croatia. ...
- Indonesia.
In general, Italians respect Americans and always welcome them as friends. They adore the curiosity of American tourists in regard to experiencing Italian culture, and they love the way that Americans enjoy their food.
Italy is one of the cheapest countries to live in.
In fact, Italy is the 4th cheapest country in Western Europe.
How much money do I need to move to Italy?
On average you're looking at around 1500 euros or 1900 USD a month to move to a small city or larger town. That doesn't include the moving costs, which would be around 6,000-10,000 USD depending on your situation for the plane ticket, deposit on an apartment, help with a visa, etc.
Elective Residency Visa
This visa is for retirees who have a guaranteed income and can provide for themselves in Italy. This money should come from a pension or savings and investments. It cannot be from current employment. Please note that this type of visa forbids you from doing any kind of paid work in Italy.
Italy makes it possible for people who can sustain themselves financially without working to move to Italy through the Elective Residence visa.
More specifically, these annual income requirements are €31,160 (about $32,000 as of the time of writing) for individuals and €38,000 (about $39,000 as of the time of writing) for married couples. The most popular Italian visa for retirees is the Italian Elective Residence visa.
Although the ownership of a property in Italy does not entitle you to a residency permit, it can certainly help to obtain an Elective Residence Visa, which is rather popular.