ELECTIVE RESIDENCE VISA ITALY

Discover more about the Elective Residence Visa For Italy, a Visa program for all people able to maintain themself autonomously without working in Italy. All You need to know about the Italian Elective Residency. 

Contents

WHAT IS ELECTIVE RESIDENCE VISA ITALY?

Usually, people contact Us and asking for a solution to move to Italy:

” I want to move to come to Italy, but without worrying about having a business, or working, or studying, or spend a huge amount of money making an investment into the Italian Golden Visa program“.

What I can do?

There is one way to come to Italy that is a little “under the radar”, but it might be the best option for You to coming here for a long term stay.

People love Italy:  good food, good people, wonderful weather, high-quality education, and low criminality.

elective-residence-visa-italy
Fontana di Trevi in Rome - Rome is one of the most chosen destinations for the applicants of an Elective Residence Visa

 

Italy does not need particular presentations. 

Now you have more reasons to think about Italy as a destination. 

The Elective Residence Visa Italy is an Italian Visa program designed to let You live in Italy, or retire in Italy, and living without working.

If you have stables and consistent passive incomes from your home country – or from other countries – You can just come to Italy and enjoy the famous Italian “Dolce Vita“.

And yes, this option may comprehends also all Your family members.

Discover all the requirements for the Elective Residence Visa Italy and Why this may be the Best Option for You.

Everything You have to know before applying for Elective Residence Visa Italy, with Frequently Asked Questions.

WHY APPLYING FOR AN ELECTIVE RESIDENCE VISA ITALY?

≪ Why Do I Have to Choose the Elective Residence Visa for Italy? ≫

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A view of Firenze (Florence), one of the most beautiful Italian cities in the center of Italy. Many chose Firenze as destination with the Elective Residence Visa.

The Elective Residence Visa Italy (Residenza elettiva in the Italian language) is a 1-year Italian Visa that allows You to enter Italy for a long-term visit.

It applies to foreigners who intend to relocate to Italy and who are able to do so by financially supporting themselves autonomously, without the need for employment.

So, with Elective Residence Visa Italy You can come to Italy, with your family, without working but only enjoy life, with coverage of all social services offered.

This is actually the best option for relocating to Italy if You have stable passive incomes. 

This point is very important and often there are denials because of that, as you can see from the official European statistics on Italian Visa

statistics-on-elective-residence-visa-italy-applications

But, at the same time, applying for an Elective Residence Visa is not an easy game: the Italian Consulates tend to be really severe when it comes to evaluate the required document, and so if you have all the requirements for an Elective Residence Visa.

elective-residence-visa-italy-approvals-denials-rate

And that’s also interesting to have a look at the reasons why the Elective Residence Visa application is rejected by the Italian Consulates.

What are the most common and frequent reasons under a denial of the Elective Residence Visa For Italy?

elective-residence-visa-italy-motivations-for-denials

So – in order to avoid falling into the big pound of Denials –  it’s important to apply in the right way, but also to be sure to qualify for the Italian Elective Residence Visa.

Indeed, it’s very important to show You have stable and continuous incomes but not from work or any other active behavior. 

According to general statements on Italian Consulates:
The Italian Elective Residence Visa is for foreigners – retired persons, persons with high self-sustaining incomes and financial assets like HNWIs – who have chosen Italy as the country of permanent residence [or long-term relocation, we add] and who are able to support themselves autonomously, without having to rely on employment while in Italy, whether as dependent employees, as self-employed employees or employees working remotely online. You cannot finance your residence in Italy through any type of work.

What is the main requirement of the Elective Residence Visa?

The most important thing to keep in mind is that you have to be able to autonomously support yourself in a long-term prospective.
This is a really strict requirement for the Elective Residence Visa: the Italian Consulate will evaluate if your passive incomes would be able to be stable and continuous in a long-term.

ITALIAN-CITIZENSHIP-ASSISTANCE-ITALIAN-CITIZENSHIP-BY-DESCENT-italian-citizeship-jure-sanguinis-boost-italian-citizenship-by-descent-italian-citizenship-processing-time-speed-up-italian-citizenship-by-descent-processing-time-italian-citizenship-assistance-italian-dual-citizenship-lawyer-italian-citizenship-service-italian-citizenship-jure-sanguinis-assistance-boost-italian-citizenship-processing-time
View inside the Venice canals - Venice is a really appealing destination in the north of Italy.

A common example is retired people: they have pensions (so certainly stable and continuous passive incomes), and so they aim to relocate to Italy just for living and enjoy life. 

Italian Elective Residence Visa is a trending alternative to the new Golden Visa program designed by the Italian Government.

You may be interested in reading also this
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≪ Which Benefits will I Have from the Elective Residence Visa Italy? ≫

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  • Free Education: free public education is available to children who reside in Italy [in case You are moving to Italy with Your family members].

     

  • Free Registration with National Health Care: holders of an elective residence visa permit can register voluntarily with the Italian National Healthcare System.
    You will have, for free, a family doctor, access to all specialist tests and visits, be admitted to hospital, just paying little fees (or no fees).

     

  • Permanent Residency: holders of an Italian elective residence permit can apply for the Permanent Permit of Stay (Permanent Card) for long-term residents after 5 years of legal stay in Italy. 
    In order to be eligible, they must have registered as residents and filed tax returns. 
    [To become an Italian Resident,  see also the trending alternative Investor Visa Italy program].

     

  • Italian Citizenship: after 10 years of legal and uninterrupted residency in Italy, an individual should be eligible to apply for Italian citizenship.
    In order to be eligible, one must have registered as a resident and filed tax returns. 
    You can read more about the options for obtaining     Italian Citizenship and Italian Dual Citizenship.

     

  • Tax Limitation: for Applicants with high worldwide incomes or high family Reddit for any reason, it’s possible to benefit from the Italian Flax Tax Lump Sum Regime, which allows you to pay only a fixed amount of taxes, regardless of how much income or resources you have
    Find more on Italian Flax Tax Regime For New Residents

     

  • No quota limits: differently as for other types of visas (f.e. work visas), there is no annual limited Visa number, for applying and relocating to Italy.

THE ELECTIVE RESIDENCE VISA ITALY REQUIREMENTS

What are the Requirements for an Elective Residence Visa for Italy?

PASSIVE INCOMES

Passive incomes like financial resources, other than employment, which can be reasonably expected to be stables and continuous over time. 

This is the main requirement as You have to demonstrate you’ll never be a public charge.

So when we refer to “passive incomes”, it means that You have to show stable and continuous passive incomes.

It doesn’t care so much how much savings You have in your bank account, or the fact you own a big company from which you earn millions. 

These are “active incomes”, so amounts you earn because of fo active work. 

For the Elective Residence Visa Italy, you have to demonstrate to have “passive incomes”, so amounts of money you received without doing anything actively. Commons examples are dividends, pensions, royalties, incomes from rents, stable incomes from a long term investment, etc. 

from € 32,000/year

Italian HOME

You must provide evidence that you have a place to stay in Italy for long-term permanency.
Accommodation requirements vary case-by-case, as it also depends on how many applicants and/or family members will move to Italy into that accommodation.
 

NO MINIMUM VALUE

PRIVATE HEALTH CARE INSURANCE

As the Italian Government provides an universal healthcare system that covers Italian residents, Elective Resident Visa applicants must give evidence that they have their own private insurance before entering Italy.

almost € 60,000 full coverage

Is booking a hotel room an accepted requirement for the Elective Residence Visa?

No - the Elective Residence Visa For Italy requires (and that's mandatory) to own a house in Italy or to have a lease agreement for that house. The Elective Residence Visa is for a long-term stay in Italy, so hotel bookings are not accepted.

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Get Your Elective Residency Visa For Italy

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Why do we ask for this information? Most Italian Citizenship or Italian Visa programs require the Applicant to prove a minimum annual income. This to prevent you won't be a public charge for the Italian Government.
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HOW TO APPLY FOR THE ITALIAN ELECTIVE RESIDENCE VISA?

The application for an Elective Residence Visa for Italy may be divided into main 3 phases.

The application process is obviously one; we just divide it into 3 different stages just to let you easily understand the entire process.

HOW TO GET THE ELECTIVE RESIDENCE VISA ITALY
#1 - The Eligibility Phase
#2 - Preparation Phase
#3 - Post Approval Phase
#1 - The Eligibility Phase
Elective Residence Visa Italy [2021 FULL GUIDE] 1

Before starting the entire with the Elective Residence Visa procedure, it’s absolutely important to check the potential eligibility with the Client. 

This is an important step we take with our Clients, as it’s mandatory for lowering the chance of a rejection of the Visa from the Italian Consulate.

Each case it’s different – and each person has a different financial situation, which’s not always in line with the Elective Residence Visa for Italy. 

So it’s impossible to have some standardized parameters – each case must be processed on a case-by-case basis, and we will offer the Client tailored and dedicated assistance.

As explained above, official statistics clearly show how high is the average denial rate of the Elective Residency Visa from the Italia Consulates.

elective-residence-visa-italy-approvals-statystics

So it’s very important not only to avoid self-applications but to be assisted by qualified Italian Immigration Lawyers like us. 

#2 - Preparation of all documents required for the Elective Residence Visa

As long as each documents will be correctly collected, translated and legalized, then you can submit Your application at the local Italian Consulate.

You will have to be prepared with all paperwork, for Your and your family members (if applicable), before the Consular interview – that’s is a necessary [and strictly personal] step of the Elective Residence Visa for Italy. 

Do I need original documents for applying the Elective Residence Visa?

Mainly, yes. You need original documents except in case the document is also admitted in a simple copy (i.e. Your document). In these cases, it's always recommended to have originals with You as the Italian Consulate will have the check the correspondence between copy/original.

What documents do I need for the Elective Residence Visa?

So let’s see a little more about the required documents in order to apply for an Elective Residence Visa For Italy. 

*Consider that the list is not a full list/each Italian Consulate may require additional documents.*

Before Anything: proof You Live under the Italian Consulate Jurisdiction.

 

Before anything else, you have to be sure you’re applying in the right place, so the right Italian Consulate.

This may sound like a useless tip, but that’s not. 
You have to apply at the Italian Consulate in the district You are legally resident.

ELECTIVE RESIDENCE VISA ITALY elective residency visa italy italian elective visa italian elective residency elective residence visa italy lawyer elective residence visa italy attorney elective residence visa italy assistance
The Italian Consulate will accept your application for an Elective Residence Visa only if you live under the Consular jurisdiction.


We often received inquiries like “Can I apply at the Italian Consulate in XXX if I’m traveling for tourism in YYY?” or “I live in Los Angeles but have a second house in NYC, can I apply in NY?”

The first thing the Italian Consulate may ask you is “Prove me that we are competent for this application“. So You may have to show you legally and effectively live in that place. 

This may be proven with utility bills, driver’s license, or any other document that prove You daily (or most of the time) live in that place.

1. Elective Residence Visa Italy Application Form

Elective Residence Visa Italy [2021 FULL GUIDE] 2

Of course, for submitting the application [and that’s valid for all Italian Visas] the documents must be collected as attachments to the Application Form. 

Here we have an example for the Italian Consulate in Los Angeles, but the Elective Residence Visa Application Form is a standardized form for all Italian Consulates. 

The Elective Residence Visa Application Form is for an individual application: this means that each over18 applicant will have to fill up his/her Form. 

The Form must be signed in front of the Consular Officer, not before.

2. Your Passport + Other IDs + 2 Recent Passport-Size Photos.

ELECTIVE RESIDENCE VISA ITALY elective residency visa italy italian elective visa italian elective residency elective residence visa italy lawyer elective residence visa italy attorney elective residence visa italy assistance
The Elective Residence Visa is only the first step for aiming to obtaining the Italian Passport

You will have to bring Your Passport. 

In case You are a legal resident in the Country but not a Citizen of that Country, You will also need to bring with You the ID/Residence Permit. 

For example: if you are a Chinese Citizen living in the U.S. with a Greencard, You will have to bring Your Chinese Passport with your U.S. GreenCard. 

Passport must have almost 2 blank pages (for the Elective Residence Visa stamp) and must have almost 3 months validity (we highly suggest almost 6 months).

3. Documents related to Your Passive Incomes

ELECTIVE-RESIDENCE-VISA-ITALY-REQUIREMENTS-ELECTIVE-RESIDENCE-VISA-ITALY-ASSISTANCE-ELECTIVE-RESIDENCY- VISA-ITALY-ITALIAN-ELECTIVE-RESIDENCE-VISA-ASSISTANCE-LAWYER-ELECTIVE-RESIDENCE-VISA-APPLICATION
This is how an Elective Residency Visa looks like - a stamp on Your passport.

Here there is the big part of documents for proving You have enough stable and continuous passive incomes for being eligible for an Elective Residence Visa For Italy.

You need to show documented and a detailed guarantee of substantial and steady economic resources.

A typical example of relevant documents is letters from banking institutions, stating currently available funds. You have to be more detailed as possible, so you need to show: type of account, account balance, and monthly earnings.

Or, documents from other sources that will provide you with additional financial revenues. 

These may be like Social Security pension or other types of pension, property ownership and lease agreements, business ownership, dividends, and related documentation.

Then, in order to demonstrate the continuity of these amounts, you must show solid bank account/s and a set monthly income.

For example: as the minimum is set at 23,000€/year, a single applicant must have a monthly income of a minimum of € 2,596.60 from passive incomes.

4. Documents related to Your Italian Accommodation

elective-residence-visa-for-italy

You need to secure an accommodation in Italy, before Your application. 

Pay attention: hotel bookings are not acceptable and third parties hospitality are not acceptable too. It has no relevance if You want to stay in an Hotel/AirBnb or similar, because you need to search for a house. You need to make it in advance. 

5. Motivation Letter + One Way Ticket

You also need to explain your goals to move to Italy for a long-term purpose. 

Remember the Elective Residence Visa For Italy is not intended for short-term purposes.

One way travel ticket reservation is also recommended (mandatory for some Italian Consulates).

#3 - After You got Your Italian Elective Residence Visa

The Italian Consulate approved your application and now You have Your Elective Residence Visa. 

So, what now? What to do? 

bersani-law-firm-verona-about
The center of Verona, in the north of Italy, photo taken to the famous monument "Arena". Verona is a really common destination for the Elective Residence Visa applicants.

It’s important to correctly finalize the procedure, or the Visa itself will not be enough for Your regular and legal stay in Italy. 

After you have your Visa, you may enter Italy and – in 8 days – You’ll have to register yourself at the Italian Authorities and then apply for an Elective Residence Permit, for You and for Your Family members. 

We will assist You in the entire process in Italy, for You and for Your family members. That’s an important step, or  You risk the Visa may be revoked. 

ELECTIVE RESIDENCE VISA ITALY F.A.Q.

Frequently Asked Questions about Elective Residency Visa For Italy we collected from our 8+years of experience, with a simple list of FAQ we prepared for our future Clients. 

You may find right now the answers you were looking for. 

The Elective Residence Visa Italy is one of the more trending VISA for Italy.

It’s a lesser-known type, designed for foreign nationals who want to live in Italy and have the financial means to support themselves without working.

This is called an Elective Residence Visa Italy (residenza elettiva), and it is mostly used by foreign nationals who wish to retire in Italy – and have the financial means to do so.

You can apply for an Italian Elective Residence Visa, but only if you are able to demonstrate you have stable and continuos passive incomes, which will allow you to live in Italy without being a public charge.

 

There are several requirements, mainly related to the financial condition of the application: in particular, the applicant has to demonstrate to have a minimum of 32,000€/year of passive incomes. 

Italian Consulates generally require a little more in order to issue an Elective Residency Visa (i.e. some US Consulates requires a minimum of 50,000/60,0000€, depending on the nature of incomes).

The Elective Residence Visa Italy  applicant has to demonstrate to have a minimum of 32,000€/year of passive incomes, so stable and continuous incomes NOT from his work.

Italian Consulates generally require a little more in order to issue an Elective Residency Visa (i.e. some US Consulates requires a minimum of 50,000/60,0000€, depending on the nature of incomes).

Absolutely yes: Italian Consulates apply really strict interpretations and evaluations on each requirement. 
The Elective Residence Visa For Italy is one the most difficult VISA to obtain.

That’s why we highly recommend to avoid self-applications, and enlist the help of some Immigration  Lawyers like Us, as expert on Italian VISAs.

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Apply Now for an Elective Residency Visa For Italy

Contact Us Now

You ask, We do It.

Enter a valid email, or it will be impossible to reply.
Share with Us all useful details for better analyzing your case.
Why do we ask for this information? Most Italian Citizenship or Italian Visa programs require the Applicant to prove a minimum annual income. This to prevent you won't be a public charge for the Italian Government.
Country / City

We also briefly talked about the Elective Residence Visa Italy in this YouTube video

elective-residence-visa-italy-guide-video
The video about the Elective Residence Visa For Italy will be opened on a separate window

ELECTIVE RESIDENCE VISA ITALY: NUMBERS & STATISTICS

The Italian Elective Residence Visa has historically been an “under the radar” Visa, as not everybody is able to be eligible and, also, for the fact it is one of the most difficult Italian Visa to obtain.

That’s also clear, according to recent statistics and numbers on the Italian Visa applications.

elective-residence-visa-italy-approvals-statystics

The reasons for relevant denials is mainly because applicants think to be eligible just because they have plenty of money in their Bank accounts as savings

elective-residence-visa-italy-common-denials

That’s why it’s almost mandatory to be assisted by qualified Italian Immigration Attorneys.

Why Us for Your Elective Residence Visa Italy

Elective Residence Visa Italy [2021 FULL GUIDE] 3

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COMFORT

Elective Residence VISA Italy procedures are so complicated and, sometimes, confusing. We will do everything for You, just choose your VISA, and we will think to everything

COMPETENCE

We will provide the best Support needed for each Client, with constant advices & helps Step-by-Step for the entire procedure, until You will obtain the Elective Residence VISA for Italy.

FAST

We will respond to Your doubts, questions, by email everyday. We will provice full intermediation with Authorities (Consulate, Local Office, etc.) for any need

FULL ASSISTANCE

We will provide the best assistance needed for each Client, with constant advices & helps, material assistance with documents, tips, with constant updates about Immigration legislation

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≪What do I Need to give You for starting my Application? ≫

What we need from You, for Assisting You on Italian Elective Residence Visa Application

Pay Attention: The List Below is not complete. So, This must  not be considered a Legal Advise.

Complete List and correct advise will be processed by Us for Clients-only.

Some examples of passive income are:
– bonds / stocks in companies;
– bank deposits, provided that funds are stable (the Consulate will ask to see if they have beenrecently deposited, for how long funds have been in deposit)
– dividends or revenues from company’s ownership
– Pensions and retirement funds
– Real estate income – ownership of real estates that generates income (i.e. rent)
– Royalties

The requirements for applying as a married couple or an individual are different. As a married couple it would be easier to meet the requirements of sufficient Existing Financial Resources and Passive Income.
In particular, the qualifying thresholds per person are proportionally lower when applying as a couple than when applying as separate individuals. 

Therefore, in order to apply as a married couple and/or for a dependent the Italian Consulate requires valid evidence of your family relationship. Non-Italian marriage certificates or birth certificates that are not issued from the country where the Consulate is located need to be translated into Italian and validated (e.g., legalized, apostilled) before you submit them. Check with the local Consulate for their specific policy.

You will also need a FBI Criminal Background check for each applicant (not mandatory but highly recommended).

you must provide evidence that you have a place to stay in Italy. 

the Italian government provides a universal healthcare system that covers Italian residents, regardless of nationality. However, Italian Elective Resident Visa applicants must give evidence that they have their own qualifying health insurance Make sure that the health insurance plan meets minimum requirements.

Additional tips on Elective Residence Visa For Italy:

 

Travel Ticket: Although it is not specifically required to have your ticket for Italy at the time of the Italian Elective Residence Visa application, if you have it you can bring it with you and file a copy of it as well. 

If you have not finalized your travel arrangements at the time of filing the Italian Elective Resident Visa, you can simply indicate on the visa application your expected departure date.

Visa Application Fee: EUR 116 per person (amount may change), cash or Money Order, payable to the Consulate of Italy, with applicant’s name and address on the money order. 

Multiple Applicants: If you intend to file an application for your spouse and/or child/ren, make sure to complete an individual application for each person.

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