Getting a residence permit in Italy

Buying property in Italy gives you a tourist visa: ninety days in any six months. A residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) is a separate process with its own criteria, and Italian immigration law is complex. Two routes are within reach of most people.

Elective residence

• —For people who can support themselves without working in Italy.
• —Minimum passive income of about €31,000 a year for one person: pensions, rent, dividends, funds. Salary does not count.
• —Documents: income proof, bank statements with translations, apostilled contracts, and a home you own or rent with a registered lease.
• —Some nationalities are examined more closely and must show that the income can actually be transferred.

Study

• —Enrolling at a university is often the simplest route. Permits are yearly and renew when you pass at least one exam.
• —Part-time work is allowed; after graduation the permit can convert to a work permit, or to self-employment with an income of about €8,500.
• —The University of Calabria charges around €700 a year for international students; scholarships and housing exist.
• —Twelve years of prior education are required; many master's programmes waive entrance exams for international applicants.

Time and odds

Applications take up to six months; the receipt lets you enter and stay meanwhile. The study route with conversion after graduation is close to certain; elective residence depends on income and paperwork, and gets harder with age.