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Long-term residency rules in Italy can be quite difficult, sometimes requiring years to get a Long Term Residency Visa.

If you are a non-European community citizen you will require a visa to stay in Italy more than 3 months out of every six months. There are also specific requirements when you arrive that require your immediate action (within 9 days) to be in compliance with your Visa.

New residents often run into a variety of issues as they try to deal with initial residency requirements. Things that seem simple – like finding doctors and the right local officials for visa and paperwork requirements – can often be quite frustrating and difficult if you don’t speak Italian.

Visa Details for Long Term Stays

Requirements for Long-Term Stays

No visa is required for a maximum 3 month stay in Italy – but you must exit the European community for at least 3 months between each cumulative 3 month stay.
Many Expats rent for 3 months then leave for 3 months to avoid needing a visa.
Any longer term stay requires a visa from the Italian Embassy for your home residence outside Italy. You cannot apply for a visa while in Italy.
You must have a signed lease for a residence in Italy to apply for a visa.
When you arrive in Italy with a visa for a long-term stay you have only 8 days to apply to local officials for a residence permit.

Types of Visas

If you’re a non-EU national who wants to be in Italy for more than three months, you’re going to need a long-stay Visa. The most common types of Italian long-stay visas are:

Work Visa – available to foreign nationals who want to move to Italy to engage in salaried work. You already need to have a job in Italy before you can apply.
Study Visa – which students over 18 who are already enrolled in an Italian educational institution can apply for.
Self-Employed Visa – which is available to entrepreneurs who wish to open a business or self-employed individuals wanting to work in Italy.
Italian Retirement Visa – which is available to those persons who can financially support themselves without working in Italy.

Get all the details here (opens in a new window or page):

Visa Details