Being an expat means a change in the environment, the lifestyle and the culture for some. Living in Italy is not as easy and simple. There are certain requirements and rules that one must have and to follow. Visit http://www.affordablecallingcards.net for more information on expat living in Italy.

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Guide Contents
Introduction ………………………………………………………… Page 3
Part I
Living and Working in Italy
Getting to and Legally Staying in Italy ………………………………………… Page 4
Working in Italy ………………………………………… Page 5
Buying vs. Renting a House in Italy ………………………………………… Page 7
Part II
Settling in to Life in Italy
What to Leave, What to Bring and How to Bring it Italy ……………………… Page 8
Getting Your Groove …………………..………………………………………… Page 9
Practicing the Language …………………..………………………………………… Page 10
Bridging the Gap …………………..………………………………………… Page 11
Connecting with Other Expats …………………..………………………………………… Page 11

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For many people, living in Italy is a dream. They’ve imagined what it’d be like to stroll to the
farmer’s market each Monday to fill up on fresh fruit and homemade cheese. They’ve seen
themselves in a quaint stone house, snuggling by the fire and waiting to bring in clothes from the
line. They’ve thought of evening chats with neighbors-because in their dreams they are already
fluent in Italian-and envisioned showing their new hometown to friends who visit.
If you are reading this guide, chances are you are either considering a move to the bel paese, aka: a
wannabe or are already in the process of planning your move of a lifetime, aka: a soon-to-be. If
that is the case-auguri! This guide is divided into two sections-Living and Working in Italy and
Settling in to Life in Italy and lists only the essential information wannabes and soon-to-bes need
to know to get started. You should also note the following:
The advice in this guide is not intended to replace legal or official immigration information. You
should contact your local Italian consulate for information specific to your case.
Links have been provided throughout the guide to serve as a starting point for your continued
research. There are hundreds of other valuable links related to living, working and adjusting to life as
an expat in Italy.

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Part I: Living and Working in Italy
Living in Italy: Getting to and Legally Staying in Italy
For many wannabe and soon-to-be expats, the big question is “How can I legally live in Italy?” And
it is a good question. Unless you were blessed with EU citizenship at birth, you can’t just wake up
and take residence in the land of mozzarella.
It is a process. A long and tedious and frustrating process. In fact, it can take years for some people
to receive proper documentation to legally live and work in Italy. And that’s the bad news.
The good news is that with a little creativity and persistence, it can be done. Here are four of the
most common ways you can legally live in Italy.
1. Student Visa: If you don’t mind hitting the books in the bel paese, then find an
educational program and move to Italy, albeit temporarily, on a student visa.
2. Work Visa: To get a work visa in Italy, you can either apply for one in your home
country (then wait and wait and wait) or get hired by a company who will sponsor your
visa. See the following page for more on working in Italy.
3. Retirement: Pensioners wanting to retire in Italy might be eligible for the Elective
Resident Visa-if they can show proof of adequate income. At publication time, no
minimum amount has been stated, so it is unclear as to how much money is needed.
Note: you can’t work on this visa.
4. Family (Ancestry or Marriage): If you have family ties to an Italian citizen-either through
your ancestry or through your marriage-you might be eligible to live and work in Italy.
See the above links for more information.
Your visa entitles you to enter Italy. Upon entering, will need to convert your visa to a Permesso di
Soggiorno so you can legally stay in the country.

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Working in Italy
In some cases, your permission to live in Italy automatically comes with permission to work in Italy.
If so, you are in luck. Kinda.
Having permission to work in the bel paese doesn’t mean it will be easy to work in the bel paese.
Yes, employment opportunities vary depending on where you are in Italy, but in general, finding a
job in Italy is a lot work.
Working For an Italian Company
The easiest way to work in Italy is to transfer with a company that has offices in both your home
country and in Italy. If the company you currently work for fits the bill, then start networking and
let your company know you are interested in living abroad.
Otherwise, check out the job sections of Italy’s major newspapers, specifically Corriere della Sera
and La Repubblica. You can also visit Monster.com-Italy or look for a temporary assignment from
Manpower or Kelly Services.
Teaching English
If English is your native language, you might find a job teaching at a local language school. Most
schools will require you to be certified to teach ESL, so consider taking a TEFL course before you
move.
Other expats maximize their income by teaching private English lessons. Even if teaching isn’t your
ideal day job, it can be a good source of supplemental income for many expats, especially in the
beginning.

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Self-Employment
Many expats have chosen an entrepreneurial path and have found work-at-home careers that pay
more than a typical Italian salary. In some cases it can take years to get established, but if you are
dedicated, the hard work and persistence are but stepping stones to reaching your dream.
Some current expats in Italy have established rewarding careers as:
Freelance writers or translators
Travel professionals (B&B owners/Innkeepers, travel consultants, tour guides)
Career or event planners
Typical Italian Salary
A “typical” Italian salary varies depending on where you are, however, many college-educated
Italians receive €900-€1500 per month.
No. That is not a typo.
Yes. It is hard to live on this.
Additionally, many companies-even top Italian companies-regularly pay their employees late or
reduced salaries. If you have a contract with an Italian company, you could technically take them to
court, but the process is tedious and expensive.
If you choose the self-employment route, consider laying the foundation before you move. This will
decrease stress over not having a “job,” and will help you transition more easily into your new life
as an expat in Italy.

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Living in Italy: Renting vs. Buying
You’ve probably imagined yourself living in Italy-either in the heart of Trastevere, sipping vino rosso
with your new Roman friends … in your hundreds-year-old cottage gazing at green vineyards and
Tuscan olive trees rolling in the distance … or maybe you are in the south-in a tiny three-story stone
house, preparing wood-stove pizzas for your friends as they tour your ancient Medieval village.
Long-Term Rental
A long-term rental refers to any rental agreement longer than three months. In many cases, your
long-term rental will be furnished, although keep in mind that Italian kitchens are portable, so your
rental may-or may not-have kitchen cabinets, counters, sink, stove and/or a refrigerator. Visit the
regional tourism websites for information on long-term rentals in each region or spend a week or
two in your future location so you can speak-and negotiate-first-hand with property owners.
Buying
Once you know where you want to live, find a real estate agent you like and trust and get inside
help. Casa.it, Tecnocasa and Rustici are good places to start online.
Whatever your dream, you
likely have an idea of the
kind of village or city you’d
like to call home. However,
the type of house, villa or
apartment you’ll call home-
and whether you should
rent or buy might be
another story.

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Part II: Settling in to Life in Italy
Settling In: What to Leave, What to Bring and How to Bring It
Even current expats can’t agree on what you should leave or bring or whether those items should
be shipped, packed or stored. Still, many expats will tell you they brought more than they needed
and once they were gone, those oh-so important material objects weren’t even missed.
However, the truth is, you probably own more than will fit inside your one-or two, depending on
how stingy your airline is-tightly packed suitcases and will need to either ship or store some
personal items when you move to Italy.
Shipping
Unless you plan on moving to Italy and never looking-or going-back, overseas movers are
expensive. It can cost thousands of dollars and take months for your items to arrive.
Storage
If you plan on being in Italy a limited time or aren’t willing to part with certain items just yet, then
you might opt to store your items in a local storage facility. The costs vary depending on where you
live, the size of the unit and on the length of your lease, but if you plan on storing items for a few
years or less, you’ll save money.
What to Bring
Many expats bring photos, family items, clothes and personal items with them when they move to
Italy. For more specifics on what to bring, what electronics will-and won’t-work in Italy or for tips
on what other expats packed, check out the Moving2Italy2 site.

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Settling In: Getting Your Groove
Now that you have happily moved into your new home, know how to find a job and have all of your
“old life” either on a boat heading to Italy or safely stored in a unit that is more air conditioned
than your new home, you will want to find your groove.
One of the easiest ways to do this is to establish a routine and start meeting your future friends and
new neighbors. While many Italians are warm and generous, there aren’t many who will bring over
a warm basket of homemade bread on your first day. That’ll take time.
Here are five tips to help your new neighbors meet you.
1. Smile and speak to them every time you pass, even if they don’t speak to you:
Especially if you live in a small town, your neighbors will recognize you as an outsider
and will be secretly-at least to your knowledge-sizing you up. They might not speak to
you first the first few times, but eventually they’ll see you as the lovely foreigner you
are and will greet you on the street like they do the locals.
2. Go to the same bar every morning for your coffee and shop in the same store every
day for your fresh fruit and veggies: The idea is to start making small connections with
people so you’ll feel more “at home” in your new home. If you go to the same bar, the
same store, the same pizzeria, the locals will begin to recognize you-and you them.
Imagine how you’ll feel the first time the barista asks you if want your usual. That in
itself is worth the monotony.
3. Let them hear you speak Italian: If you move to a city or village that isn’t accustomed
to English-speaking tourists or expats-then speak up! The locals will recognize your
Italian accent as foreign and will be more inclined to strike up a conversation with you.
Tell them about yourself, where you are from and what you enjoy doing and they might
be able to introduce you to someone else with common interests.

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4. Join the gym or take a dance class: One of the easiest ways to meet people in Italy is to
join the gym or take a dance class. You will be forced to interact and will begin to
recognize people from your class or gym when you pass them on the street or see them
at your local bar.
5. Get Outside: In every small town there is a street or square where the locals gather for
their evening passeggiata. So … get out there. You’ll never meet people if you stay
cooped up inside your beautifully restored home, so hit the street and start enjoying an
evening stroll with the locals. And leave your iPod and cell phone at home. No one will
approach you if you look unapproachable.
Practicing the Language
If you are one of the people who will move to Italy already fluent in la bella lingua … then, bravo(a)!
If you are like the many others who have moved to Italy with a good dictionary and a dream, then
never fear … you will learn.
Italians are generous with their compliments to foreigners learning their language and most are
willing to help. Many large cities have language schools and even smaller communities offer EU-
sponsored “Italian for Foreigners” classes. Google “Italiano per stranieri” followed by your city and
you’ll likely find a list of both public and private classes.
As always, the best way to learn a language is to practice-so take every opportunity, even if you
make mistakes, to speak with your neighbors and expand your vocabulary by reading Italian-
language literature.

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Settling In: Bridging the Gap
Even if you’ve met your neighbors and pledged to be BFF ‘til the day you die, you’ll still want a
relationship with those you left behind. Today’s technology makes that easier than ever, but here
are a few tips for expats who are particularly close to family and friends back home.
Talk often: Believe it or not, life at home goes on without you. Children grow up,
grandparents age, new shops open on the corner street. Keeping in touch with people
from home will help you feel connected to that part of your life. If busy schedules and
varying time zones interfere, consider scheduling a time when you will call home or be
online to chat.
Make a plan: Some expats have no problem leaving their home country without
knowing when they will return. Others like to have an idea on when they’ll next see
their families and friends. If this sounds like you, make a plan and then do everything
you can to stick to it.
Connecting with Other Expats
One of the easiest ways to connect with other expats in Italy is by joining one of the expat-focused
forums. Expats in Italy and Life in Italy are good places to start.
You can also make connections with other expats who live in your area of Italy by checking out
their expat blogs. Here is a quick list of blogs divided by regions in northern, central and southern
Italy.
Northern Italy Central Italy Southern Italy
Expat in Rapallo Aglio, Olio & Peperoncino My Bella Vita
Blog from Italy NYC/Caribbean Ragazza Bleeding Espresso
Frutto della Passione When in Rome Tours Ciao Amalfi
Bella Baita View Burnt by the Tuscan Sun Tina Tangos
Creative Structures Friends and Family in Italy Baroque Sicily
Bella Vita in Liguria Think on it Molfetta Daily Photo

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While it is true moving to Italy, finding a suitable job and getting through those first few months
isn’t always a stroll along the lungomare, it is important to know that those are the toughest steps.
Once you have made the move and are actively living your new life as an Italy-based expat, things
will start to come together and you should fall into a routine that is comfortable for you.
Like other goals, life in Italy is attainable and if you are dedicated to achieving your goal-you will
make it happen.
And here’s the best part.
If you go through the stages of being a wannabe expat, to a soon-to-be expat, to a full-fledged, real-
life expat in Italy and you hate it … so what? You will always have a home back home you can return
to, along with the satisfaction, courage and self-assurance it takes to make the plunge and live a life
most people only dream of living.
About the author:
Cherrye Moore is an American freelance writer who has lived in southern Italy since 2006. In 2007,
she and her Calabrese husband opened Il Cedro Bed and Breakfast and in 2009 they launched My
Bella Vita Travel Services in Catanzaro, Calabria. For more about her transition into life as an expat
in Italy, visit her website, My Bella Vita or read her postings on expat life at
AffordableCallingCards.net.