Stop Looking for Workarounds in Italy

There’s not a day that goes by that a foreigner does not post in an expat online group or forum asking for a workaround regarding Italy’s laws, rules, and regulations. The problem with this approach is that precious time gets lost that could be dedicated to finding and pursuing the real solution.

There are even cases where people post the same question across multiple expat forums and groups looking for an answer that they will like; they listen to “fireside lawyers” who take them on an unproductive trip in the complete opposite direction from where they need to go, or worse, they believe that they can just hop on over to Italy and do as they please, as they’ve been told nothing will happen to them.

Unfortunately, when it comes to doing things legally in Italy, there are no quick workarounds. If you are working with a professional who has your best interest at heart, they will always make this clear right from the start, as it is vital to understand this, so that you can avoid very unpleasant situations further down the line.

Some of the things that have no quick workaround include the following:

* If your country does not have a reciprocal agreement with Italy to exchange your driving license, you must take the driving test in Italy, and the test is only available in Italian.

* If you are a resident in Italy and you import a foreign car, you have ninety days from the time you become a resident to register the car with the Italian authorities.

* Children of non-Italian parents born in Italy cannot claim Italian citizenship.

* Not knowing or caring about the tax laws in Italy will not make you exempt from any tax bill or fine you receive.

* A fully functioning bank account with access to mortgages, loans, and overdrafts requires Italian residency.

* Visas are not issued in Italy; you must apply in your country of residence or origin.

Moving to Italy Requires a Plan

There are usually no quick fixes in life; even the Kardashians work hard at their marketing strategy, even if it seems effortless. Jokes aside, moving to Italy requires effort, focus, and planning. Before moving to Italy, here are ten very important questions that you need to ask yourself:

* Do you already speak Italian? It really helps a lot if you move to Italy with at least a pre-intermediate level of Italian.

* What do you hope to accomplish in Italy? This is a critical question. It is essential to establish early on what you hope to achieve in Italy in terms of both personal and professional goals.

* What do you need to accomplish in the first 12 months? From the moment you arrive in Italy, you must define the goals that must be met within the first 12 months to establish a solid foundation.

* What do you hope to be doing in five years? Given that you’ve relocated to Italy for the long haul, where do you see yourself in five years?

* Do you have transferable skills that are in demand in Italy? The days of making a good living, for example, from teaching English in Italy are mostly gone, so you need to bring your A-game to Italy in terms of skills that command high-income salaries or fees. Currently, three of the most sought-after professionals in Italy are robotic engineers, cloud architects, and sustainability managers.

* Do you understand the tax repercussions as an Italian resident? Before relocating to Italy, it is very important to speak with an Italian tax consultant to fully understand the tax ramifications of being a tax resident in Italy.

* If you are moving to Italy without a job, do you have a six-month financial cushion to support yourself with while you look for a job?

* Do you know which visa is best for you as a non-EU citizen? Non-EU citizens who wish to live in Italy have several long-term visa options that they can choose from, which include visas for work, study, retirement, or investment.

* Is your budget for renting or buying realistic? Living in a first-tier city like Milan or Rome is expensive considering the opportunities that these cities offer. Therefore, you need to do your research on how much you will need to spend or earn to support and live the lifestyle that you desire.

* What are you willing to go through to make your dream a reality? You may have to go through some challenging times, especially at the beginning, to create your ideal life in Italy, so you need to be honest with yourself regarding how much you are willing to do this.

Answering these questions will help you understand how to proceed once you have relocated to Italy. The questions may elicit a wide range of emotions, from fear to excitement. Whatever emotions they may provoke, know that you are prepared to handle them all, and that with the proper planning, focus, and goal-setting, you can create an amazing life for yourself in Italy!

Article by Damien O’Farrell for Easy Milano

About the Author

Damien O’Farrell Mobility Services provides bespoke immigration services nationwide in Italy and relocation services in the first-tier cities of Rome, Milan, and Florence. For more information, please contact inquiry@damineofarrell.com.