The rules are not always the hard part. Knowing which one applies to you is
Most people come to us with the same question: can I actually live in Italy, and if so, how? The answer depends on your nationality, your income, your family, your work and how long you plan to stay. It also depends on rules that change, sometimes with little warning.
A visa is only the first step. After that come the residence permit, the registrations, the renewals and, eventually, the decisions about long-term residence or citizenship. Each stage has its own authority, its own documents and its own deadlines, and a mistake at one stage can undo progress at the next.
We help you see the whole route before you start, so you are not discovering the next requirement after you have already moved.
You should not have to build your new life through a language you are still learning
Italian immigration runs through consulates, the Ministero dell’Interno, the local Questura and the comune. The forms are in Italian, the appointments are in Italian, and the letters that arrive about your case are in Italian. For most of our clients, that is the single biggest source of stress.
Our aim is to bring peace of mind to the whole process. Our lawyers advise you in English and deal with the Italian authorities in Italian, so nothing is lost between the two. You will always know what is happening with your case, what comes next, and what it means for you and your family.
Whatever your reason for moving, there is a legal route. We help you find it
From a work offer in Milan to retirement in Tuscany, from joining a spouse in Rome to claiming citizenship through your grandparents, the right route depends on your situation, not on the form you happened to find first. We advise on the full range of Italian immigration matters.
The 90 days are a visit. Everything after that needs a plan
As a British, American, Canadian or Australian citizen, you can usually visit Italy for up to 90 days in any 180 without a visa. That is tourism, not residence. To live in Italy, you need a national visa from the Italian consulate where you legally reside, and the visa type must match what you will actually do in Italy.
Once you arrive, the clock starts quickly. Most long-stay visa holders must apply for their permesso di soggiorno within eight days of entering Italy, and this permit, not the visa, is what legalises your stay. It is then renewed over time, and after five years of continuous legal residence you can usually apply for the EU long-term residence permit.
The route looks different for everyone, which is exactly why early advice matters. Choosing the wrong visa, or assuming a rule from a forum post still applies, can cost you a year.
The descent rules have narrowed, so check your position before you apply
Italian citizenship by descent, iure sanguinis, remains, but a reform in 2025 introduced significant new limits for people born abroad who also hold another nationality. Recognition is no longer automatic in every generational line, and in many cases you must now show a genuine connection to Italy, such as an Italian parent or grandparent born in Italy or a parent who lived in Italy before your birth.
Applications already filed, booked or litigated before 27 March 2025 are generally assessed under the previous rules. For everyone else, the first step is an honest eligibility check, not a document order.
Citizenship by marriage follows a different path: two years of legal residence in Italy after the wedding, or three years if you live abroad, halved where you have children together, alongside a B1 Italian language requirement. Citizenship by residence generally requires ten years of legal residence for non-EU citizens.
A clear route from first question to settled status
1
Tell us where you are, where you want to be, your nationality, your family and your plans. We identify the realistic routes and flag anything that needs urgent attention.
2
We confirm which visa or status fits your situation, check the current requirements with the relevant consulate or authority, and give you a clear plan with documents, timings and fees.
3
We prepare and review your application, coordinate translations, apostilles and legalisations, and manage the Italian-side filings, from the nulla osta to the consular submission.
4
Once you arrive, we guide you through the permesso di soggiorno, residence registration and codice fiscale, so your status in Italy is secure from the start.
5
We keep your longer journey in view, advising on renewals, the five-year long-term permit and, when the time comes, your citizenship application.
Calm, clear help at the moment everything feels uncertain
I had read so much conflicting advice online that I no longer knew which visa I should even apply for. In one call the team mapped out the right route, explained the order of each step, and dealt with the consulate and the Questura directly. I arrived in Italy knowing exactly what to do, and my permesso was in hand far sooner than I expected.
Straight answers about moving to and staying in Italy
Do I need a visa to move to Italy from the UK or the US?
Yes, if you intend to live in Italy. You can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180, but residence requires a national long-stay visa from the Italian consulate responsible for where you legally live.
What is a permesso di soggiorno, and when do I need one?
It is the residence permit that legalises your stay in Italy. Most non-EU nationals with a long-stay visa must apply for it within eight days of arrival, and it is issued by the local Questura.
Can I bring my spouse or children to Italy?
Usually, yes, through family reunification. The process has two stages, the nulla osta in Italy and the visa application abroad, and we advise planning for three to six months overall.
Can I still claim Italian citizenship through my grandparents?
Possibly, but the 2025 reform narrowed the rules for those born abroad with another citizenship. Eligibility now often depends on a closer or more recent connection to Italy, so an eligibility check comes first.
How long until I can apply for citizenship by residence?
Generally ten years of uninterrupted legal residence for non-EU citizens, with income, integration and B1 language requirements along the way.
Will I need to travel to Italy during the process?
For the visa itself, usually not until you move, since the application is made at the consulate where you reside. The in-country steps, such as the permesso, happen after you arrive. Much of the preparation and advice can be handled remotely.
A phone call can turn a confusing move into a clear plan
You do not need to have the right visa name before you contact us. Tell us where you are, what you want to do in Italy and who is coming with you. We will tell you honestly whether the route you have in mind works, what the alternatives are, and what the process is likely to involve.
Your enquiry is confidential and without obligation. We explain the plan in plain English and handle the Italian side for you, so you can focus on the move itself rather than the bureaucracy behind it.
Prefer to call directly?
Call us now on +44 (0)20 3300 0777 or complete the form below and we will get back to you within one working day.
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