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How to retire in Italy as a British citizen
Italy continues to be a popular destination for retirement for British citizens. The warm climate and affordable cost of living make Italy an attractive choice. There are a few minor hurdles that retirees need to be aware of before settling in Italy. Generally, there is nothing that Giambrone & Partners expert lawyers cannot overcome.
In this guide, we will discuss the requirements to follow when choosing to retire in Italy and also the costs you may encounter. We will also outline dual citizenship in Italy, how Brexit has affected retirement in Italy, and how our team of international lawyers at Giambrone and Partners can help.
Click on the links below to jump to that section:
The various steps you need to take to successfully retire in Italy
The value of the funds you will need before you consider moving to Italy to retire
Becoming a British-Italian dual citizen
Discover what impact Brexit has had on Italian retirement
Here’s how qualified international solicitors can assist you with your move
Here’s how we can help
What are the requirements when retiring in Italy from the UK
If you have decided to retire in Italy, you must inform certain Government offices of your impending move related to benefits, your work and state pension and tax. If you are planning to retire to Italy, you will need an elective residence visa, also known as an Italian Retirement Visa.
In order to succeed in an application for an elective residence visa, you must prove that you have sufficient financial assets to support yourself. You must also have a valid UK passport, and proof that you have a place to live once you move to Italy. Health insurance is also a criterion before relocating to Italy. You will also need to provide documentary evidence of your status, such as birth and marriage certificates. Another provision is that an applicant must have a clean criminal record.
Your visa should then be granted to you by the Italian Consulate if you meet the general requirements. If you need to discuss your move to Italy further, or to explore your next steps, you should consult an Italian solicitor based in the UK to assist.
What are the financial requirements needed to retire in Italy?
You must have a minimum of €31,000 (approx. £27,000) per year; this increases to €38,000 (approx. £33,600) for a married couple, and increases by a further 20% for each dependant. You are not permitted to undertake any paid work with an elective residence visa, so any funds for your support must be provided by other means, such as your state and/or work pensions. You may need to be interviewed by the Italian authorities to ensure you do not undergo any paid work whilst living in Italy.
In order to prove your annual income, you must provide evidence such as your bank statement when meeting with the Italian consulate.
Dual citizenship with the UK
Italy and the UK permit dual citizenship but applicants must meet certain criteria.
If you have documentary evidence of your connection to an Italian relative or ancestor, such as a birth or death certificate, you may be able to apply for dual British and Italian citizenship. Also, marriage to an Italian citizen enables an individual to apply for dual citizenship through their spouse. However, you must have been married for two years whilst living in Italy, this is reduced to one year if you have children of the marriage. If you have legally lived in Italy for ten years or more, you can apply to become an Italian citizen through the process of naturalisation.
You can find out more about the various laws and requirements when attempting to become a dual citizen of Italy and Britain in our previous guide here.
Has Brexit affected retirement in Italy?
If you lived and retired in Italy before the UK left the European Union (EU) (31st December 2020), and before the withdrawal agreement was signed, you are protected under the agreement and therefore do not need to apply for a residence permit. However, after this date, British nationals are now classed as non-EU citizens and therefore will have to apply for an elective residence visa.
Post-Brexit, there are various visas available, depending on whether you are planning to retire to Italy, work or study. Work visas, family visas, student visas or self-employed visas are all available for UK citizens post-Brexit. If you are planning to retire in Italy, you may like to consider a Golden Visa which is an investment visa with a range of investment opportunities available.
To find out how you can apply for an Italian visa after Brexit, get in touch with our Italian lawyers (avocati) today.
How can a lawyer help me?
A lawyer can advise and guide you on the criteria required to enable your application. Also, a lawyer can review your documentation to establish that it is valid and complete. Should there be any omissions, a lawyer may be able to suggest an acceptable alternative. There are other considerations, such as tax issues, pensions or assistance with the Italian consulate.
You can discover more about our Italian solicitors on our website.
How Giambrone and Partners can assist
Here at Giambrone and Partners, we have an experienced, qualified team of Italian lawyers ready to help you retire successfully in Italy. We can liaise with the Italian consulate on your behalf, helping you gather all necessary evidence and ensuring your transition over to Italy is as smooth as possible.
To book a consultation with a member of our team, please get in touch with us on our website today.
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