Dual citizenship retirement

An individual who has citizenship in more than one country has dual citizenship. Not all countries permit dual citizenship, and you have to give up your original citizenship in order to take citizenship of another country. There are various ways a person may become a dual citizen; for instance, if you were born in the United Kingdom (UK) but your parents are American citizens, you would hold citizenship in both the UK and the US. In some countries, if you have been a resident for several years or you marry a citizen of that country, you may be able to acquire dual citizenship.

If you hold both British and Italian citizenship, how easy is it to retire in Italy?

In this guide, we will explore the steps you need to take to retire in Italy, how to apply for dual citizenship, and how Giambrone and Partners English-speaking Italian lawyers (avvocati) can help you.

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Living in Italy with dual citizenship

Find out about living and retiring to Italy with Italian dual citizenship

Do you have to pay Italian taxes with dual citizenship?

More about the taxes you are liable to pay whilst living in Italy as a retiree

The criteria to live and retire in Italy

You will need a sufficient income and certain documents to live in Italy as a dual citizen

How to apply for dual citizenship

Applying for dual citizenship

How can an Italian avvocato (solicitor) help me?

Consulting an Italian lawyer can help you retire in Italy with ease

How Giambrone and Partners can assist

How our lawyers can assist you with relocating to Italy

Common queries

We answer some frequently asked questions

Living in Italy with dual citizenship

Anyone is free to live in Italy, provided they fulfil the relevant criteria. If you already hold Italian dual citizenship, you can enjoy various other benefits. You can qualify for Italian citizenship through your Italian heritage without restriction with the exception of forefathers that left Italy and died before 17 March 1861; they are not regarded as Italian citizens. If you were born in Italy, but your parents were not, or you were born elsewhere and your parents were born in Italy, or you marry an Italian citizen, you can apply for dual citizenship.

Dual Italian and British citizenship allows you to work and study in other European Union (EU) countries and utilise a more streamlined way to purchase property. You will also have access to EU medical care, and you will have the right to vote in Italian elections. If you have any children under the age of 18, Italian citizenship will be transferred to them automatically.

If you wish to apply for British and Italian dual citizenship, you can consult one of our English speaking Italian lawyers today.

Do you have to pay Italian taxes with dual citizenship?

If you have acquired dual citizenship and have chosen to live in Italy, you will have to pay certain taxes. If you choose to retire in Italy and intend to live permanently in Italy or you own assets there, you will have to pay Italian tax. For foreign retirees who have dual citizenship in the UK and Italy, there is an Italian tax regime in place.

Foreign retirees will have to pay a 7% tax on all foreign-sourced income, such as any pension or investment income gained from their home country. Income sourced in Italy will be subject to normal Italian tax law. If you hold dual citizenship and choose to live in Italy, you will also need to pay Italian road tax if you own a car, as well as council tax.

The criteria to live and retire in Italy

British nationals who wish to retire in Italy are still able to do so but since the UK left the EU, the rules have changed surrounding permanent residence permits and visas. Those wanting a permanent residence permit will need an elective residency visa, and will need a sufficient amount of income or savings to live in the country independently. For retirees, their income must amount to a minimum of €31,000 per annum. Married couples will need a minimum of €38,000 per annum. If you are investing in Italy, you can apply for a Golden Visa.

If you need help applying for an elective residency visa, or you would like to know more about your rights as a dual citizen, our Italian lawyers can assist and advise you with your application. You can get in touch with us via our website today.

How to apply for dual citizenship

If you are a non-EU citizen, you must have lived in Italy for ten years or more before you can apply. You can apply on the grounds of descent if you have Italian ancestors on your maternal or paternal side, however, the Italian ancestor must not have denounced their Italian citizenship. You must be able to prove your lineage to the Italian Consulate, but you do not need to prove your knowledge of the Italian language.

If living outside of Italy, the spouse of an Italian citizen can apply for citizenship after three years of marriage. If both spouses live in Italy, you can apply after two years of marriage, which drops to one year if you have children born outside of the marriage.

How can an Italian avvocato (solicitor) help me?

Italian lawyers can assist you to apply for dual citizenship and explain the requirements for retiring in Italy as they have a full scope of knowledge concerning Italian laws and society. They can help you create a case for proving your dual citizenship, allowing you to live in Italy as soon as possible. They can also explain the taxes you need to pay and the income you need to have regarding retirement, talking you through the process before you move.

How Giambrone and Partners can assist

At Giambrone and Partners, we have a team of English-speaking Italian lawyers with expertise and knowledge relating to a wide range of issues surrounding the topic of citizenship. If you intend to retire in Italy as a dual citizen, we can help guide you through the process, and help you understand what steps you need to take and what visas, if any, you need to apply for.

To find out more about our services, you can request a consultation on our website today.

Common queries

How long does it take to get Italian dual citizenship?

Once all documents and applications have been submitted, it all depends on the Italian municipality processing your application. The length of time entirely depends on the complexity of your application. The assistance of a lawyer may help speed up the process.

What are the disadvantages of applying for dual citizenship?

The advantages outweigh the disadvantages, one of the issues is that the process can take longer than anticipated.

Does Italian dual citizenship expire?

No, dual citizenship does not expire, but you must be sure renew your passport every ten years.