How to Move to Italy: A Step-by-Step Guide That Actually Works

There are a lot of ways to move to Italy—citizenship, digital nomad visas, elective residency, student visas—but the real question is how do you actually do it?

From experience, I can tell you: the hardest part is not getting a visa, it’s getting a residence. Finding housing from abroad feels nearly impossible. Whether you’re renting or buying, it’s best to be in Italy when you do it. Yes, you could hire someone to help, but agent fees often run into the thousands, and doing it sight unseen is a massive gamble.

We moved a family of five (plus two dogs), and if we can do it, so can you. Here's what helped us most:

Step 1: Narrow Down Where You Want to Live

If you’re not sure which comune (town) to settle in, take a scouting trip. Italy is very accessible by train, so spend a month traveling. Stay a minimum of two nights in each town you're considering. Take notes, compare vibes, test grocery stores and public transport. Once you’ve picked your town, you're ready to start preparing for the big move.

Step 2: Decide What to Bring

We chose to sell everything and leave the US with only luggage. Can you ship belongings? Sure, but it’s expensive, slow, and risky. Cargo containers take months, box shipments can be unreliable, and things often arrive damaged.

In our opinion, checked luggage is the cheapest and most reliable way to move your things. Whatever your airline charges for an extra bag, it’s still better than most shipping services.

We found the biggest suitcases that American Airlines would accept and bought a bunch of them. This is just one of our luggage carts after landing in Milan.

Step 3: Book a Long Airbnb Stay

Yes, it’s a big upfront expense. But we booked three months in an Airbnb—and it was 100% worth it. It gave us time to explore neighborhoods, learn the town, and wait for the right home instead of jumping at the first thing available.

Step 4: Get Your Codice Fiscale Right Away

This is your Italian tax code and you’ll need it for almost everything—including getting an Italian phone number.

Step 5: Get a Local Phone Number

A local number is critical for finding housing. Many landlords or agents simply won’t respond to foreign numbers or emails. Once you have your codice fiscale, get a prepaid plan with WindTre, TIM, or Vodafone. Each offers eSIMs you can buy online for around 7–10€ per month.

Step 6: Set Up WhatsApp (With Your Italian Number)

Unlimited texting and calling are not included in most Italian cell plans, but data sometimes is. WhatsApp is the standard for communication here. Most landlords and agents will only respond to WhatsApp messages from local numbers.

Step 7: Start Searching for Homes

The two best platforms are:

• Immobiliare.it

• Idealista.it

Both have apps. If you're interested in a listing, check if the phone number is on WhatsApp by adding it as a contact. If they’re on WhatsApp, message them in Italian. If your Italian is limited, be upfront about it. Ask if they speak any English. If they ignore or dismiss you, they probably wouldn’t have rented or sold to you anyway—better to find out early.

Most home tours are done in groups and may be scheduled several days out. If you’re house hunting in a popular area, be ready to act fast and possibly offer a higher deposit or rent to secure the place.

Step 8: Ask the Right Questions

If renting, ask whether utilities are included. If not, find out how they’re billed: per apartment monthly, or communally at the end of the year? Every building and landlord does things a little differently, so clarity now prevents headaches later.

Step 9: Lock In the Contract

Once you get a yes, make sure your rental or purchase contract includes:

• All residents of the household

• Everyone’s codice fiscale

This will make your residenza (residency registration) process much smoother with the local anagrafe (registry office). If your landlord is not working with an agent or you are a bit nervous about your Italian language skills, you may consider using a translator for the contract signing process.

Final Tip

This process might take longer than you expect—which is why the 3-month Airbnb gives you a solid cushion. Be flexible, stay organized, and don’t underestimate the power of an Italian phone number and a little WhatsApp charm. And stay tuned for a more detailed post about moving with pets. In the meantime, if your or your spouse plans to apply for citizenship by marriage, the B1 Cittadinanza exam is a must. Good news... Ready Set Italia has the fastest prep program anywhere.