Americans in Italy: What to be aware of before moving and using your Amex card

Welcome to our regular look at everything you need to know about life in Italy for The Local’s readers from the US. This newsletter is published monthly and you can receive it directly to your inbox before we publish by going to newsletter preferences in ‘My Account’ or following the instructions in the newsletter box below.

The number of US citizens relocating to Italy is on the rise, with 16,534 Americans officially resident as of 2024 – over 2,000 more compared to 2022.

But if you’re among the US nationals considering making the move, it’s really worth thinking through all the possible ramifications of such a leap.

Americans of working age, for example, will find it harder to get a job than EU citizens.

And even if you’re lucky enough to hold citizenship of an EU country, job opportunities in Italy are scarcer than in the States and salaries tend to be lower.

That’s without considering the requirement to resit your driving test (in Italian) if you want to hang on to your license after the first year of residency and the need to file yearly tax returns in both Italy and the US. 

Six hard facts Americans should be aware of before moving to Italy

If you’ve weighed up all the pros and cons of a potential move to Italy and have decided that you want to go through with it, there are a number of practical tasks you’ll need to tackle in your relocation process.

These start with applying for a visa to be able to move in the first place.

Once you’ve secured one of these, one of the very first things you’ll need to do in Italy is apply for a residency permit – a multi-step process that is key to establishing your residency rights in the country.

Then there’s finding somewhere to live long term, setting up a bank account, registering with the national health service – and last but definitely not least, learning Italian and making friends in your area.

Checklist: How to move to Italy as an American

If you’re used to paying with your American Express card all the time in the US, you might assume you can do the same in Italy.

But unfortunately a number of businesses in Italy (and Europe as a whole) don’t take Amex, mainly because of the comparatively high merchant fees the company charges compared to other networks.

If you’re living or travelling in Italy, it’s recommended to keep an eye on American Express’s interactive map, which shows the businesses that accept the card, and to always have a Mastercard or Visa as a backup.

Can I use my American Express card in Italy?

Dining out is arguably one of the best ways to explore Italy’s famed cuisine.

Whether you’ve recently relocated to the country or are just visiting, you might assume you’ll need to need to tip the standard 20 percent that’s the norm back home.

In Italy, however, waiting staff aren’t reliant on tips to get by like they are in many parts of the US.

This means that the country has a completely different tipping culture.

Generally speaking, while tipping is always appreciated at Italian restaurants, it’s entirely your choice and it usually takes the form of a few extra euros for particularly good service.

Why Americans don’t need to tip so much in Italy

Thanks for reading and please get in touch with us by email if you have any feedback on this newsletter.

You can find more information about moving to or living in Italy as an American in our Americans in Italy section.