Americans in Italy: Retirement planning and is it getting harder to move from the US to Italy?

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.

Many people retire to Italy from the US every year in order to enjoy a new, more relaxed lifestyle.

If you’re planning to do the same in future, you’re probably already looking at what you can do ahead of time to make the move as smooth as possible.

In that case, you’re off to a good start. Readers of The Local who have retired here in Italy consistently tell us that planning well ahead is key, whatever your situation.

For example, not everyone wants to go directly from full-time work to total retirement, so you might be planning a change in professional direction such as opening a B&B or running tours or workshops.

First, you’ll need to know whether you’ll be legally able to earn an income in Italy.

The elective residency visa – the most popular choice for retirees – does not allow you to work, so what other options are there?

We look at this and many of the other practical considerations you may have questions about in the below article.

How to plan ahead for retiring in Italy

Interest in moving to Italy from the US is on the rise, and the number of American citizens taking up residency here has increased in recent years.

But, just as more people plan to make the move, has the Italian government made the process harder?

Some recent news reports from Italy might suggest so.

You may be aware that there were sudden changes to the rules on claiming citizenship via ancestry made in March. The Italian government imposed a two-generational limit for eligibility, which left many would-be applicants around the world dismayed.

Having Italian citizenship, or citizenship of any EU member state, would make a move to Italy considerably easier as it removes the requirement for a visa. But it’s not the same thing as having residency.

Italian relocation experts say that all is not lost: people affected by the change to citizenship rules may have other options to explore.

Here’s a look at what this and other recent news stories about changes to citizenship laws could mean for those planning a move to Italy from the US.

How hard is it to move to Italy from the US in 2025?

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