For a type-D visa on residenza elettiva you do not even need a lawyer. The process is straightforward if your documents are right. Save the money for your move.
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Read the thread ✦Italy · Elective Residence Visa
Live in Italy on your own income. Residenza Elettiva 2026.
The Elective Residence Visa lets people with stable passive income move to Italy - no job, no employer. Here are the real income thresholds, the documents, and the consulate process - plus free help from people who have done it.
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✦The essentials
What the consulate actually looks for
Figures are guidance - exact thresholds vary slightly by consulate.
~€31,000
Minimum stable passive income per year for a single applicant. +20% for a spouse, +5% per child. Show 20-30% above for stronger odds.
Passive only
Pensions, dividends, rental, trust income - not a job. The visa is for self-sufficient residents who bring income into Italy.
4-6 months
Typical end-to-end: 1-3 months to gather documents, 2-8 weeks for the consulate slot, 30-90 days processing.
≥183 days
You must actually live in Italy at least 183 days a year to keep the status - it is not a convenience permit.
Retire in Italy
This is the standard route to retire in Italy on a pension or investment income, without working locally. It is a no-work residence visa for self-sufficient applicants.
✦Real cases from our community
People who actually did it
Condensed from the discussion thread on our forum - where they answer questions and post updates.
You need stable passive income - savings alone are not enough. The consulate wants to see money arriving every month, consistently. Savings just back it up.
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Read the thread It is a retirement permit, and Italy loves collecting taxes. Plan the tax side before you move, not after. A good cross-border specialist saves you far more than they cost.
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Read the thread ✦The process
From dossier to permesso, in five steps
- 1
Document your income
Pension letters, dividend or rental statements, 6-12 months of bank statements, 2-3 years of tax returns. Stable, recurring, from outside Italy.
- 2
Secure accommodation + insurance
A 12-month lease or property deed in Italy, plus comprehensive health insurance valid in Italy (€30k+ coverage, not tourist cover).
- 3
Apply at the consulate
Book the Italian consulate for your jurisdiction (2-8 week wait) and submit the type-D dossier. Visa fee ~€116; processing 30-90 days.
- 4
Move within the visa year
The visa is valid 12 months. Enter Italy, get your codice fiscale, open a bank account.
- 5
Convert to permesso in 8 days
Within 8 working days of arrival, file for the permesso di soggiorno at the Questura. First permit 1 year, renewals every 2 years.
The mistake that gets people denied: treating savings as income, or planning to work remotely. This visa wants passive income and real residence (≥183 days/year). If you need to work, ask us about the Digital Nomad or Lavoro Autonomo route instead.
Not sure this is your route? Let's figure out your pathway.
Find your pathway ✦Read the full guides
Go deeper on our forum
Member-written, updated for 2026. Free to read.
Elective Residence - the full guide
Income thresholds by consulate, the complete document checklist, tax planning, and the path to citizenship.
Permesso di Soggiorno 2026
After you land: applying for and renewing your residence permit, step by step.
Codice Fiscale: your first document
The Italian tax code - needed for the lease, the bank account, and almost everything else.