elective residence visa (ERV)
Elective Residence Visa (ERV)
The Italian Elective Residence Visa (ERV) allows entry to Italy for foreign nationals – retired persons, families, and individuals with high self-sustaining incomes and financial assets – who have chosen Italy for the purpose of a long-term stay, for a fixed or indefinite period, and who are able to support themselves autonomously, without having to rely on any form of employment while in Italy.
Our expert legal team specialise in the ERV application process. We have successfully processed multiple elective residence visa applications for clients from all over the world, continuing to ensure complete transparency and integrity at each stage of the process.
requirements to apply for an ERV
For asingle person, the minimum financial requirement is € 31,000 per year, if you are applying alone, although the threshold may vary at the discretion of the immigration authorities. If you intend tomove with your family, your monthly income must increase by 20% for a spouse and at least 5% foreach dependent child (Note: passive income includes: pensions, dividends, annuities, property income, income from joint stock or shareholding in a company).
Before you move to Italy, you will need to find a suitable place to live. You will need to provide documentation of adequate lodging in Italy either through a lease/rental agreement or deed of ownership of a liveable apartment or house including proof of registration with the Italian Tax Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate).
You must purchase a health insurance plan for a duration of one year, that will cover all medical expenses (e.g., prescriptions, doctor visits, hospitalisation, ambulance transportation), is applicable in all European Union member states, and that has a minimum cover
of at least €30,000 per person per year.
Valid for a minimum of three months after the visa expires and with at least two blank pages to apply the visa.
Duly completed, dated, and signed.
Four passport-size pictures
Such as birth or marriage certificates, as applicable.
From your home country.
Although not always required, a return or valid one-way ticket and sufficient funds to purchase a return ticket.
A letter explaining the reasons of the applicant’s intention to move to Italy.
requirements to apply for an ERV
For asingle person, the minimum financial requirement is € 31,000 per year, if you are applying alone, although the threshold may vary at the discretion of the immigration authorities. If you intend tomove with your family, your monthly income must increase by 20% for a spouse and at least 5% foreach dependent child (Note: passive income includes: pensions, dividends, annuities, property income, income from joint stock or shareholding in a company).
Before you move to Italy, you will need to find a suitable place to live. You will need to provide documentation of adequate lodging in Italy either through a lease/rental agreement or deed of ownership of a liveable apartment or house including proof of registration with the Italian Tax Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate).
You must purchase a health insurance plan for a duration of one year, that will cover all medical expenses (e.g., prescriptions, doctor visits, hospitalisation, ambulance transportation), is applicable in all European Union member states, and that has a minimum cover
of at least €30,000 per person per year.
Valid for a minimum of three months after the visa expires and with at least two blank pages to apply the visa.
Duly completed, dated, and signed.
Four passport-size pictures
Such as birth or marriage certificates, as applicable.
From your home country.
Although not always required, a return or valid one-way ticket and sufficient funds to purchase a return ticket.
A letter explaining the reasons of the applicant’s intention to move to Italy.
FAQs frequently asked questions
The elective residence visa (visto per residenza elettiva) grants entrance to Italy to individuals who have a solid economic situation allowing them to live in Italy without the need to work.
These individuals may include for example retired people and persons wishing to reside permanently in Italy and who can demonstrate a stable and adequate pension income and/or financial resources, high self-sustaining incomes and financial assets.
Money must come from substantial and steady economic resources, with guaranteed continuity in the future. Such resources may come from important incomes (pensions, annuities, etc.), ownership of real estate, ownership of steady economic activities, etc. except subordinate work.
An Italy Long-Stay Visa is also known as a D-Visa or a National Visa. This is the type of visa you have to apply for if you want to stay in Italy longer than 90 days. However, a long-stay visa isn’t the only permission you need if you want to live in Italy.
With an Italian long-stay visa, you can enter Italy. Within 8 days of entry into Italy, you must apply in person for an Italian residence permit, which is what authorises you to stay in Italy for longer than 90 days. You cannot delegate anyone to apply for an Italian residence permit on your behalf.
The type of Italy long-stay visa that you apply for will depend on the purpose you want to stay in Italy (eg, work, study, retire, etc). Therefore, if you want to live indefinitely in Italy and are able to demonstrate a sufficient passive income, you can apply for an Elective Residence Visa.
Mediterranean Realtors will provide legal assistance and manage the entire application process from start to end. The general application process involves:
• Step 1: APPLY FOR VISA AT LOCAL EMBASSY/CONSULATE
Preparation of the visa application and review all supporting documents
• Step 2: REGISTER FOR RESIDENCE PERMIT (PERMESSO DI SOGGIORNO)
Visit Italy to apply for a residence permit. This must be done in person and completed within 8 days of your arrival date.
• Step 3: APPOINTMENT AT PROVINCIAL POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR BIOMETRICS
Interview at Provincial Police Department and fingerprints taken
• Step 4: RESIDENCY REGISTRATION AT TOWN HALL/MUNICIPAL OFFICE
File an application to become an Italian registered resident with your local Italian Municipal office
We are unable to provide a definitive timeline for the application process and issuance of residency, however, we estimate approximately 12-14 months from the date of application at your local Consulate General or Embassy.
No, you are not permitted to work in Italy as a salaried employee. However, you do have the possibility to derive an income from the ownership of assets, open a business and/or office and carry out business in Italy
Our team of expert property agents manage the sale and rental of residential properties across Italy. As part of the ERV process we will search possible accommodation options based on our clients’ search criteria, and prepare the necessary lease agreement (Contratto di Locazione ad Uso Abitativo) as per the proof of accommodation requirement. Our clients also have exclusive access to our portfolio of residential sale properties if looking to purchase a house, apartment or business/commercial operation.
In short, no. A lease/rental agreement is considered sufficient to demonstrate proof of accommodation in Italy. However, purchasing and owning a residential property in Italy may contribute to a more favourable outcome as it demonstrates financial stability and commitment to remaining long term in Italy.
Yes, this is possible. Once you obtain your Italian residence permit (permesso di soggiorno), renewable annually, you can be absent from Italy for a period of up to 6 months per year. An individual’s tax-residency may also impact the length of stay required in Italy, and will need to be assessed on an individual basis.
There are a number of lucrative tax benefits to be derived for new residents who move their tax residency to Italy, including successful applicants of an Elective Residence Visa. The Italian Lump Sum Flax Tax regime for High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNWI) is one such example. It is an optional tax regime that allows new residents to substitute regular taxation on their entire income generated outside Italian territory by paying, once a year, a €100,000 lump sum.
There is also the new 7% flat tax regime for retirees. This is for non-Italian resident individuals holding foreign pension incomes and who transfer their tax residency to Italy. Eligibility criteria includes, those:
- holding pension incomes and other similar remunerations paid by foreign subjects;
- who come from Countries having administrative cooperation agreements in force with Italy;
- that have not been Italian tax resident for the 5 years preceding the one for which the option is effective;
- who declare their fiscal residency in a municipality with less than 20,000 inhabitants in one of the Southern regions (Abruzzo, Molise, Campania, Puglia, Calabria, Basilicata, Sardinia, Sicily) or who move to one of the Italian municipalities, with a population not exceeding 3,000 inhabitants, affected by the earthquake events of the year 2016.
Our international tax consultant is available to provide assistance in matters of national and international taxation and tax planning.
The residence permit is valid for one year and renewable annually, as long as the foreign national is not absent from Italian territory for longer than 6 continuous months (unless the interruption was due to military service obligations or other serious and substantiated reasons).
After 5 years of continuous registered legal residency in Italy, the applicant is eligible to apply for a permanent residence permit.
After 10 years it is possible to apply for Italian Citizenship.
There is no obligation to engage a legal team or professional service team to complete your visa application, however well aware of the problems related to the Italian bureaucracy and the delays in administrative procedures, we can provide the necessary advice, planning, legal and administrative expertise required to obtain residency in Italy.
Your application will be managed by our team of Italian lawyers who specialise in the Elective Residence Visa application process. They have the local knowledge, experience and professional ties with key authorities, and the means to intervene and ensure that all documentation submitted provides the applicant with the maximum possibility to successfully obtain residency.
We can definitely assist you with this – part of our core business is in residential and commercial property and financial investment in selected real estate and Forex Trading Management teams.
The Italian government is strongly committed to creating an environment favourable to foreign investors, offering an attractive tax regime for individuals willing to relocate to Italy. We provide our clients with advice and extensive options for building wealth through residential or tourism property investment, shares and bonds.
Our international business and tax consultant can analyse and discuss the formal and substantive requirements of international tax planning structures in Italy, taking into account legal, commercial, regulatory, as well as domestic and international tax rules.
