🇮🇹Italy
Elective Residence Visa
For self-supporting individuals settling in Italy without working — pensions, rents and dividends qualify.
Required documents
- ·Proof of stable passive income (no employment income)
- ·Long-term lease or property purchase in Italy
- ·Health insurance valid in Italy
- ·Criminal record (apostilled)
Things to know
- ·Strictly no work, employed or self-employed.
- ·Italian language A2 required at PR stage, B1 for citizenship.
Apostille & legalization
Apostille routeApostille only — both United States and Italy are parties to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention.
Documents that must be apostilled
- ·Police / criminal-record clearance
- ·Document explicitly flagged for legalisation
Bank statements, employment contracts, photos, passport copies and the application form itself do not need an apostille.
- Obtain originals or certified copies of each civil/criminal record (birth certificate, marriage certificate, police clearance, diploma, etc.).
- Have each document apostilled by the competent authority in United States (U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications).
- Translate the apostilled document into the official language of Italy — the apostille itself is also translated.
- Submit the apostilled + translated bundle directly to the Italy immigration authority or consulate; no further consular stamp is required.
Translation: Italy only accepts translations from a court-sworn / officially recognised translator — agency translations are routinely rejected.
Issuing authority in United States: U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications
Documents older than 3–6 months are often rejected. Plan to obtain fresh originals shortly before your visa application.
Last verified 31 May 2026 — reconfirm on the official portal before applying.
Other residency programs in Europe
