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Relocation and life in Italy

Moving to a foreign country is a major choice, sometimes even a traumatic one, for anyone. To keep anxieties and concerns under control, unless one already knows the laws, customs, culture and language of the destination country, the assistance of professionals experienced in international relocation procedures can be invaluable.

When people think of relocation, they usually imagine only the logistical side of the move, namely the transport of belongings and, at most, temporary housing arrangements. In our case, relocation is much more: it includes all the legal, technical and bureaucratic services that make the move smoother and more peaceful, without obstacles, while also accompanying the foreign citizen on the emotional and human side.

For us, therefore, relocation is a process that goes far beyond simply finding a home: it includes legal assistance for visas and residence permits, family reunification, orientation in new cities, bureaucratic support, registry registration, transcription of civil status documents, protection of the right to healthcare, assistance in opening a business, tax and social security consultancy. The final goal is one: that the foreign citizen can approach our country positively.

Boschetti International Law Firm stands out in the Italian relocation services sector thanks to its ability to combine the more traditional part of relocation with its specialization in immigration law and all the related procedures with which foreigners are required to deal, most often without language skills.

Our professional approach combines legal (multidisciplinary) services with the ability to manage the practical and administrative aspects of the move. We want to be your lawyers in Italy.

International managers, specialized professionals, students, families looking for new opportunities, if for you the idea of moving to a country far from your own, not only geographically but also in terms of culture and customs, seems daunting, know that our Firm is here to break down barriers and act as a bridge between your needs and their concrete fulfillment.

Why rely on Francesco Boschetti International Law Firm for relocation and life in Italy services

Our modular and customized approach represents a real revolution in the relocation sector in Italy. Unlike the standard packages offered by other providers, our service is based on freedom of choice: each client selects only the services they need, from visas to finding a home, from tax consultancy to healthcare assistance. We build a tailor-made package by analyzing your specific profile and goals: whether it is for work, study, retirement, investment or family reunification, each path is tailored to your real needs.

But what is truly special about our professional product is the dynamic flexibility of the contract: you have the possibility to add or remove services, adapting to the natural evolution of your needs and personal budget, even after signing the contract. It is enough to send us a contract variation form, provided in the start-up kit of the professional assignment, indicating the services you wish to add or, on the contrary, no longer need.

The ability to modify the contract during the relationship, without any limitation or penalty, is what distinguishes us. Imagine this situation: moving to another country terrified you, but then, once you have settled into your apartment and taken your first small steps (like shopping at the supermarket or having a coffee at the bar), you realize that, for example, you can handle on your own the request for an identity card or the transcription of your marriage certificate at the local municipality. Yet you had also commissioned the Firm to handle these services. No problem, you send us the contract variation form and the related cost will be deducted from the total due!

The corollary of this system is financial transparency: your expenses are always under control because you only pay for what you actually use, without hidden costs or imposed services, with the possibility of reducing your commitment if you find you have exceeded your budget, by renouncing services that are somehow dispensable. We do not offer a “fixed blocks” service, but continuous support that follows you through all stages of your move and integration in Italy.

Typical scenarios / Case studies

The typical scenarios have been developed by drawing on the most significant corporate immigration cases that the firm regularly handles, with the aim of creating structured, complex examples that help the reader navigate their own situation. The case studies, by contrast, illustrate individual real-life matters, anonymised to protect client confidentiality, presented with full factual and contextual detail.

Relocation

US professional chooses Italy: elective residence obtained and future planned

American professional obtains an elective residence visa while maintaining ties with the USA. Integrated assistance from legal strategy to property search..

Application completed in approximately 3 months without additional requests
Business

US opera singer obtains work authorization in 7 days

American opera singer with contracts already signed with an Italian theatre. Self employment work authorization obtained on an urgent basis to meet professional commitments.

Work authorization issued within 7 days from submission of the application
Real Estate

US client purchases property in Rome: secure transaction

American client assisted in the purchase of a property in Rome. Urban planning issues and contractual risks identified and resolved before signing, transaction completed through notarial power of attorney.

Purchase completed within one month, entirely managed remotely
Business

American investor: from New York to a villa in Tuscany

Cross-border property transaction with full relocation service. Purchase of a high-end property, with tax status, residency and NHS registration handled remotely.

Complete relocation service, from property due diligence to handing over the keys
Retirement

Canadian couple, retirement property in Puglia

From Toronto to the Itria Valley. Purchase of a farmhouse with cadastral issues, 7% flat tax on foreign pensions, elective residence visa and healthcare transition.

7% flat tax activated, cadastral issues resolved before the deed of sale
Business

British entrepreneur, opening a business in Milan

Post-Brexit, a London-based tech entrepreneur establishes an operational headquarters in Milan. Immigration pathway as a non-EU national, company incorporation, and tax planning.

European operational hub established with self-employment visa successfully obtained
Tax Planning

Swiss retiree: 7% flat tax regime in Southern Italy

A banking executive relocates from Zurich to Calabria. Management of the Swiss occupational pension pillar, Italy-Switzerland Tax Convention, and deregistration from the cantonal tax register.

7% flat tax activated on all foreign-sourced income
Retirement

American couple: retirement project in Abruzzo with visa and flat tax

From Connecticut to Abruzzo. Elective residency visa, 7% flat tax coordinated with IRS and FATCA obligations, and transition from Medicare to the Italian NHS (SSN).

7% flat tax activated on Social Security and 401(k) pension income
Relocation

German couple, from Munich to Tropea

Retired engineers from the Bavarian automotive sector. Multi-tier pension management, Italy-Germany Tax Convention, and the 7% preferential tax regime.

Three German pension pillars optimised with Italian flat tax
Business

Startup tech: apertura filiale italiana per il mercato EU

A Bay Area SaaS company establishes a Milan headquarters. Innovative startup SRL, EU Blue Card for the team, transfer pricing, impatriates tax regime, and GDPR compliance.

Operational within 5 months, payroll cost −35% with impatriates tax regime
Business

Fashion brand, representative office in Milan

Brand premium newyorkese apre presidio a Milano. Strutturazione per evitare stabile organizzazione, trasferimento direttrice creativa e gestione showroom.

Rischio stabile organizzazione prevenuto, presidio EU operativo
Corporate

Manufacturing company, ICT transfers to Italy

Multinazionale giapponese trasferisce 3 figure chiave in Piemonte. Permessi ICT per manager e specialista, coordinamento consolare e regime impatriati per tutti i dipendenti.

3 trasferimenti completati in 4 mesi e mezzo, linea produttiva avviata nei tempi previsti

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    Via dei Gracchi, 151
    00192 Roma – Italy

    info@italyvisainvestments.com
    Tel: + 39 – 06 889 21971

    By appointment only
    Day: Monday – Friday
    Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. / 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

    Relocation and life in Italy, all services

    Our relocation and life in Italy services provide comprehensive support that goes from the legal planning of entry to full integration into the Italian social and economic fabric. Assistance begins with a general consultation and planning of legal entry into Italy, during which we assess together the most suitable path for your situation, analyzing visas, permits and customized solutions for you and your family. The client fills out a questionnaire with the services they request assistance for, being duly informed that services can be added or removed during the course of the relationship.

    Assistance with visas and residence permits is the preliminary step to ensure legal residence in Italy. We take care of preparing and submitting applications, accompanying you through all stages of the administrative procedure until the document is issued. In addition, we personally accompany you to appointments at police headquarters, municipalities, revenue offices and post offices, providing linguistic and procedural support and interpreting services.

    Our range of services extends to the search and selection of properties for purchase or rental, with specialized contractual consultancy that analyzes lease and purchase contracts, protecting your interests through favorable clauses and representation in negotiations. We manage the entire purchase process, from contact with notaries and technical experts to urban planning checks.

    We provide practical support for all essential requirements of daily life: from opening Italian bank accounts to assistance with mortgages, from requesting a tax code and identity card to registering with the National Health Service. Our services also include activating utilities, finding schools for children, assistance with international moves and even airport reception with transfer to your residence, ensuring a calm and trouble-free arrival.

    If you are one step away from saying “yes, I want to move to Italy!”, our Firm is here to assist you and act as the connecting link between you and your life project, ensuring that your life in Italy begins calmly and without trauma: we take care of the “difficult” parts.

    Foreign pensioners in Italy: how the 7% flat tax regime works and who can access it

    The 7% flat tax regime allows individuals receiving pensions from foreign entities to transfer their tax residence to a municipality in Southern Italy (with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants) and apply a 7% substitute tax on all foreign-source income for nine tax years.

    Eligible municipalities are located in Sicily, Calabria, Sardinia, Campania, Basilicata, Abruzzo, Molise, and Puglia, as well as certain municipalities affected by the 2009 earthquake. The regime applies to all categories of foreign-source income. The option is exercised in the tax return, indicating the chosen municipality of residence.

    Registered residence in Italy but tax residence abroad: is it possible and what does it imply?

    This is a potentially risky situation. Registration in the Italian population registry creates a presumption of tax residence in Italy, with the obligation to declare worldwide income. This presumption can be rebutted by demonstrating that tax residence is abroad, including through registration with the AIRE or under applicable double taxation treaties, but the burden of proof remains on the taxpayer.

    The Italian Revenue Agency may assess these situations based on objective factors. The presence of personal or economic ties in Italy may affect the determination of tax residence. It is therefore advisable to define one’s tax position in advance and prepare adequate supporting documentation, also considering tools such as advance rulings.

    Health card for foreign nationals with elective residence: how to obtain it and what it covers?

    Foreign nationals holding a residence permit for elective residence may enroll in the Italian National Health Service (SSN) on a voluntary basis, subject to payment of an annual contribution. Enrollment grants access to healthcare services under the same conditions as SSN beneficiaries, including general practitioners, specialist care, and hospital treatment.

    The annual contribution is calculated based on total income and cannot be lower than €387.34. Alternatively, private health insurance may be used, provided it meets the requirements for residence in Italy.

    New residents regime vs inbound workers regime: which is more advantageous and what are the requirements?

    The new residents regime (Art. 24-bis TUIR) provides for a flat tax of €200,000 per year on all foreign-source income, regardless of the amount. The inbound workers regime (Art. 16 of Legislative Decree 147/2015) allows a reduced taxation on employment income produced in Italy. They are designed for different profiles.

    The new residents regime is suitable for individuals with very high foreign income who do not work in Italy. The inbound workers regime is intended for those who move to Italy for work and have not been tax resident there in the previous two years. They are only partially compatible. The choice should be made before relocating.

    Relocation: why are due diligence and real estate advisory crucial before purchasing?

    Because the Italian real estate market presents specific risks that foreign buyers may not be aware of: unauthorized building works not regularized, outstanding mortgages, cadastral discrepancies, landscape restrictions, and undisclosed easements. Technical and legal due diligence carried out before signing the preliminary agreement allows these issues to be identified while it is still possible to renegotiate or withdraw.

    Specialized real estate advisory for foreign clients also includes urban planning checks, verification of systems compliance, independent property valuation, and assistance in negotiations. Purchasing without these checks exposes the buyer to unexpected costs and post-acquisition disputes.

    The ItalyVisaInvestment website is owned by Studio Legale Boschetti and is the go-to resource for foreigners who wish to invest in Italy, obtain elective residence, or apply for an investment visa.

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