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What are the residency and stay requirements for Italy’s elective residence visa?

I am interested in an elective residence visa for Italy. I live in the UK (non-EU citizen) and I am retired. I satisfy all the criteria including savings level and owning a house there. My main wish is really to have the flexibility to spend more than 90 days in 180 days there, but not to permanently retire there. I have read documents that state that if you have an elective residence visa you cannot leave Italy for a continuous period of 6 months or more. If I had an elective residence visa for Italy, would I be able to make multiple separate trips between Italy and the UK in a year? Would I need to stay in Italy for a certain period of time while the visa was being renewed for a second or third year?

Answers
  • Marco Mazzeschi
    Mazzeschi Srl
    November 27, 2022

    Most consulates point out that the elective residency visa is NOT for extended tourism. It is not an end-run around the limited validity of Schengen tourist visas or the visa-waiver program, nor is it for letting you join family members or friends who have accepted temporary jobs in Italy. An individual applies for the elective residency visa with the intention of establishing a permanent home in Italy. The visa that would allow you to avoid taking residency in Italy (on condition that you spend less than 183 days/year in the country) and the flexibility that you want to achieve would be the Investor Visa.

  • Andrea Parisi
    Avv. Andrea Parisi
    November 26, 2022

    Sure, you'd be able to make multiple separate trips between Italy and the UK in a year, but you need to stay in Italy for more than 6 months anyway should you be granted Italy’s elective residence visa first and Italian residency status then.

  • Alessia Ajelli
    LCA Studio Legale
    November 27, 2022

    The holder of an elective residence visa and residence permit cannot stay away from Italy for a period of time consecutively longer than half of the duration of his residence permit - e.g. having a residence permit of 1-year duration, the holder of such residence permit can travel back and forth between Italy and UK multiple times, provided that they do not stay away from Italy for more than 6 months consecutively.

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