What Digital Nomads in Italy Must Know

Whereas dwelling and dealing overseas has all the time appealed to a relative few, we’re now seeing an uptick in digital nomads world wide. Chalk it as much as Covid educating us that life is brief and adventures are many.

I am a kind of individuals who offered every little thing and relocated to a different nation (Italy). I am lucky sufficient to work as a enterprise coach and content material creator, so I can work anyplace, together with two blocks from the Ionian Sea in Calabria.

Attracted by la dolce vita? Prepared to surrender your excessive mortgage for a way more inexpensive home by the ocean (any of the 4 that encompass Italy)? Excited by the prospect of consuming pasta and ingesting wine each day? This is what you have to know.

1. There is a digital nomad visa (coming quickly)

Earlier in 2022, Italy introduced a brand new digital nomad visa that might make it simpler for many who work for non-Italian firms to dwell right here. As of this writing in November 2022, the nation hasn’t labored out all the main points nor introduced when it will likely be prepared.

Even with out this visa choice, I used to be capable of get a one-year visa as a contract author with out difficulty, although I used to be advised it was a really tough visa to acquire.

2. You may want assist with the immigration course of

Regardless of being a really DIY form of particular person, I employed a lawyer to assist with the immigration paperwork and course of. There’s not loads accessible on-line about what precisely you have to do, and there are some deadlines you may miss if you happen to’re unaware of them, which might delay your transfer.

My legal professional has helped me with the visa software, in addition to making use of for the permesso di soggiorno, or residency allow. It was positively an funding (underneath $4,000), however effectively value it.

3. You may additionally need assist with taxes

Now that I am right here, I have been advised I would like a partita IVA, which is sort of a Social Safety quantity for enterprise homeowners. I do not know loads about this, however do plan on working with a comercialista, who’s a bit like an accountant and might help with organising the partita IVA in addition to submitting your Italian taxes. And sure, you do must file in Italy. There’s an settlement between america and Italy that lets you solely pay Social Safety taxes in a single nation, not each.

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4. Permit time to get settled

I say this not solely as a result of you are going to really feel such as you’re in trip mode whenever you arrive in Italy (and consuming such as you’re on trip too), but additionally as a result of issues can typically take some time to arrange.

I dwell in Calabria, in a tiny city down south, so that is my expertise. For those who transfer to a giant metropolis like Milan or Rome, issues possible will transfer sooner. For me, it took a number of weeks to get web. There have been a number of visits to the web retailer (for me TIM, which additionally sells telephones and SIM playing cards). Then as soon as I received my modem, it took a number of days for it to activate.

Issues usually are not prompt in Italy the way in which we count on them within the States. Be affected person. Channel your inside Yoda. I took a full month off after I arrived, and thank goodness I did as a result of I actually could not do any work with out my trusty web.

5. Open an Italian checking account (however have endurance)

One other job which will take some time is opening a checking account. Italy has some fairly strict guidelines about cash laundering (thanks, Mafia), so a financial institution will do a background verify on you earlier than you’ll be able to open a checking account. This might take days to weeks.

To open an account, you may want a contract for a lease on a home (if you happen to purchase one, I am certain that gross sales contract may also suffice), in addition to your Social Safety card, passport, and U.S. financial institution statements. You may additionally want a codice fiscale, which is sort of a private Social Safety quantity that’s free to acquire. You may want it for every little thing you do, from shopping for a SIM card and web to procuring at a thrift retailer!

Some banks could require different paperwork. I learn that the publish workplace (sure, they provide banking) requires a tessera sanitaria (medical health insurance card), however an Italian pal mentioned to not go by what the web site mentioned. Italians bend the foundations after they really feel prefer it, so you might not want every little thing listed on the location!

6. Let your new life dictate your work schedule

How and after I work has modified fairly a bit now that I am settled in Italy. As a result of my shoppers are in america, I haven’t got to begin working very first thing within the morning. As an alternative, I take a stroll alongside the ocean, have espresso with mates, and do yoga. My work day begins within the afternoon after I’m extra aligned with American work hours.

For those who’re drawn to dwelling in Italy, you have to embrace the tradition, and meaning letting go of the workaholic mentality so many Individuals have. Italy is extra inexpensive than a lot of america (particularly if you happen to’re coming from California like me), so that you may be capable of scale back your work hours and nonetheless dwell a really accommodating life!

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© Picture courtesy Susan Guillory