Visas for a U.S. citizen going to Italy?

Question

My husband and I have discussed moving to Italy (my family is from the Calabria region) and we are really unsure of where to start! We'd like to apply for working visas, however because we both do freelance work (he is in journalism, I am in industrial psychology), we are not sure if we need one. How would we get a visa to live there? And if we choose to stay longer than the expiration on our visas, what should we do next? Thanks so much!

Answer 1

A good site that you can start with to find information on the different types of visas for Italy and how to apply for them is the Just Landed guide (http://www.justlanded.com/english/italy/...

Answer 2

If you buy a villa in Come's lake, like George Clooney, they will welcome you...

Just show them your bucks !!

Answer 3

You should look this site

http://www.esteri.it/visti/index_eng.asp

http://www.esteri.it/visti/home_eng.asp

(Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs official website)

and choose what best apply to you.

By the way, if you want to come to live for a living, you could also check if you qualify for Italian citizenship (or dual citizenship).

Since you have Italian ancestors, it could be easier:   http://www.myitaliancitizenship.com/inde...

Answer 4

after getting a passport you need to contact the Italian Consolate in whatever region you are in. There are several around the country. Go google their website and it should be fine from there.

Be careful though they are a ***** to deal with. Unless ur a full blooded italian or speak the language good luck. Just make sure u have everything and double check to make sure u have everything they want! Good Luck!

Answer 5

You can start by going to the website below.  The Italian Embassy does not give detailed info about their visas on their website.  They just instruct you to contact their visa division. So...you can get the contact info on the website and start from there.  If you meet certain income requirements, most countries will grant longer visas than just a 90 day tourist visa.  A working visa is always harder to get...but I wish you luck as you begin this process.  I have a friend here in Mexico who just came here FROM Italy to live and start a business, and another friend FROM Italy who imimgrated to Australia and is now making plans to move to Mexico...seems all of us like to try new places!  Also..this may be difficult..but if you really want it , stick to it...be charming with the visa people...it really helps!  FIND a way...I know many people who have had to jump thru a lot of hoops to live where they wanted to...and sticktoitiveness really helps!

Answer 6

Its not easy. Ive been trying for years..To get a work visa you need to find a job in Italy then have them give you a letter. You have to take it to your closest italian embassy or counsil.

Depending on who and how far back you family is italian you might be able to apply for an italian citizenship. If it goes past your grandparents then forget it. This wont work. If it is your grandparents then you have to see if its your grandfather or your grandmother. If you were born before 1980 and its your grandmother then forget this method too. If your grandparents became american citizens before your parents were born or your parents became american citizens before you were born then forget this method too.

I think the best way for you i to go to the italian embassy or counsil. I must warn you u do not get the same Italian hospitality that you get in Italy. Anything that has to do with goverment departments in italy are the equivelent of going on a caricel.

Answer 7

You are extremely naive.

It is not easy to go and work in another country unless you have a passport.

You obviously need to contact the Italian embassy.

Don't hold your breath.

Answer 8

Hi, I live in Italy and I am an italian citizen.

Well, I think you can apply for the visas in any italian consulate general or embassy. It all depends on the place you live in the United States, i.e. if you live in or around Washington DC go directly to the embassy and ask.

As a US citizen, you shouldn't have troubles getting your requests approved.

I've heard some american or japanese overstayed their visa and they didn't have any problems with immigration officers.

Whether they try to find out something irregular in your documents, just say them that you spent some time in France or Austria. They can't prove the opposite.

Answer 9

I am an American (journalist) living in Italy and I can tell you that what you want to do is possible but also comes with a series of bureaucratic hoops to jump through as well as the uncertainly of living in a country and not being "legal."

The truth is that a lot of Americans (and other foreigners) are living here and many (most?) do so without official permission from the government. Generally, they don't pay a lot of attentions to Americans who do this but you'll have a lot of limitations on what you can do here -- you won't be able to buy property, including a car, you may have troubles traveling back and forth, etc.

One of the easiest ways to stay here is to prove that you are independently weathly and WON'T be working while your here. Italy doesn't really want more foreigners coming over to take jobs away from Italians. To get a working visa, you'll have to have an employer sponsor you -- giving you a letter that says you are doing a job that no Italian is qualified for, which is why a lot of Americans here teach English. However, you'll have a hard time finding an employer willing to do this -- there's kind of a catch 22 in which you need to be here to get the job but you need to be out of the country to get the visa and most employers won't hire you from abroad because there are enough Americans hanging around here willing to do it without the visa.

I don't mean to sound so negative, I just want to give you a realistic picture of what it takes to come and live here. It's not really all that "Under the Tuscan Sun" made it out to be. I was here for many years without papers and then got lucky and got legal when the Italian state held a mass amnesty (they do this every so often so that they can get illegal immigrants paying taxes). Since then I've married an Italian, which is the best way to stay over here (not possible in your situation I see).

As another poster mentioned, you might be entitled to Italian citizenship but that is a costly, lengthy process and might not suit your situation.

If you'd like some more information please feel free to contact me. Or check out this site: www.informer.it. Good luck with your efforts.