ItalyResidence
Italy elective residence visa (retirement)
National visa for elective residence (residenza elettiva)
In short
The elective residence visa lets people with substantial independent income live in Italy without working. The Italian missions require stable resources from sources other than employment of at least three times the annual Table A amount, about EUR 31,000, and an owned or rented home.
checked 25 October 2026
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- 91 to 365 days on the visa; then a residence permit in Italy
- Fee
- €116National (D) visa fee under Italy's consular fee table; the mission states the currency and method of payment, and an external service provider, where used, charges its own fee.
- Funds required
- €31,000 per yearApproximate minimum stated by the Italian missions: three times the annual amount in Table A of the Interior Ministry directive, from pensions, rents or other non-employment income.
- Work
- No work.
- Where to apply
- Italian embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence, directly or through its external service provider.
Housing and documents
Show an owned home or a rental contract already signed and registered with the Revenue Agency, plus identity and civil status documents and an outward flight booking.
Required documents
Identity
- National (type D) application form, completed, dated and signed at item 37 and on the last page
- One ICAO photo 35 × 40 mm and a passport valid at least three months beyond the visa, with copies of current and previous passports
- Copy of your national ID card; non-nationals: residence permit in the country where you apply; civil status certificate where the checklist asks for it
Travel
- Property deed or registered lease in Italy
- Outward flight booking or itinerary
Money
- Proof of stable non-employment income of at least about EUR 31,000 a year
Income requirement
You must prove substantial, stable and regular independent resources that can reasonably be expected to continue, derived from sources other than employment, such as pensions, rental income or investments. They must be at least three times the annual amount in Table A of the Interior Ministry directive of 1 March 2000, which the missions put at about EUR 31,000.
After arrival: permesso di soggiorno
Within 8 working days of first entry you must apply to the Questura of the province where you will live, in many cases through authorised post offices. The fee is EUR 40 for permits of more than three months up to one year and EUR 50 for up to two years; applicants for permits of at least one year sign an integration agreement with the State. The card is usually issued within about 60 days.
Restrictions
The elective residence status does not allow work in Italy; income must come from abroad or from passive sources.
Italian mission fact sheets describe it as a multiple-entry national (type D) visa for stays of 91 to 365 days under Interministerial Decree 850/2011, Annex A, point 13; you apply no earlier than six months and no later than 15 days before travel, and the procedure has a 90-day deadline.
How to apply, step by step
- Download the official "Elective residence" checklist from the Italian mission responsible for your place of residence and complete the national (type D) application form.
- Book an appointment with the mission or its external service provider and lodge the file in person with originals, apostilled and translated documents where required.
- Pay the visa fee as the mission indicates; the statutory processing time for a type D visa is 90 days.
- Within 8 working days of entering Italy, apply for the residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) through the post office kit or the Questura.
- Attend the Questura appointment for fingerprints and, for permits of a year or more, sign the integration agreement.
Frequently asked questions
Can I work remotely on an elective residence visa?
No. The visa is for people living on non-employment income.
How much income is needed?
About EUR 31,000 a year, i.e. three times the Table A amount.
Is a rental contract enough?
Yes, if it is already signed and registered with the Revenue Agency.
Official sources
- Italian missions in Türkiye – checklist: elective residence
- Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs – table of means of subsistence for entry
- Embassy of Italy in Ankara – choose the right visa and check the documents
- Polizia di Stato – issuing the residence permit (8 working days, fees)
- Italian Embassy in Tashkent – National visa for elective residence (fact sheet, legal basis and visa terms)
Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.
Other visa types for Italy
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Family and friends visit visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Study and training
- Student visa Maximum stay: 91 to 365 days on the visa; then a residence permit in Italy
- Researcher visa
Work
- Work visa Maximum stay: 91 to 365 days on the visa; then a residence permit in Italy
- EU Blue Card Validity: Two years for an open-ended contract; for fixed-term contracts, the contract length plus three months.
- Digital nomad visa Maximum stay: 91 to 365 days on the visa; then a residence permit in Italy
Family
- Family reunification visa
- Spouse and partner visa Validity: Residence card for family of EU citizens and family permit for family of Italian citizens: five years.
Residence
- Permanent residence Validity: 10 years for adults, 5 years for minors; the status is permanent.
Protection
- Asylum and international protection Validity: Asylum-seeker permit: until the decision; refugee and subsidiary protection: five years, renewable; special protection: two years, renewable.