Elective residence visa
For people living on substantial passive income who will not work in Italy. Consulates apply it strictly and expect the income to be genuinely passive and permanent.
Who it is for. Retirees with a pension or other permanent passive income.
Researched, not independently verifiedlow confidenceReviewed 20 September 2026
Worth knowing. The threshold is a consular minimum rather than a statutory one and posts commonly require substantially more, especially where property has not already been purchased or leased.
Fact
- Income required
- €31,000
- Savings required
- Not stated
- Investment required
- None
- Application fee
- Not stated
- Processing time
- 30–120 days
- Permission lasts
- 12 months
- Permanent residence
- After 5 years
- Citizenship
- After 10 years
a year
Renewable
Remote work not coveredLocal employment not allowedFamily can joinInsurance requiredPolice certificate
Apply through the authority, not through us: vistoperitalia.esteri.it (opens in a new tab)
Sources
Researched, not independently verifiedlow confidenceReviewed 20 September 2026
Worth knowing. The threshold is a consular minimum rather than a statutory one and posts commonly require substantially more, especially where property has not already been purchased or leased.
Check this against
- Visto per l’Italia — visa categories and consular requirements (opens in a new tab)Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale · Foreign ministry