Italy is the most visited nation in Europe. Why? Its combination of history, art, climate, food, and varied cities make it a must visit part of any trip to Europe. You may want to move to Italy

Why move to Italy?

Italy is a great tourist attraction. Moving there will give you ample interesting sights, sounds, and tastes to experience. Most of these pleasures are short term, vacation-like experiences, but having decent diversions is an important part of choosing somewhere to live. You can’t deny that Italy is one of the most-visited places in the world for many valid reasons:

for these same reasons. Moving somewhere isn’t the same as vacationing there, but the appeal of Italy is undeniable. This guide will help you plan for your trip to the birthplace of the Renaissance.

  • Food. Everyone loves Italian food, and even though the true Italian versions of pizza and pasta may differ from what we have in the United States, they are often considered even better (although not usually healthier) in Italy. There will be no shortage of quality restaurants to try.
  • Art. The Renaissance primarily happened in Italy, so in many ways the country is the art capital of the world. The Lourve may be in France, but there are many museums in Italy and art is displayed in a lot of public places. Art enthusiasts have more than just Michelangelo’s David to explore, as there are huge museums in Florence, Rome, and Venice.
  • Land marks. The Roman Colosseum. The Leaning Tower of Pisa. The Floating City of Venice. There are many world famous place to see and visit in Italy.
  • Climate. Italy has a temperate climate, but much of it is mild. The Italian Alps are often cold and provide a good place for winter sports. Southern Italy gets hot in the summer for beach-going activities.
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Italian Customs Regulations

Italy is a typical European nation when it comes to most of its customs regulations. If you are moving to Italy for under 90 days, you don’t need a visa as an American or Canadian. If you plan to move to Italy more permanently, here are some things you will need:

  • Passport
  • Shengen Visa (if you are coming from a Shengen country)
  • Residence visa
  • Work permit
  • Inventory (written in Italian, signed by you, and approved by the consulate)
  • Fiscal Number (Italy’s version of a social security number)
  • Consular Declaration from your local Italian consulate that states the specifics of your move
  • Bill of Lading
  • Power of attorney
  • Residency certificate that lists the members of your family, your original city of residence, and the dates of the move

You should contact your local Italian consulate for a complete and up to date list of documentation needed for immigration.

Packing for a move to Italy

It is important to limit the items you ship. International shipments cost more based on space and they can take a long time to arrive at your destination. You need to choose wisely and make your shipment as small as possible. There are also some items that you are not allowed to ship into Italy, so make sure your shipment does not contain:

  • Pornography
  • Narcotics
  • Animal skins, ivory, and furs
  • Most food products including sugar, coffee, tea, and pepper
  • Cordless electronics/walkie-talkies
  • AV electronics that do not have the “CE” marking
  • Perfumes

When packing for a move to Italy, you may also want to avoid the following items that have heavy, varied restrictions on their importation into Italy. These items may carry an extra duty you will need to pay or will require separate certification. Unless they are absolutely necessary to take with you to Italy, they usually aren’t worth the hassle.

  • Weapons
  • New furniture
  • Precious metals
  • Antiques
  • Appliances
  • Art
  • Plants
  • Alcohol
  • Tobacco
  • Cars
  • Pets

Prepare for Italian culture

Preparing for life in another country isn’t all about passports and choosing the right things to ship. You also need to understand the culture of your destination in order to feel at home once you move there. Here is Italian culture at a glance:

  • Italian is the official language and is spoken by the vast majority of the native population. English is not normally among the other languages spoken in Italy. Learn Italian unless you want to find a bilingual friend who can translate everything for you
  • Roman Catholic is the religion for the vast majority of the country. Vatican City is housed in Italy, after all
  • The economy ranks high on the GDP, but business in Italy has run into some problems in recent years. Getting a job there may be difficult
  • Family is very important in Italy, but this spills over into business. Nepotism is quite common in Italian businesses
  • Northern Italy is more population dense and multicultural, while southern Italy is more culturally isolated and physically spread out
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Think you’re ready to move to Italy? Get a free online estimate from International Sea & Air Shipping to start your journey.