Relocation, Legal & Settling-In
Support for Your Move to Italy
From citizenship pathways to local life, we help you navigate every step.
Relocating to Southern Italy, whether for citizenship by descent, long-term visas, work or lifestyle, involves a lot of preparation.
This page outlines practical, step-by-step guidance and support options to make your move clearer and more manageable.
We help English speakers at every stage of relocating to Italy. Whether you're from Australia, the US, UK, Europe or elsewhere — if you want to live in Italy, we can help you.
Citizenship by descent applicants and anyone affected by the new two-year Italy residency requirement
Digital nomads who want to live and work remotely from Italy
Elective Residency (ERV) applicants planning a long-term lifestyle move
Students beginning Italian language or academic programs
Individuals and families who simply want to relocate with clarity and support.
Who we support
How we can help
(Your friendly team of two)
Relocation works best when legal structure and real-life support are aligned.
That’s why To Italy & Back combines legal expertise with lived, on-the-ground experience.
With Valentina
(Legal )
Assess eligibility for Italian citizenship by descent, visas, or residency
Clarify whether recent legal or policy changes apply to you
Guide document requirements and legal preparation
Manage legal communications and processes with the Comune
Advise on appropriate citizenship, visa, and residency pathways
With Stef
(Relocation & Settling-In)
Guide you through settling into daily life in Southern Italy
Support early decisions and everyday systems with local context
Offer practical insight into how things actually work on the ground
Provide cultural guidance to help you build confidence and rhythm
Support longer stays so they feel grounded, manageable, and sustainable
The first step
Before choosing a package, we start with a complimentary clarity call to understand your situation and what pathway makes sense.
It’s designed to bring clarity, not overwhelm
Important update for citizenship by descent applicants (2025+)
Recent legal changes mean that many Jure Sanguinis applicants may now be required to live in Italy for two years before their case is processed.
If this applies to you, our Full Relocation Journey supports both the legal pathway and the practical reality of relocating.
Three ways we support your move to Italy
If your move leads you to a region outside Salento, we can still support the legal pathway and introduce you to vetted local partners for on-the-ground settling-in support.
Legal Pathway
(Legal Services Only)
Focused legal support for people who need clarity, and legal assistance, to pursue Italian citizenship, visas, or residency, without relocation support.
Designed for those who are early in the planning process, affected by recent law changes, or unsure which legal pathway applies.
What this service covers:
An initial screening call to understand your background, goals, and timeline
A formal legal consultation with our citizenship lawyer, Valentina
Legal assessment of eligibility for Italian citizenship by descent, visas, or residency
Ongoing legal guidance through the chosen pathway
Preparation and handling of required legal steps, documentation, and filings
Clear explanation of requirements, realistic timelines and next steps
Legal advice and services are provided directly by the lawyer. Our role is to prepare, screen, and ensure you’re asking the right questions from the start.
This service is often the most appropriate first step before deciding whether to pursue relocation support.
The Full Relocation Journey
(Legal + Arrival Orientation)
A complete end-to-end service for starting your life in Italy with clarity, calm and support. Perfect for those relocating for citizenship, visas, or long-term residency — especially if the recent citizenship by descent law changes mean you now need to spend two years living here.
This package combines Valentina’s legal expertise with Stef’s lived-experience relocation support, so nothing is left confusing or overwhelming.
What’s included:
Before You Arrive — Legal Preparation & Clarity
Citizenship by descent or visa pathway guidance
A personalised relocation roadmap (your country → Italy)
Support with documentation, translations, apostilles, and requirements
Appointment preparation and coordination
A pre-departure Zoom call covering packing, expectations, priorities, and admin
A shared Trello board so every step is clear and tracked
_____________________________________________________Looking for a home in Italy?
If you need support finding a rental or purchasing a property in Puglia,
we collaborate with Ilaria from Dolce Casa Tua, a trusted, English-speaking
local agency.Property search and transactions are handled directly by the agency; we help coordinate and keep things aligned with your relocation timeline.
_____________________________________________________
When you arrive — warm landing & orientation
Welcome groceries so your first night is easy
A welcome coffee or spritz to reset and set priorities
Neighbourhood orientation: cafés, groceries, transport, everyday essentials
A settling-in day with 2–3 key tasks completed with you
(e.g. SIM, Codice Fiscale, residence registration, health card, SPID, Permesso support)Community & local life
Access to a curated local network
Introductions to expats, creatives, digital nomads, and locals
Relevant WhatsApp social groups
Cultural guidance on how life actually works in Southern Italy
After arrival — one month of WhatsApp support
Weekday access for quick questions, translations, and clarifications, so small issues don’t spiral.
This package gives you the stability of legal accuracy with the reassurance of lived experience, the best support for a big life move.
Arrival & Orientation
(One Month)
A warm, structured start to your new life in Italy. Designed for those who have already been legally approved or are already on the ground and want to feel confident from day one.
What’s included:
Before You Arrive – Organisation & Clarity
Pre-departure Zoom call
Practical guidance on what to pack, what to leave, and what actually matters
Optional coordination (airport transfer, linen, basic home setup)
A shared Trello board to keep everything organised
_____________________________________________________Looking for a home in Italy?
If you need support finding a rental or purchasing a property in Puglia,
we collaborate with Ilaria from Dolce Casa Tua, a trusted, English-speaking
local agency.Property search and transactions are handled directly by the agency; we help coordinate and keep things aligned with your relocation timeline.
_____________________________________________________
When you arrive
Welcome groceries for your first night
Welcome coffee or spritz to talk through expectations and local rhythm
Neighbourhood orientation walk
A settling-in day with 2–3 essential admin tasks completed with you
(e.g. SIM, Codice Fiscale, residence registration, health card, SPID, Permesso support)Community & local life
Access to trusted local professionals
Introductions to like-minded people
Relevant WhatsApp social groups
Cultural guidance to help you feel at home
After arrival — one month of WhatsApp support
Weekday access for questions, clarity, and help navigating the unexpected.
Perfect for anyone who want a soft landing, and someone who understands exactly what that first month feels like.
Want a lighter version?
If you don’t need in-person admin support, we offer Arrival & Orientation (Lite). You’ll receive the same guidance and orientation, just without the settling-in day.
Ideal for independent movers who still want grounding, clarity, and community.
Need some VIP settling-in solutions?
We can also organise some personalised
touches…just for you.
A shuttle bus from the airport to your new home
Cleaning for your new residence before you arrive
A set of brand new bed sheets!
A few days of home-cooked meals in the freezer
Enrolment in Italian lessons
Ongoing Add-On Support
For clients who want continued guidance after arrival, additional support can be arranged depending on your needs and circumstances. This may include light, ongoing help navigating everyday life, cultural questions or upcoming requirements as you settle in.
We’ll discuss some options with you once we near the end of your package.
Curated Private Experiences in Salento
Local experiences designed to help you enjoy Salento and connect with the local lifestyle. These are optional additions that help newcomers feel more at home and make their time in Puglia richer, warmer and more memorable.
Experiences may include:
Cooking classes
Masseria tours
Wine tastings
Beach weekends
Aperitivo or private dining experiences
Personalised itineraries
Seasonal events and cultural outings
Community meetups
Investment:
Tailored to your interests and group size.
Speak to us and we’ll recommend something that suits.
Here’s our simple 6-step
legal & relocation process
A clear, friendly roadmap from Australia to Italy
by someone who’s done it.
STEP 1 — Start with a Relocation Clarity call
We start with a 30-minute Clarity Call to understand:
why you’re moving
where you’re coming from
your timeline
and what kind of support you may need
This is a high-level conversation designed to bring clarity, not overwhelm. From here, we’ll recommend the most appropriate next step — whether that’s booking a consultation with our lawyer, moving forward with a support package, or continuing independently with a clearer plan.
STEP 2 — Confirm your legal pathway
If legal or eligibility questions are involved, we’ll recommend a paid consultation with Valentina to explore your options in detail.
Your possible pathways may include:
Citizenship by Descent
Elective Residency
Digital Nomad Visa
Student Visa
Work Visa
With Valentina’s legal expertise, we identify the realistic path for your
goals and timeline.
STEP 3— Build your personal relocation plan
Once your pathway is confirmed, we turn uncertainty into a clear, personalised roadmap.
Together, we map out:
required documents
translations and apostilles
appointments
what’s done in your home country
what’s done in Italy
timing and next steps
You’ll know exactly what’s coming — and when.
STEP 4— Prepare documents & handle appointments
This is where the legal side becomes manageable.
Depending on your pathway, we support:
document collection
court filings (if required)
visa or citizenship paperwork
translations and certifications
appointment preparation
Comune communications
You’re supported, informed, and never guessing what matters most.
STEP 5— Get ready to arrive in Italy
Before you fly, we help you land with confidence — not chaos.
We’ll have a Zoon call to cover:
what to pack (and what not to)
renting realities and local quirks
phones, banking, transportation
neighbourhood orientation
expectations vs reality
When you arrive, you skip the lost-tourist phase entirely.
STEP 6— Settling in & feeling at home
Your first weeks matter. We stay with you while everything becomes familiar.
Support may include:
settling-in admin (SIM, residence, health card, SPID, etc.)
orientation walks and local guidance
WhatsApp support for quick questions
cultural insight into how life actually works here
community connections and optional experiences
You’re not just legally resident — you’re grounded, confident, and supported.
When I packed up my life in Melbourne and moved to Lecce, Puglia, I discovered two things:
Italian bureaucracy is… an adventure.
Having someone who’s done it before makes everything 100× easier.
That’s what these services are all about. I help you navigate the legal bits, the life bits and all the
confusing in-between bits, so your move feels clear, warm and actually enjoyable!
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes — we support clients navigating Italian citizenship by descent, residency pathways and visas. Legal work is handled by our Italian citizenship and family lawyer, Valentina, while we support you with strategy, preparation and on-the-ground relocation guidance.
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All relocation enquiries begin with a 30-minute Clarity Call (€35) This allows us to understand your background, goals and timeline before recommending the most appropriate next step. If your require a legal consultation, you’ll get a €35 credit.
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Yes. While we’re based in Salento and Puglia, we coordinate trusted partners across Italy when your move leads elsewhere.
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Yes. Depending on your needs, we can assist with location selection, rental guidance, local orientation and practical setup once you arrive.
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No. Some clients are planning a permanent move, others are exploring residency pathways or testing life in Italy before committing. We support both.
Think you might be ready to move to southern Italy?
Let’s talk. Send us a message with your questions or plans, and we’ll help you navigate the process!