How to Move to Italy from Australia: Visas, Timelines & What No One Tells You

Moving to Italy from Australia sounds dreamy… until you start Googling and realise there are 700 opinions, 200 forums, and somehow no clear, friendly explanation of what to actually do.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, confused, or tempted to move to a treehouse instead — you’re not alone. I’ve lived this journey myself (complete with tears, questionable translation attempts, and a very patient lawyer), and now I help Australians move to Italy with clarity, support and far fewer headaches. Here’s everything you really need to know — every pathway, what documents you’ll need, realistic timelines, and the things nobody tells you.

The main ways Australians can move to Italy

There are five legitimate pathways and which one you choose depends on your background, your work and how long you want to stay. Let’s break each one down clearly.

Citizenship by Descent (Jure Sanguinis)
For Australians with Italian parents or grandparents

Italy has recently tightened its citizenship-by-descent rules.
This pathway is still the golden ticket, but eligibility is now much more focused on direct lineage within three generations.

Who generally qualifies now

You may be eligible if:

• Your parent was an Italian citizen
  or

• Your grandparent was an Italian citizen

AND

• They did NOT become Australian before their child (your parent or grandparent) was born

• Your documentation clearly shows an unbroken bloodline

Great-grandchildren can sometimes still qualify,
but only if the line is perfectly documented — it's no longer automatic.

Who may NOT be eligible under updated rules

• Anyone whose Italian heritage is beyond the third generation

• Anyone whose Italian ancestor naturalised before the next child was born

• People with missing/irretrievable documents

• Families with a pre-1948 female ancestor (still possible, but requires a court case)

Updated document checklist

You will typically need the following

• Your birth certificate

• Your marriage certificate (if applicable)

Your parents’ documents

• Birth certificate

• Marriage certificate

• Death certificate (if applicable)

Your grandparents’ documents

• Birth certificate

• Marriage certificate

• Death certificate

• Proof they were still Italian when their child was born

Plus:

• Apostilles (for Australian documents)

• Certified Italian translations

• Potential police checks

• “No record” letters for naturalisation

Where you apply:

A) In Australia (via your local Italian consulate)

• Very long waitlists

• Strict review

• Slow processing

B) In Italy (via residency in a comune)

• Often faster (especially in smaller southern towns)

• More human, more supportive

• You must stay in Italy during the process

(This is the route I took, and why I recommend Salento for smoother processing.)

Elective Residency Visa (ERV)
Best for retirees or financially self-sufficient Australians

This is for Australians who want to live in Italy but not work here.

Requirements:

• Proof of stable, passive income (pensions, investments, savings, rental income — not salary or self-employment income)

• Valid long-term accommodation contract

• Comprehensive health insurance

• No work allowed in Italy or for Italian companies

Typical income requirement:

Around €31,000–€35,000 per year (varies by consulate)

Timeline:

2–6 months depending on consulate

Digital Nomad Visa (new and popular)
For remote workers with non-Italian employers/clients

This is the newest and most talked-about option, and I also got this one before I left – just in case there were any issues with my citizenship!

You may qualify if:

• You work as an employee or self-employed professional

• Your income comes from Australia or overseas

• You earn roughly €28k–€30k+ per year

• You have proof of remote work

• You can show experience in your field (usually 6+ months or qualifications)

Timeline:

1–3 months for issuance

Student Visa
For courses, Italian language schools, universities, culinary programs, etc.

✔ You need:

• Acceptance into a recognised program

• Proof of funds

• Accommodation

• Health insurance

✔ Pros:

• You can legally stay for the duration of your studies

• Great for extended cultural immersion

✔ Cons:

• Limited work rights

• You must remain enrolled

• You need at least B1 level Italian to do an language class

Work Visa (rare but possible)
Italy issues work visas through the annual Decreto Flussi quota.

You need:

• An Italian employer who applies on your behalf

• Approval from the Italian government

• Contract + supporting documents

Pros:

• Pathway to longer stays

• Allows work legally in Italy

Cons:

• Very competitive

• Quotas are limited

• Timing is strict

BONUS: Stays Under 90 Days

Australians can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period visa-free, but this does not allow work or long-term living.

What people don’t realise (the honest part)

Smaller towns make everything smoother

Consulates in big cities (Florence, Bologna, Milan, Rome) are overloaded.
Southern towns, like those in Salento, often have faster processing, friendlier offices, and less chaos.

You don’t need to have everything perfect before leaving Australia

Some documents are simply easier to organise once you're here.

You should choose where to live based on your pathway

Citizenship by descent? → choose a supportive comune
Elective Residency? → need a lease before applying
Digital Nomad? → need proof of income + accommodation

Bureaucracy doesn’t have to be a nightmare

If you know the exact documents, scripts and steps, it becomes manageable.

(And that’s exactly why I work with Valentina — a lawyer who specialises in this — and why our clients feel so supported.)

Real Timelines (based on experience)

Citizenship by descent in Italy: 3–12 months

Elective Residency Visa: 2–6 months

Digital Nomad Visa: 1–3 months

Student Visa: 1–2 months

Work Visa: quota-dependent

So… which pathway is best for you?

That depends on your goals, background and lifestyle.

This is why my clients start with a Relocation Clarity Call, where we figure out:

• Which pathways you qualify for

• How long the process will take

• What documents you need

• What can be done before leaving Australia

• Whether Salento is the right base

Ready to plan your move to Italy the smart way?

I help Australians navigate the entire process, from choosing the right pathway to settling into life here in Salento.
Learn more about Relocation Support with a free clarity call