Buy a real estate property in Italy after Brexit
If you are not allowed to come to Italy right now due to Covid restrictions, make the most out of this time and prepare yourself to plan your future wisely.
What you should know about travelling, moving to or living in Italy after the pandemic is over if you’re a UK national.
Can I travel to Italy? How long can I stay?
If you’re a tourist, you do not need a visa for short trips. You’ll be allowed to stay in Italy up to 90 days in every 180 days with your passport that must have more than six months’ validity and be less than 10 years old according to the Italian immigration rules applied to third country nationals.
For those of you who require to stay longer, or to study, work or travel for business, there should be the obligation to apply for a visa or a permit.
Can I buy a house in Italy?
Yes, you can.
EU citizens, non EU citizens who are fully resident or have a valid permit to stay, nationals from a country that Italy has a reciprocal agreement with but residing outside of Italy can fulfill their dream of living in the sun. This is valid also for UK nationals.
Read our guidance on how to buy a property in Italy.
What if I already have a house in Italy?
If you are a UK national living in Italy before 1st January 2021, your rights will be protected by the Withdrawal Agreement.
However you and your family members have the right to obtain the new biometric residency card (carta di soggiorno elettronica). It is not mandatory, but strongly recommended to provide further evidence of your rights to benefit from the Italian health care system, education, work, etc.
To request the document, you have to book an appointment by sending a PEC email to your Immigration Office of the Police Headquarters (Questura) in the province of your residence. Once issued its duration can vary from 5 to 10 years depending on how long you have lived in Italy.
If you are applying for residency after the end of 2020, you must apply for a visa first, then for a permesso di soggiorno (permit to stay) and after that you can apply for the Italian residence.
Read our guidance on residency in Italy.
What about healthcare, my treatments will still be covered?
Residents in Italy will continue to have the same healthcare rights. The same happens to those who become residents before 31st December 2020.
For non residents, there will be no changes for healthcare arrangements, so if you have either a valid EHIC card, a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or a travel insurance with healthcare cover you can still use it to access state-provided medical treatments and emergency care provided by any EU country.
What about your Driving Licence
If you take your own vehicle with you, you will need a green card and a GB sticker.
If you have a photocard driving licence issued in the UK, you will be able to do so without any additional requirements. But you may need to ask for a 1968 IDP (International Driving Permit), if you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.
If you are planning to move or you are a resident in Italy, they suggest exchanging your licence for an Italian one. Doing so, you will have the right to drive in Italy and the UK, without asking for an International Driving Permit (IDP).
In fact the rule says that if you reside in Italy you can drive with your non-EU driving licence for a maximum of 1 year. After that, you must exchange it for an Italian one.
What you should know if you’re travelling with your pet
You cannot use the existing pet passport scheme. Instead you’ll need an animal health certificate (AHC) for your pet. Allow at least 1 month to arrange this and relevant vaccinations.
