EXPLAINED: How to convert an Italian second home into your main residence

For some people it's always part of the long-term plan, while others fall deeper and deeper in love with Italy and decide that they want to spend more time here.

Either way, it's far from uncommon for people to buy an Italian property, use it as a second home for a while and then decide that they want it to become their main residence.

This obviously makes the process of moving to Italy a lot easier, since you already have a place to stay and you know the area and probably some of your neighbours.

Nonetheless, there are several crucial bits of admin that you need to do in order to ensure that you are legally resident in Italy.

Visas/residency permits

If you're a non-EU national, the first thing you'll need to consider is your residency status.

Some non-EU second-home owners whose countries have an agreement with the EU stay paperwork-free by limiting their visits to 90 days in every 180, while others get a short-term visitor visa.

Either way, this will need to change.

If you intend to live full-time in Italy, you'll have to get a long-stay visa. Exactly which type you need will depend on your plans - namely, whether you want to work, study or retire to Italy.

Visa applications must be filed at the nearest Italian consulate in your home country before you make the move.

There's no problem going back and forth to Italy to transport some furniture or make arrangements in the meantime, but you will still need to abide by non-resident rules (including the 90-day rule) and cannot officially move until your visa comes through.

When you get your visa, it's important to note the next steps, which include applying for a residency permit within eight days of arriving in the country. 

You can find more information and practical advice about residency permits in Italy in our dedicated section.

Moving furniture

When you're bringing items including furniture, DIY items and household goods into Italy, there is a value limit of €430 for travel by air or sea (this drops to €300 if you travel by land).

Anything over this amount can attract import duties.

There is, however, an exception for people who are moving to Italy to be able to bring with them furniture and white goods. In order to benefit from this, you'll have to fill out some paperwork in advance. More details are available here.

READ ALSO: What are the rules on moving household goods to Italy?

Moving with pets  

If you're bringing pets with you, keep in mind that they will need their own paperwork.

You can find full details about moving to Italy with pets here.

Once you are living here and have registered with a local vet, you can get an EU passport for your cat, dog or ferret, which will make any future travel within the EU (or between the EU and a third country) a lot simpler.

Registering as a resident 

Once you're settled in Italy, there's an additional layer of admin, including registering as a resident with your town hall's anagrafe, or registry office.

This important for a number of reasons, including accessing healthcare and public services, not to mention the fact that taxes on second homes in Italy are higher than for primary residences (prime case) - or, at the very least, a main home qualifies for certain tax reliefs that second homes can't benefit from.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: How to register as a resident in Italy

Utility bills are also typically higher for second homes than primary residences in Italy.

As a second-home owner, you may already have direct debits set up for home utility bills, but in the long run you may find it's convenient to switch to an Italian banking service. You will also probably find that it's cheaper to switch your phone contract to an Italian one.

Finally, you will likely need to let your home insurance provider know that the property is now occupied full-time.

Income tax declarations 

As a second-home owner, you probably didn't need to file an annual income tax declaration in Italy (unless you had Italian income through renting out your property as a holiday let).

But after moving to Italy, you'll become a tax resident and will therefore need to file and pay income taxes in the country - even if all your income comes from overseas (e.g. a pension paid in your home country).

READ ALSO: How does Italy decide if I'm a tax resident in the country?

Italian tax returns (dichiarazioni dei redditi) always cover the previous tax year, which runs from January to December in Italy, aligning with the calendar year.

2025 income tax returns will cover the 2024 tax year. So if you moved to Italy on or after January 1st 2025, you won't have to file an income tax return until next year (unless you generated income in Italy in 2024).

Italy has a series of different tax deadlines throughout the year. Find a full list here.

READ ALSO: KEY DATES: The 2025 Italian tax deadlines you need to remember

You can find out more information about filing your Italian income tax returns here.

Registering with the national health system 

Once you become a full-time Italian resident, you can register with Italy's national health service (servizio sanitario nazionale, or SSN).

Some residents are eligible to register for free under the iscrizione obbligatoria (mandatory registration) system, while others can choose to sign up for an annual fee under the iscrizione volontaria (voluntary registration) system.

Find out which category you're likely to fall into here.

READ ALSO: SSN: Who can register for national healthcare in Italy?

In 2024, the minimum annual fee for voluntary registration with the SSN underwent a major hike from €387.34 to €2,000, with the maximum set at €2,788,87.

The change meant some residents are now opting for private health insurance policies instead, so you'll want to do some research to decide which is the best option for you.

Getting an Italian driving licence 

If you intend to drive in Italy, you will sooner or later need to get an Italian driving licence. Exactly when you'll need to do so depends on where you’re from, with different rules in place for EU and non-EU nationals.

If you’re an EU or EEA citizen living in Italy, you can legally drive on your licence until its expiration date and then convert it to an Italian one via a simple exchange. If your EU licence doesn’t have an expiration date, you’ll have two years from the date you registered as a resident to exchange it with an Italian one.

Things are different if you’re a non-EU, non-EEA national moving to Italy, as you’ll be able to drive on your licence for a maximum of 12 months from the date you officially became a resident (your licence will have to be accompanied by an International Driving Permit or a certified translation into Italian).

If your home country has a licence exchange agreement with Italy, you’re in luck: you’ll be able to swap your foreign licence for an Italian one without having to take an Italian driving test.

READ ALSO: Which countries have driving licence exchange agreements with Italy?

If your home country doesn’t have a licence exchange agreement with Italy, you’ll need to take a full Italian driving test (which includes a theory exam and a practical test) to get your licence.

If you bring a car over with you, you will also have to register it in Italy, which can be a complex process.