Your First 90 Days in Italy: A Practical Checklist for Americans

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Moving to Italy as an American is exciting. But your first 90 days in Italy are when the real work begins. You need to turn your visa into a legal, working life in a new country — and the steps follow a specific order. Miss one, and you’ll spend weeks fixing it.

This checklist covers every practical step you need to take, from the moment you land to the end of your first three months.

Before You Arrive: Sort These in America

Do these before you land. You’ll thank yourself later.

Confirm Your Visa

If you plan to stay in Italy for more than 90 days, you need a long-stay visa. The most popular choice for Americans is the Italian Elective Residency Visa. It lets you live in Italy without needing to work there. You must apply at an Italian consulate in the US before you depart. Other options include the digital nomad visa and the golden visa. Your income source and lifestyle determine which one fits best.

Gather Your Documents

Before you leave the US, prepare certified and apostilled copies of:

• Your birth certificate
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)
• A criminal background check
• Your passport (valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date)

Most documents need certified Italian translations. Use a professional translator, not an app. Italian authorities reject uncertified translations. An apostille is an internationally recognised authenticity stamp. Get one for every key document before you leave. Without it, Italian offices will not accept your paperwork.

Keep Access to US Funds

Italian bank accounts take time to set up. Keep at least three months of living costs accessible in the US before you go. You’ll need money to pay rent, buy food, and cover deposits while your Italian account is being arranged.

Days 1–14: Your Most Urgent Tasks

These are the steps you cannot delay. The Italian system has hard deadlines.

Register at the Questura

The Questura is your local police headquarters. Within 8 business days of arriving in Italy, you must register your presence there. This applies to all non-EU citizens.

Bring your passport, visa, proof of accommodation (a rental contract or hotel booking), and two passport photos. The Questura will give you a receipt. Keep it. You’ll need it for almost every step that follows.

Get Your Codice Fiscale

The Codice Fiscale is Italy’s tax identification number. You need it for nearly every legal action in the country — opening a bank account, signing a lease, registering with a doctor, and more.

Apply at your nearest Agenzia delle Entrate (Revenue Agency office). Bring your passport and visa. Processing is usually same-day. The code is 16 characters — a combination of letters and numbers based on your name, date of birth, and place of birth. This number stays with you for life in Italy.

Secure Your Accommodation

If you haven’t already signed a long-term rental contract, this is your immediate priority. Short-stay accommodation gets expensive quickly. You also need a rental contract to apply for residency.

Rents vary widely across Italy. Outside major cities, expect to pay roughly €500–€1,200 per month for a one-bedroom flat. In Rome or Milan, prices are higher. Our guide to the real cost of living in Italy in 2026 breaks down costs region by region, so you can match your budget to the right location.

Days 15–30: Building Your Daily Life

Once the urgent paperwork is done, focus on the practical setup.

Open an Italian Bank Account

You’ll need your Codice Fiscale, passport, Italian address, and proof of residency to open an account. Major Italian banks include Unicredit, Intesa Sanpaolo, and Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena. Fintech options like N26 and Wise can work in the short term while your main account is being set up.

Our guide to banking in Italy for Americans covers the exact documents you need and which banks are most welcoming to expats.

Get an Italian SIM Card

Italian mobile plans are affordable. Wind Tre, TIM, and Vodafone all offer competitive rates. A standard SIM with data costs around €10–€15 per month. Walk into any phone shop and ask for a “SIM prepagata” (prepaid SIM). You’ll need your passport and sometimes your Codice Fiscale.

For most Americans, this level of mobile cost comes as a pleasant surprise. Italy’s telecoms market is competitive, and you get good value for money. For a broader look at Italian living costs, read the full Move to Italy guide, which covers everything from utility bills to grocery costs in detail.

Register With a Doctor

Italy’s public health system is called the SSN (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale). Once you have your Codice Fiscale and a residence permit, you can register with a local “medico di base” — a general practitioner. This gives you access to subsidised healthcare for everything from prescriptions to hospital visits.

Our guide to Italian healthcare for expats explains how the SSN works in practise, including what costs you can expect and how to choose a doctor in your area.

Days 31–60: Making Your Residence Official

This phase is about legalising your stay in Italy properly.

Apply for Residenza

Residenza is your official registration as a resident of a specific Italian town or city. You apply at your local Comune (town hall). Bring proof of address, your passport, Codice Fiscale, and your visa.

Once you have Residenza, you unlock lower utility bills, access to the full SSN, and a range of local services. The approval process can take between 4 and 8 weeks. Start the application as early as you can in this phase.

Apply for Your Permesso di Soggiorno

Non-EU citizens must apply for a Permesso di Soggiorno (residence permit) within 8 days of arriving on a long-stay visa. You apply at the post office using a special kit form (the yellow “kit” envelope). You then attend an appointment at the Questura to complete the process.

This permit is your legal right to live in Italy beyond 90 days. It needs regular renewal. The renewal timeline depends on your specific visa type, so check the terms attached to your permit.

Notify Your US Embassy

As an American living abroad, you must register your new Italian address with the nearest US embassy or consulate. This keeps your records current and ensures you can access consular services if you need them. It’s also important for tax filing purposes. If you’re also pursuing Italian dual citizenship through ancestry, you’ll want your legal paperwork in order on both sides of the Atlantic.

Days 61–90: Settling Into Italian Life

By now, you have the core paperwork in place. Use this period to sort the practical details of daily life.

Understand Your Driving Situation

You can use your US driving licence for the first year of Italian residency. After that, you must convert it or pass the Italian driving test. Italy and the US have no reciprocal exchange agreement, which means most Americans eventually need to take the Italian test. Contact your local Motorizzazione Civile (transport office) early to understand the exact process in your region.

Start Learning Italian

English is widely spoken in tourist areas. Outside those areas, Italian becomes essential for dealing with landlords, doctors, banks, and local authorities. Even basic Italian saves you significant time and frustration. Many Italian towns offer free or subsidised Italian classes for new residents. Enrol in one as soon as you arrive.

Sort Your Cross-Border Finances

Americans living abroad must still file US tax returns each year. Italy will also expect you to declare income and assets held both locally and abroad. The US-Italy tax treaty reduces double taxation, but you still need an accountant familiar with both systems. Find one early — before your first full tax year in Italy ends.

Common Mistakes Americans Make in Their First 90 Days in Italy

Waiting to register at the Questura. The 8-business-day deadline is firm. Missing it creates problems for your residence permit application down the line.

Expecting quick results. Italian bureaucracy moves at its own pace. Build buffer time into every step. A process that looks like it should take one week often takes three.

Not getting apostilles before leaving America. Italian offices will not accept unverified American documents. Apostilles must be obtained in the US before you depart. There is no shortcut once you’re in Italy.

Relying on one bank account. Italian bank cards can be declined for international transactions or online purchases. Always keep access to a US account and a digital bank like Wise as a backup.

Underestimating Italian language needs. Even a basic level of Italian makes a significant difference to your daily quality of life — especially if you live outside Rome, Florence, or Milan.

For a complete guide to every visa, permit, and legal step involved in relocating to Italy, read the full Move to Italy guide. It covers everything from choosing your visa category to navigating the permesso process step by step.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can Americans stay in Italy without a visa?

Americans can stay in Italy visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period under the Schengen Agreement. After 90 days, you need a long-stay visa such as the Elective Residency Visa or Digital Nomad Visa. Without one, you must leave the Schengen Area and wait before returning.

How much money do I need to move to Italy from the US?

Most expats budget at least €1,500–€2,500 per month for living costs outside major Italian cities. You should also set aside at least three to six months of savings as a buffer for setup costs, deposits, and administrative delays. See our cost of living in Italy guide for a full regional breakdown.

What is the first thing I should do when I arrive in Italy as a new resident?

Your first task is to register at your local Questura (police headquarters) within 8 business days of arrival. This starts the legal process for your residence permit. Bring your passport, visa, proof of accommodation, and passport photos. Your second step is to get your Codice Fiscale from the nearest Agenzia delle Entrate.

Do I need to speak Italian before moving to Italy?

You do not need to speak Italian before moving, but learning the basics quickly makes a real difference. English is common in tourist areas, but Italian is essential for daily life with local authorities, landlords, banks, and healthcare providers. Enrol in a language course as soon as you arrive — many towns offer free classes for new residents.

You Might Also Enjoy

• Best Regions to Retire in Italy: A Complete Guide for Americans
• Italian Healthcare for Retired Expats: SSN, Tessera Sanitaria, and More
• Banking in Italy for Americans: How to Open an Account and Manage Your Money

Plan Your Italy Trip

Thinking about visiting Italy before you make the move? Start with The Ultimate Italy Travel Guide — everything you need to know, from first visit to long-term relocation planning.

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