Moving to Italy is an opportunity to discover a new quality of life amidst culture, sun and gastronomic delights, but it also comes with its own challenges. Find out what challenges expats in Italy will face in 2025 and how to prepare for them

Italy is a sunny Mediterranean country with a unique atmosphere, rich history, gastronomy and an inspiring lifestyle. But when it comes to moving to Italy in 2025, potential expats often idealize the reality. Despite the romance of Italian life, migration is accompanied by a number of challenges - from the language barrier to difficulties with paperwork.

In this article, we talk about the main problems of living in Italy for foreigners, including citizens of South Africa, Malta and the Dominican Republic, which are worth considering before moving.

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Language barrier

The official language in Italy is Italian. Although English can be heard quite often in tourist regions, most administrative procedures, renting a home, opening accounts and finding a job require at least basic knowledge of Italian. Therefore, learning the language before moving to Italy is an important condition for your integration into the local environment.

- Tip: Before moving, sign up for online courses or learn the language with a native speaker, this will greatly facilitate adaptation.

Bureaucracy and visa difficulties

Italian bureaucracy is one of the most complicated in Europe. The process of obtaining a visa to Italy or a residence permit can be delayed due to queues, discrepancies in documents or regional differences. In addition, documents are often submitted only in Italian, which creates additional difficulties for newcomers.

The most popular types of visas:

- Tourist (type C) - for short-term trips;

- Long-term national visa (type D) - for work, study, family reunification;

- Freelance visa or Nulla Osta - for self-employed people.

We recommend contacting a migration lawyer or downloading our checklist on immigration to Italy to make sure you don’t miss anything.

Employment Issues

Although Italy offers a wealth of seasonal work (especially in the hotel and restaurant sector), finding a permanent job without knowledge of the language and an Italian diploma can be difficult. Most vacancies are concentrated in the northern regions of the country: Milan, Turin, Bologna. In the south, the unemployment rate is much higher.

If you plan to look for a job in Italy for foreigners, do it before moving. Ideally, you should have an official invitation from your employer.

Long-term rental housing

The rental market is dominated by long-term contracts - for 3 or 4 years, often with restrictions on early termination. To sign the contract, the tenant must provide documents about income in Italy or make a security deposit (often 2-3 months of rent).

Also keep in mind: the cost of housing in Italy varies significantly - in Rome and Milan it can be higher than in many European capitals.

Opening a bank account

Banking procedures in Italy are quite complicated. To open an account, you will need:

- Tax code (Codice Fiscale),

- Proof of address,

- Residence permit or visa.

Many banks do not work with foreigners without Italian registration. Online banking is also not always available in English. The easiest way to open an account is with online banks such as N26 or Wise if you do not already have an ID card.

Buying a car in Italy

Despite the availability of developed public transport, owning your own car in Italy is often necessary - especially in smaller cities or rural areas. But the process of buying one is not easy.

To register you will need:

- Codice Fiscale;

- Residence permit;

- Italian address;

- Insurance policy.

By the way, in Italy it is often cheaper to buy a new car than a used one, due to the high taxes on registration of used vehicles.

Social adaptation

Italians are open and welcoming, but it can be difficult for foreigners to integrate into established social circles. This is especially true for older Italians in provincial cities. But active participation in volunteer initiatives, courses, language tandems opens the door to new acquaintances.

Life in Italy for expats in 2025 is not only pasta, sun and Venice. It also includes language courses, long queues at utilities, the intricacies of rent and taxes. But if you prepare well, study the local system and get support from lawyers or relocation services, adaptation will be much easier.

Professional consultation with a migration lawyer will help you avoid mistakes and reduce the time for adaptation. Preparation of a package of documents, support when applying for a visa or Permesso di soggiorno, clarification of local requirements for rent, residence, employment, support in several languages.

Don't risk a visa refusal or fines - contact trusted lawyers now.

Reminder! Italy is one of the most popular countries among foreign students: it combines affordable education, high quality teaching and life among architecture, art and the sun. We have already told you how the education system in Italy in 2025 is organized - from kindergartens to universities, from scholarships to English language training, from admission to obtaining a student visa.

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Products from Visit World for a comfortable trip:

Checklist for obtaining a visa and necessary documents in Italy;

Legal advice on immigration to Italy;

Travel insurance for foreigners in Italy;

Medical insurance all over the world.

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We monitor the accuracy and relevance of our information. Therefore, if you see any error or discrepancy, please write to our hotline.