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

Transitioning a second home in Italy into a primary residence involves several administrative, legal, and financial steps for property owners.

### Visas and Residency Status
For non-EU nationals, changing status from a second-home owner to a full-time resident requires obtaining a long-stay visa. The appropriate visa type depends on whether the applicant intends to work, study, or retire. Applications must be submitted to the nearest Italian consulate in the applicant’s home country prior to moving.

While applicants can travel back and forth to transport furniture or make preparations while waiting for a visa, they must adhere to non-resident regulations, such as the 90-day limit in every 180 days, and cannot officially relocate until the visa is approved. Upon arrival in Italy, individuals must apply for a residency permit within eight days.

### Moving Goods and Pets
Property owners bringing furniture, do-it-yourself items, and household goods into Italy face value limits of €300 for land travel and €430 for travel by air or sea before import duties may apply. However, exceptions exist for individuals moving to Italy to establish residency, provided they complete required paperwork in advance.

Pets brought into the country require their own documentation. Once settled and registered with a local vet, owners can obtain an EU pet passport for cats, dogs, or ferrets to simplify future travel within the EU or between the EU and third countries.

### Town Hall Registration and Utilities
New full-time residents must register with their local town hall registry office (*anagrafe*). Registering is necessary to access healthcare and public services, and it allows homeowners to qualify for tax reliefs and lower utility rates associated with primary residences (*prime case*), which are typically higher for second homes.

Long-term residents often find it convenient to switch to Italian banking services and local phone contracts. Additionally, homeowners should notify their home insurance provider that the property is now occupied full-time.

### Income Tax Declarations
Becoming a full-time resident means registering as an Italian tax resident, requiring individuals to file and pay income taxes in the country, even if all income originates overseas, such as a foreign pension.

Italian tax returns follow the calendar year, running from January to December. For instance, 2025 income tax returns cover the 2024 tax year; individuals who moved to Italy on or after January 1, 2025, are not required to file an Italian income tax return until the following year, provided they generated no Italian income in 2024.

### Healthcare
Full-time residents can register with Italy’s national health service (*servizio sanitario nazionale*, or SSN). Depending on eligibility, residents register through either mandatory registration (*iscrizione obbligatoria*) or voluntary registration (*iscrizione volontaria*) for an annual fee.

The minimum annual fee for voluntary registration increased significantly in 2024, rising from €387.34 to €2,000, with the maximum set at €2,788.87. Due to this cost increase, some residents opt for private health insurance.

### Driving Licences and Vehicles
Drivers must eventually obtain an Italian licence, with timelines depending on nationality:
* **EU/EEA citizens:** Can drive on their current licence until it expires, then exchange it. Licences without an expiration date must be exchanged within two years of registering as a resident.
* **Non-EU/non-EEA citizens:** Can use their foreign licence for up to 12 months from the official residency date, provided it is accompanied by an International Driving Permit or a certified Italian translation. Those from countries with a licence exchange agreement with Italy can swap their licence without taking a driving test; otherwise, a full Italian theory and practical test is required.

Foreign vehicles brought into Italy must also be registered in the country, a process that can be complex.

Article and image source: thelocal.it