Moving to Italy
Moving to Italy from Canada
As a Canadian citizen you need a national (type D) visa before you travel, then a permesso di soggiorno within 8 working days of arriving. Approdo builds your exact checklist and pre-fills the forms.
- ✓Which visa fits your move (digital nomad, elective residency, study, work)
- ✓The 8-working-day permesso deadline, counted for you
- ✓Codice fiscale, residenza and tessera sanitaria, in order
Frequently asked questions
Do Canadian citizens need a visa to move to Italy?+
Yes. Canadians can visit Italy visa-free for up to 90 days, but to live there you need a national (type D) visa from an Italian consulate before you travel. Which visa depends on your reason for moving.
Can I claim Italian citizenship by descent from Canada?+
Many Canadians of Italian descent qualify for citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis), which avoids the visa route entirely. It is a separate legal process with its own document requirements. Approdo focuses on the relocation and residency steps; for citizenship by descent, consult a specialist.
How long after arriving do I apply for the permesso di soggiorno?+
Within 8 working days of entering Italy, at a Poste Italiane Sportello Amico with the yellow kit. Approdo counts the deadline from your arrival date.
What do I need after arriving in Italy?+
After the permesso, you get your codice fiscale, open a bank account, register your residenza at the comune, and enrol in the health service. Approdo lists them in the right order with the forms pre-filled.
Approdo provides information, not legal or tax advice. Where a step legally requires a professional, we say so and point you to one.