Euronews – Damien O’Farrell moved from Ireland to Italy nearly 35 years ago and has since started a business giving would-be expats professional advice about relocating. Having originally only intended to stay in Italy for two months, he had a lot to learn about a permanent move. O’Farrell now helps potential expats with immigration advice, finding work and the biggest errors to avoid. Here are his top tips for anyone thinking of relocating to Italy.
Don’t underestimate the importance of learning the language
For O’Farrell, from personal experience, not learning Italian is the number one mistake someone can make when thinking of moving to Italy.
He says many people erroneously think they can get by using English. “It is so difficult to do anything without the language,” he says, “it’s an uphill battle.”
Besides struggling with bureaucratic hurdles like registering for residency, O’Farrell says not knowing the language means job opportunities are very limited.
It also makes it hard to make friends and feel like part of a community.
Make sure you understand your legal status in Italy
In order not to fall foul of the law, O’Farrell reminds soon-to-be expats to be fully aware of their immigration status. He says one of the most asked questions on his website is how to live legally in Italy.
Non-EU citizens can come to Italy for tourism reasons and stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. However, those wanting to remain longer need to apply for a visa.
