How To Move To Italy

how to move to italy Deciding to move to Italy is a big step, but be comforted by the fact that you are not the first person to do it and won't be the last!

You probably know Italy well, having holidayed here a lot, maybe you even have a second home here, but moving permanently is a major lifestyle decision and there is a lot to consider. Our marketing director Fiona Tankard moved to Italy 13 years ago with her husband Alan. They bought a rundown farmhouse in Umbria near Lake Trasimeno and spent the next 12 years restoring it, a real labour of love, spurred o by the fact that they were not just adding to the property's value but also, as Fiona puts it, 'giving the house back its life.' As that project is now finished they have just moved again, this time to the Casentino valley in Tuscany, where they have found another farmhouse in need of some tlc! In Fiona's opinion one of the most important factors when moving to Italy is to learn the language. Many Italians speak English to a reasonable standard, but many do not and it makes sense to at least learn the basics before deciding to uproot yourself. You may have to deal with local builders, tradesmen and architects and although someone will usually translate it is far better to be able to explain what you want yourself. Fiona's experience is that locals are very accommodating when someone is doing their best to communicate. 'And don't worry about making mistakes, ' she says, 'it's part of Learning Italian.' Although you may want to retire to Italy and have the resources to fund that, many people want to work and so you need to do some research on whether your skills are transferable and your qualifications are recognised in Italy. You may need to have certificates translated and ensure that you are allowed to practise in Italy. This where your local Chamber of Commerce and Italian Embassy come in handy as they can advise you on the work situation and, if you come from outside the European Union, whether you need a visa. You may decide to use the move to Italy as a spur to change career, and a significant number of people decide to open B&Bs, start running agriturismi or even do something non- touristy such as write, work on the internet or teach English as a Foreign Language. The main thing when moving to Italy is to keep your personality and uniqueness, but leave your old habits at home! Don't let the Italian lifestyle drive you mad, don't talk about how they do things better back home or start any sentences with 'why don't they…'!

Fiona is happy to answer any questions you might have about moving to Italy so feel free to Email her here.