Moving from the US to Italy: a practical checklist

12–18 months out

• Choose your residency route (citizenship, Elective Residence, Digital Nomad, work visa)
• Start gathering documents and apostilles; they take longest
• Meet a cross-border CPA about timing your move
• Start Italian lessons

3–6 months out

• Get your codice fiscale from the consulate
• Take a scouting trip and secure a registered lease
• Apply for your visa (non-EU citizens)
• Decide what to ship. Many people check extra suitcases instead of shipping a container

First weeks in Italy

• Permesso di soggiorno within 8 days of arrival (visa holders), via the post office kit
• Register residence at the comune (anagrafe)
• Enroll in the national health service (SSN) and choose a family doctor
• Open an Italian bank account and set up SPID (digital ID)
• Anything with a plug needs a converter. Italy runs on 230V with type F/L sockets

Look after yourself

Expats often describe a dip a few months in: the bureaucracy, the language, distance from family. Plan for 'expat fatigue'. Join local groups, keep routines and give yourself a year before judging the move.