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Italy Elective Residency Visa Documents
Italy’s elective residency visa is for people who will not work in Italy and can live on passive income. Consulates expect an apostilled FBI check, and family documents apostilled and translated into Italian.
The elective residency visa, residenza elettiva, is Italy’s route for retirees and others who will live on passive income without working in Italy. Consulates look for roughly €31,000 a year for a single applicant, more for a couple, from pensions, annuities, rental income or investments. Each consulate applies the threshold in its own way.
U.S. applicants are commonly asked for an FBI background check with a federal apostille, and, for a spouse or children applying together, birth and marriage certificates apostilled by the issuing states. All of it is then translated into Italian.
Apply through the Italian consulate for your U.S. place of residence. Their checklists differ in the details, and the consulate’s own list is the one that counts.
At a glance
U.S. documents for this visa
| Document | Issued by | Certification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FBI background check | FBI | Federal apostille | Commonly requested; translate into Italian |
| Marriage certificate | County or state | State apostille | If a spouse applies with you |
| Birth certificates (children) | State vital records | State apostille | Long form, with both parents named |
| Pension or income letters | Pension provider, SSA | Sometimes apostilled | Ask your consulate |
Checked against consulate guidance in October 2026. Your consulate’s current checklist always takes precedence.
Things worth knowing
- Italian translations of every apostilled document are expected. See certified translation.
- Long-form birth certificates showing both parents are the safe choice for Italy.
- Already claiming citizenship by descent? That is a different file entirely. See apostille for Italy.
How it works
Step 1
Tell us the visa and consulate
We match its checklist against the documents you have.
Step 2
Order what is missing
FBI check, certified copies, or anything else, timed for recency rules.
Step 3
Apostille or attestation
Federal and state documents processed together.
Step 4
Translated and returned
With certified or sworn translation if your consulate asks.
Italy Elective Residency Visa Documents: common questions
Can you handle all the apostilles for my Italy application in one order?
Yes. Federal documents such as the FBI check go to the U.S. Department of State, and state documents go to the states that issued them. We run them together and return the set to you, with translations if you need them.
Do requirements differ between consulates?
Often, in the details. Treat this page as a guide and your consulate’s own checklist as the final word. Tell us your consulate and we will check its current list against your documents.
Official sources
Requirements, fees and processing times are set by the authorities below and can change without notice. Verify anything time-critical directly with them.
Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa portal
Ready to get started?
Tell us your visa and consulate, and we will price every document you need in one order.
Related: All visa guides · Spain · Portugal · FBI background check