Retiring in Italy in 2026: residence for pensioners

8 min read · Published 6 October 2026

Passive income from $35,000 a year per person, housing before applying and a 7% tax for 10 years for those who choose a small town in the south.

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Key facts	2026
Ground	residence permit without the right to work
Minimum income	from $35,000 a year per person, ~$42,000 for a couple
Permit	1 year, then 2-year renewals
Insurance	private for the visa, then public healthcare from $2,300 a year
Tax on a pension	23-43% on the scale or 7% in the south for 10 years
Path to permanent residence	EU long-term status after 5 years, citizenship after 10
Budget for a couple in Naples	from $1,800 a month including rent

Data checked: 06.10.2026

Italy offers a foreign retiree two things at once: a residence permit without the right to work and a 7% tax on foreign income for those settling in a small southern town. The first is open to Russian citizens, the second to any new resident. The investor visa has been closed to Russian citizens since 14 July 2023, so a retiree's route is passive income.

The income threshold is higher than in Portugal or Bulgaria, and the consulate requires housing in Italy at the time of application. Below: who qualifies, how to prove a Russian pension, what a couple spends and how not to lose the 7% regime.

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Who can get residence as a retiree

The ground suits those living on a pension, rent, dividends or interest: from $35,000 a year for the applicant and about 20% more for a spouse. Consulates usually do not count savings in an account on their own; a regular income independent of work is needed. No work at all is allowed on this ground, including remote work.

old-age pension recipients whose pension together with other passive income meets the threshold;
owners of rented-out property and holders of deposits with regular interest;
a spouse and minor children in the same file, with an income supplement;
if the pension is below the threshold, other countries in this series have a lower entry point.

Documents and how to prove a Russian pension

passport and national visa application form;
a pension award certificate from the Social Fund of Russia showing the amount, on paper, with an apostille;
bank statements showing pension and other income for the last year;
a one-year lease registered with the Italian tax agency or a title deed;
health insurance valid in Italy;
a criminal record certificate with an apostille if the consulate requires it;
Italian translations of all documents.

The consulate looks at the history, not one certificate: income must arrive regularly. Translations of Russian documents are certified at the consulate or by a sworn translator.

Transfers from Russian banks to the EU are restricted, so it is easier to keep money for living and renewals in an EU bank account in advance. The EU limit on deposits over $120,000 (€100,000) by Russian citizens does not apply to those holding a residence permit in an EU country.

Health insurance

The visa requires private health insurance valid in Italy. After receiving the permit you can voluntarily join the public health system: the annual contribution for those living without work starts at $2,300. That is cheaper than private policies for older people, but you need your own insurance for the first months before registering.

Italian public healthcare is strong but has queues for specialists, so many retirees add private visits: a private doctor in Naples costs $60-130 (€50-110).

Tax on your pension and the treaty with Russia

You become an Italian tax resident if you live in the country for more than half the year or have your habitual residence here. Under the general rules a pension is part of income taxed at 23%, 33% and 43% plus regional and municipal surcharges. A double tax treaty with Russia exists, but in August 2023 Russia suspended its main provisions; Russia does not tax its state pension, so Italy is where the tax is paid.

The main incentive for retirees is a 7% tax on all foreign income for 10 years. Conditions: moving to a town of up to 20,000 residents in Sicily, Calabria, Sardinia, Campania, Basilicata, Abruzzo, Molise or Apulia, or up to 3,000 residents in certain areas of central Italy, no Italian tax residence for 5 years before moving, and choosing the regime in the first tax return.

Monthly budget for a couple

Monthly item	Amount
One-bedroom flat in Naples outside the tourist centre	$510-900 (€450-800)
Utilities for a 60 m² flat	$130-230 (€110-200)
Groceries for two	$450-680 (€400-600)
Metro and bus passes for two	~$95 (€84)
Private doctor's visit	$60-130 (€50-110) per visit
Total for a couple	from $1,800 (€1,600)

In the small southern towns where the 7% tax applies rents are even lower, but life there is hard without a car. In Rome and Milan a couple's budget is considerably higher. Our consultant in the chat will calculate the figures for your city and family. Exchange rate: about $1.12 per euro on 5 October 2026.

A consulate file and the 7% regime without mistakes

Retirees in Italy are refused most often because of statements without income history and unregistered housing, and they lose the 7% regime by choosing the wrong town or missing the election in the tax return. We check income and the town before you rent, prepare the consulate file, support the permit application within 8 days of entry and the first tax return.

Our consultant in the chat will calculate the cost of support.

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Where retirees settle

Retirees who want the 7% regime choose small towns in Apulia, Sicily and Calabria: the sea, mild winters and prices below the national average. Naples is the most affordable of Italy's big cities, with an airport and hospitals, though it is too large to qualify for the regime itself.

Those who value culture and healthcare more than tax will find Turin and Bologna calmer on prices than Rome and Milan. Liguria and the northern lakes are popular with wealthier retirees, but rents there are higher.

Steps and timelines

Step	Timeline
Checking income, choosing a town and housing	2-4 weeks
Certificates, apostilles, Italian translation, insurance, lease	3-6 weeks
National visa application at the Italian consulate	decision within 90 days
Permit application via a post office	within 8 working days of entry
Police fingerprints and town hall registration	from several weeks to several months
Choosing the 7% tax in the first return	in the year of the move
Renewal	in advance, before expiry, then for 2 years

The national visa costs about $130 and permit and card fees about $170. After 5 years of legal residence you can obtain open-ended EU long-term resident status, and citizenship by naturalisation is available after 10 years.

Common reasons for refusal

income below the threshold or one-off rather than regular;
no registered housing at the time of application;
signs of work, including remote work;
the permit application filed later than 8 working days after entry;
insurance that does not cover Italy or ends before the visa;
for the 7% tax, a town above the size limit or the regime not chosen in the first return.

This topic in other countries

Retiring in other countries:

FAQ

What income does a retiree need for Italian residence in 2026?

From $35,000 a year for the applicant and about 20% more for a spouse, roughly $42,000 for a couple. The income must be regular: pension, rent, dividends.

How does Italy's 7% tax for retirees work?

For 10 years a retiree pays 7% on all foreign income if they move to a town of up to 20,000 residents in southern Italy, were not an Italian tax resident for 5 years and chose the regime in the first tax return.

Is a Russian pension taxed in Italy?

Yes, if you are an Italian tax resident: at 23-43% on the scale or 7% under the southern regime. Russia does not tax its state pension.

Can a retiree work in Italy on this permit?

No, the permit without the right to work prohibits any work, including remote work.

Does a retiree need insurance for Italian residence?

Yes, private insurance for the visa. After receiving the permit you can join the public health system with a contribution from $2,300 a year.

Can a retiree get Italian residence by buying a home?

No, buying does not by itself give residence, but owning a home meets the compulsory housing condition for the permit without the right to work.

When can a retiree get permanent residence and citizenship in Italy?

Open-ended EU long-term resident status after 5 years of legal residence, citizenship by naturalisation after 10 years with intermediate Italian.

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.

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