Are You Ever Too Old to Relocate to Italy?
A close friend of mine often humorously remarks that hope exists as long as one is still breathing. Consequently, if we still have the gift of life and we feel that we can mentally, physically, and emotionally take on a goal, then there is no reason as to why you cannot relocate to Italy as a senior. Based on my experience relocating older clients, I’ve identified a few considerations seniors should consider before relocating to Italy.
Location: Recently, I assisted a 73-year-old lady in relocating to Rome, and given that she had a couple of minor preexisting health conditions and considering her Italian was at a beginner’s level, she opted to relocate to Rome. As Rome is a first-tier city, she felt she would have access to English-speaking healthcare professionals who were accustomed to dealing with foreigners, and she really wanted to make sure that they would understand what she was saying when talking about her health. In addition to this, given that she had a low level of Italian, her chances of finding English-speaking people either within the expat or foreign community as well as locals were considerably higher in comparison to a small town or village. She also wanted to be near a major international airport, as she didn’t want to schlep for two to three hours to get home after a nine-hour international flight. Therefore, the key lesson to learn from his relocation is to clearly define your goals as a senior moving to Italy. As a senior, you can also consider moving to a third-tier city or a remote part of Italy, but carefully consider your options as you may not have access to the same services and infrastructure as in a first- or second-tier city.
Language: Regardless of your age, I always suggest to my clients that they complete at least the first level of Italian before relocating to Italy. This normally takes about ninety hours and will give you the basics of the language, which will be invaluable when you relocate to Italy. Once you arrive here, you should continue building on that base until such time that you can reach a C1/C2 level of Italian. How long this will take is very individual-specific and is determined by many factors, such as one’s natural ability to learn other languages and if you already speak at least another language. In my experience, the 7% tax program available to retirees with a foreign pension often attracts seniors relocating to more remote areas and smaller towns and villages, particularly in the south. As mentioned previously, the possibility of finding English-speaking people and professionals is much less than in cities like Rome and Milan, so learning the language and continuing to improve one’s fluency, especially in these smaller towns, is vital to being able to stay engaged with the community and to seek help when needed.
Support System: While there are many seniors who live full and active lives with only a few minor health issues, there are many more who, as they age, start to suffer from serious health problems that require the care and ongoing assistance of qualified and specialized healthcare professionals. A few years ago, I assisted an older couple from Canada with their immigration, and after a small stint in Rome, they moved to a remote town in Sicily that they had fallen in love with on a trip to the island. Initially, this did not prove to be burdensome, but as one of them started to experience health issues, the fact that the nearest hospital that could competently take care of them was almost two hours away by car started to become an issue. Given this notable challenge, they decided to move back to Rome, where they would have access to the care they needed and could reach facilities in a short taxi ride. Therefore, if you are a senior and plan on relocating, especially to a third-tier town or remote area, it would be very beneficial to carry out a few scouting trips to check out the healthcare facilities and how you can reach them in the event that you cannot drive or there is no taxi service.
While having an extended family is no guarantee that you will have someone to assist you as you get older with possible health issues, there is also no guarantee that the friends and neighbors that you have in Italy will be willing to take on your healthcare challenges. Of course there will be exceptions to this, but generally speaking, regardless of where you are relocating to in Italy, it would be wise to have a plan B in the event that you are no longer able to take care of yourself and you do not have any family, friends, or neighbors who can help out.
Medical Insurance: Italy’s healthcare system is considered to be one of the best in the world, but given that Italy has one of the oldest populations on the planet, the SSN (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale) is often stretched to its maximum, especially in larger cities. Additionally, the quality of care can vary significantly between towns or regions. Therefore, it is really advisable to check out the public healthcare system in the town or region where you are planning on relocating. If possible, try to get feedback from people who already live there and who you feel will give you impartial and concrete feedback. Note that foreigners with an Elective Residency Visa in Italy must now make a minimum voluntary annual payment of €2,000 to access the Italian healthcare system. This could be more depending on your income, so you should speak with the ASL (Azienda Sanitaria Locale) in the area that you plan on relocating to. At times, getting an appointment, especially with a specialist, can take some time, especially in certain areas. Therefore, I always advise my clients to have private medical insurance so that they can go privately.
Immigration: Most seniors, unless they hold EU or Italian citizenship, relocate to Italy on an Elective Residency Visa. This visa targets individuals who can demonstrate a stable monthly passive income that does not fluctuate. Each applicant must demonstrate an annual passive income of at least €31,000, but note that the issuance of this visa is highly discretionary, potentially varying from one Italian consulate to another.
Relocating to Italy as a senior can be a wonderful and enriching experience, but it does require strategic planning and thought. While everyone wishes that an older person’s move to Italy is filled with joy, enthusiasm, and the desire to embrace Italy and its culture to the fullest, it makes perfect sense to give thought to how, as a senior, you would address health challenges in Italy and how to put in place the best support system possible.
Therefore, the answer to my question as to whether you are too old to move to Italy will always be no, but the quality of your life here and how you deal with any issues that may arise from being a senior will all depend on the pre-move planning that you do. After all, life is too short to not experience Italy!
As a Global Mobility Expert and Expat Coach with over thirty years of experience in Italy, I specialize in facilitating smooth transitions for individual and corporate clients adapting to Italian life. My services include immigration & relocation assistance, advanced spousal support, personalized coaching, as well as entrepreneur mentoring, ensuring successful and fulfilling expatriate experiences in Italy.
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