5 Things You Can Do NOW to Prepare to Move to Italy

If moving to Italy has been a goal for a while but you haven't really known what steps to take to get started, this post is for you.

Why You Haven't Moved Yet

Look, I get it. Life keeps getting in the way, and that dream of moving to Italy keeps getting pushed further and further away. Maybe your cat got sick. Or your want to be near your kid in college in case they need you. Maybe you're just overwhelmed with all the work that will go into actually doing the thing.

Enough excuses, cara mia. If you're serious about changing your life for the better, you've got to get started taking action TODAY.

1. Start Learning Italian – Today!

Can you move to Italy without speaking the language? Sure, but I don't recommend it, especially if you're planning to move to the south or a tiny town. It's presumptuous to assume everyone will speak English.

And when you have to handle complicated situations like renting or buying a house, setting up wifi, or going to the doctor, you're definitely going to want at least basic language skills.

You can start with an app like DuoLingo, but I encourage you to invest in more in-depth options like a group class or one-on-one tutoring. An app can only take you so far, and will teach you useless phrases like "my owl ate anchovies!"

2. Visit Italy

I've got several coaching clients who are planning to move to Italy...but who have never actually been here.

Please, please visit the country you're planning to uproot your life for before you do so! I know it looks all dreamy and romantic in movies, but the reality isn't quite so rosy. And yes, European culture is similar to what we know in the U.S. but it's not the same, so try on Italy for at least a few weeks to make sure you really can see yourself living here.

If at all possible, I recommend coming for a month or longer. When you visit for a few days, you're in vacation mode, and you don't see a town the way you would when you're toting groceries uphill every day in your regular life.

3. Start Saving

Yes, moving to Italy is expensive. If you haven't read it, here's my post outlining my costs to move here, which added up to about $12,000.

That can seem outrageous when you don't have the cash in your account. But remember: moving to Italy is a slow process, so start now saving money.

If you want to get here sooner, see where you can cut costs. You might not miss that morning Starbucks fix if you realize that money can help you get to Italy sooner, where you can enjoy an authentic Italian espresso each morning for a fraction of what you're paying in the U.S.!

4. Do Your Homework

To me, this is the fun part. I spent the better part of the pandemic researching cities, regions, and visa options. Every time I researched Italy online, it felt like my dream was getting a little closer.

If you don't know where you want to live, read this post. It's definitely worth the effort to consider what you want in a city or town, as well as the weather and accessibility to shops, restaurants, and activities.

(P.S. I can help you figure out the best place to move. Let's book a Pick-my-Brain session to chat about it.)

5. Create Milestones

Okay, my inner project manager is piping in now. You can do the other four things and still be no closer to moving to Italy. But...if you create a timeline and milestones, you'll be motivated.

Once you research the best Italian visa for your needs, you'll need about a year to apply for it. Work backward to set milestones to reach, such as saving X amount of money, getting a plan to move your things (and pets, perhaps?), and finding a rental.

Celebrate every time you hit a milestone!

See? Taking That First Step Ain't So Scary!

The journey to Italy starts with a single step...and you’re already on your way. I find that breaking down all the tasks you have to do into smaller ones makes it much easier to get things done!

And remember: you don't have to do this alone. I'm an expat coach and I help women like you turn that dream of moving to Italy into reality. I offer both one-off consultation calls and longer, more in-depth coaching programs designed to keep you on task in reaching those milestones.

Got questions? Shoot me an email. Let's get you moved to Italy!