Italy is a large country with many beautiful towns, regions and areas in which to live based on your preferences. Depending on your current situation, it may seem like a distant dream to relocate yourself to this land of pizza, pasta, and paninis.
Yet, as the author of Umbria on a Whim: Volume 1 The Basics – an Insider’s Guide for Moving to Umbria, I can tell you first-hand that whether you are a planner or a spontaneous decision-maker moving to Italy is not an impossibility. Although the title focuses on the province of Umbria, this first volume focuses on the initial steps you will need to take to be able to begin your life in Italy. Thus, the contents of the book may apply to wherever you might have your heart set on spending your Italian days.
Are you ready?
If you are already convinced that this move is right for you, then you may be wondering what to do first. While many people might start with narrowing down where to go, I recommend beginning with the bureaucracy. You can always explore various destinations once you obtain global entry into the country without worrying about overstaying your tourist visa status.
While you wait…
Once you have determined what type of visa you need, then it is a waiting game. However, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t things you can do to make later steps go easier. For example, you can get your codice fiscale, start looking how what you might need to do to transfer your driver’s license or at least obtain an international driving license to get you started, consider where to start looking for housing or temporary rental contract until you find your new home, and prepare yourself for daily life as Italian cuisine is based on seasonal ingredients and, in some ways, returning to the basics so you might need to bring a bit of your must-haves with you.
Most importantly,
You can and should look at day trips to begin your exploration of where is soon to be the place of your dreams.
Whether you end up in Umbria or not, this first volume will definitely help you to get started on taking the steps you need for relocating to this beautiful country!