A California woman swapped her ‘astronomical’ life in San Francisco for the Italian dream in Milan — saving $1,500/month while living in a bigger apartment. Should you make a similar move?

But her first attempt to move to Italy ended before it started. After discussing the possibility with an immigration lawyer, she learned that it would be complicated because she’s self-employed. She’d need to prove she had a contract with an Italian company, which she couldn’t set up at the time.

Then, in April 2024, Italy announced the launch of its long-rumored digital nomad and remote worker visa. Waite leapt at the opportunity and started what would prove to be a time-consuming and expensive process — made harder, she told CNN, by a lack of information.

So few people, it seems, have been granted the visa that there was little online discussion to help guide her through the process. She began working through the requirements listed on the consular website and tried to get the required appointment to apply — a daunting task since the consulate itself warns of a months-long wait. Still, after six weeks of trying to find an appointment, she caught a break in late May and secured one for 10 days later.

Here’s what happened next.

Paperwork, proof and a pad

The sudden application appointment was both a blessing and a curse, since it meant she had only 10 days to get her documents in order and find a place to live in Italy. Thankfully, her father, who works in real estate, was able to help her find an apartment — though she had to put down a deposit of three months’ rent without knowing if she’d be able to move there.

She also bought health insurance, secured documents proving she’d been working remotely for several years and compiled her tax returns and client contracts from her past employer and current clients.

She had her degree certified and, although it wasn’t required, she also provided criminal background checks. The minimum income to qualify for the visa is about $27,000, but Waite told CNN that she’d heard it needs to be three times that to be approved. In total, she took 120 pages of documents to her appointment.

Ten days after her appointment, she had a visa.

“By nothing less than a miracle, everything fell into place,” she told CNN.

The digital nomad visa lasts one year, at which time it can be renewed for a permit to stay. It takes five years to qualify for permanent residency and 10 years before you can apply for an Italian passport. In accordance with the visa, Waite now pays a 5% flat tax rate on her income to the Italian government in addition to paying some U.S. taxes.

She believes the entire process cost her between $5,000 and $10,000, including the visa application fee, degree certification, background checks and apartment deposit. But she is saving $1,500 a month after trading in her “astronomical” one-bedroom apartment in San Francisco for a two-bedroom apartment in Milan and, according to livingcost.org, the cost of living in Milan is 43% lower than in San Francisco.

How to make a similar move

If you’re thinking of making a similar move — to Italy or elsewhere — you should be prepared for a similarly arduous and costly process. Many jurisdictions offering digital nomad or remote worker visas have similar requirements around income, experience, accommodation and criminal background checks. You’ll also require documentation to back up your application, some of which may need to be certified.

Beyond the application process, there are other administrative considerations that will require time and effort, like taxes. You’ll need a thorough understanding of how taxes are paid in your new home country and what you’ll still need to pay to the IRS.