Moving to Italy Was NOT Easy – Here’s What You Actually Need to Know

If you’ve ever dreamed of moving to Italy or perhaps falling in love while traveling through Italy, getting swept away by the romance, and eventually moving to a charming vineyard to live happily ever after…well, I hate to break it to you—but it comes with a lot more difficulties than you think.

That last part is my actual story, and one most think is all fairytale, but nope, definitly not the case!

I met my now-husband while I was traveling solo through Sardinia, Italy. What started as a chance encounter turned into years of long-distance, countless flights across the Atlantic, and eventually moving to Italy, getting married, and calling the family vineyard “home”.

From the outside, it sounds like something straight out of a romantic movie, and I definitely make it seem that way sometimes.

In reality?

Moving to Italy was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. And that’s coming from someone who has traveled solo to 146 countries.

Not because it was far, or hard to learn to drive manual —but because no one prepares you for everything that comes after the fairy tale.

There were visas and endless paperwork just so I’d be able to stay here more than 90 days. Then adjusting to a culture that operates completely differently from the United States and is VERY old school is a whole other debacle.

But more than anything else…

There was the language. I did not speak any Italian, and my husband, or anyone else in our town, did not speak English.

I quickly realized that almost every challenge I faced became twice as difficult because I couldn’t confidently communicate in Italian. Simple errands suddenly became stressful. Government offices felt overwhelming. Even making friends and connecting with his family was harder than I expected because I couldn’t fully express myself.

Looking back, if I could change one thing before moving, I wouldn’t change my visa, my apartment, or even my timeline.

I would have started learning Italian much sooner.

Now, after living in Italy for several years, I can honestly say it feels a lot more magical. But if you’re planning your own move—whether it’s for love, work, retirement, or simply because you’ve always dreamed of living in Italy—here are the biggest challenges I faced and exactly how you can make them easier.

1. Getting a Residency or Visa to Live in Italy

Getting legal permission to stay in Italy is usually the first hurdle. Literally everyone dreams of just moving here, but the Italian government is like, “Haha, no”, so they make it a bit difficult.

Keep in mind again, that EVERYTHING is in Italian. So either learn the language, or get really used to using translation apps, or hire a professional translator. Actually, a professional translator was a requirement for some of my paperwork, and also for my civil ceremony wedding!

But I’m pretty sure that’s just for marriage, there are several other visas you can get that don’t require such an intense commitment, but they are equally as hard to get!

Depending on your situation, you may qualify for an:

• Elective Residency Visa
• Digital Nomad Visa
• Work Visa
• Student Visa
• Self-Employment Visa
• Investor Visa
• Family Reunification Visa
• Working Holiday Visa (for eligible nationalities)

And of course if you find yourself in love and in a relationship, you can also qualify for:

• Co-habitation Residency
• Marriage.

Each has different financial requirements and paperwork, so it’s worth researching carefully before making plans.

One thing I underestimated, though, was how much easier the entire process would have been if I’d spoken better Italian. While many forms are available in English, plenty of appointments, conversations, and local offices operate almost entirely in Italian, especially outside major cities. I am lucky I have my husband who did most of the talking, but it was still difficult getting him to translate to me what was being said!

Even understanding what document someone was asking me for could sometimes be a challenge.

2. Finding a Place to Live in Italy

Finding housing in Italy is very different from renting in the United States.

Many landlords prefer tenants who already have Italian documentation, and some aren’t comfortable communicating in English.

For me, I simply moved in with my husband, however when I lived in Barcelona and Paris, I found it much easier to rent temporary accommodation first before looking for a long-term apartment after arriving.

OH and for anyone wondering about those 1 euro homes…they don’t really exist, sorry. I did go to one of the towns claiming to have them though, check out this post for all of that info.

Some of the best places to search include:

• Airbnb
• Idealista
• Immobiliare.it
• Subito
• Casa.it
• Facebook expat groups
• Local real estate agencies

Knowing even conversational Italian also gives you a huge advantage here. You’ll be able to call landlords directly, ask questions confidently, and understand contracts much more easily.

3. Learning Italian (More Essential Than You Think!)

If there’s one thing I recommend most before moving to Italy, it’s learning Italian.

Seriously. I would not be married and living on this vineyard right now if I didn’t quickly learn the language. Not only would I not be accepted, but I’d go crazy not being able to talk to anyone, be heard, or basically do anything myself without my husband or translation app!

It’s easy to think, “I’ll just learn once I get there through total immersion.”

That’s what I thought. But NOPE.

The reality is that moving abroad is already overwhelming. You’re trying to navigate paperwork, establish a routine, make friends, and adapt to a completely new culture. Trying to learn a language from scratch on top of all of that makes everything feel exponentially harder.

The biggest misconception is that you’ll automatically become fluent just by living in Italy.

While immersion definitely helps, it isn’t magic.

I was living with my Italian husband, surrounded by native speakers every day, and I still found myself getting lost during conversations. Family dinners moved incredibly fast, everyone talked over one another, regional accents were completely different from what I’d heard online, and I’d often smile and nod because I couldn’t keep up, and no one bothers to slow down so you can understand, they’ll just ignore you.

Oh, and since my husband is one of those special people who can pick up languages just by listening and repeating, he was learning English quickly from me, then refusing to speak to me in Italian so he could learn faster. I am not that gifted. Plus he’s not the best teacher.

I needed structured practice with someone who could slow down, explain grammar, correct my pronunciation, and give me the confidence to actually speak.

A quick Google search for online language tutors led me to Preply — a platform with real human (no AI) virtual teachers in almost every language! I was skeptical at first, but I have now been using it for three years!

Instead of memorizing random vocabulary from an app, I was having real conversations with native Italian tutors who adapted every lesson to my level and my goals.

The biggest difference wasn’t just learning new words, it was learning conversational Italian, so I didn’t just sound like a tourist. Plus, a low key perk is that the tutors double as unofficial therapists!

After using Preply for just one year, I could:

• Call to make reservations instead of asking my husband.
• Handle appointments myself.
• Talk with neighbors.
• Chat with my in-laws without feeling unintelligent
• Understand conversations at family dinners.
• Make Italian friends.
• Communicate better with my husband (and understand when he’s saying something bad!)
• Feel like I actually belonged instead of just visiting.

For me, learning Italian wasn’t just about communication. It completely changed my experience of living in Italy.

Please use my link to try Preply out and get some free credits to use!

4. Making Friends After Moving to Italy

Moving abroad can be surprisingly lonely. Especially in a country like Italy, where most people make friends during childhood, and keep them for life, without letting anyone else new in!

Someone once asked me on social media if living in Italy “Is really like the movies, where you can walk around town and everyone chats with you and invites you in for meals”. That’s cute, but no. You either have to really know people, or know someone who does for that. Otherwise, you’re just another foreign tourist.

Even if you’re married to an Italian, it’s important to build your own friendships and community. Trust me on that one.

Some of my favorite ways to meet people were:

• Whatsapp Group Chats (found only after finally finding another foreign girl living here who was already in one)
• Yoga or gym classes
• Meetup events
• Facebook expat groups
• Becoming a regular at neighborhood cafés and restaurants

What surprised me most was how much easier friendships became once my Italian improved.

People naturally opened up more, conversations became deeper, and I no longer felt like I needed my husband to translate every interaction.

Learning the language gave me independence, but it also helped me become part of the community instead of just living in it. Also, full transparency: most of my friends here are also foreign (mostly women married to local men too), I haven’t found any local women who want to be friends, yet.

5. Adjusting to Italian Culture

One of the biggest lessons I learned is that Italy isn’t just America with better food. It can be SO intense at times, and the mentality here, especially on our island of Sardinia, is a lot different. Like, sometimes a few decades different.

If you want some entertainment, follow my for-fun account about what it’s like as an American living in Sardinia on Instagram: @mylifesinsardinia

The pace is slower. Relationships often come before schedules, and meals take priority. Shops close in the afternoon and there’s certain timeframes for lunch and dinner. Talking loudly is “normal” and everyone always seems angry at each other, or you (I will never get used to that).

At first, I found myself constantly comparing everything to life back home, both in the U.S. and in Tulum where I was living before, and where we live in the winter.

Eventually I stopped asking, “Why don’t they do it the American way?” and started accepting, “This is how it is in Italy.”

That mindset shift changed everything. Learning Italian also played a huge role here, since you have to be able to understand what people are saying in order to understand them.

Language and culture are deeply connected, and the more I understood the language, the more I understood the people. Jokes made sense. Traditions became more meaningful. Conversations became richer.

I stopped feeling like an outsider looking in and started feeling like I truly belonged.

So! If you’re thinking of moving to Italy, or anywhere abroad, be sure you start preparing yourself ahead of time for a change in culture, and all the necessities you’ll need to live a happy, comfortable life there!