Expats Moving to Rome 2026: Navigate Visas, Costs, Apartments

Moving to Rome 2026, Expat Relocation Guide

Rome is one of the world's great cities, Italy's eternal capital, the centre of Catholicism, and a city of extraordinary history, art, food, and architecture. Rome is home to Italy's national government, the Vatican, major embassies and international organisations, a growing tech and startup scene, a large international school community, and a vibrant expat population of diplomats, academics, creative professionals, and digital nomads. This guide covers what you need to know about moving to Rome in 2026.

Italian Visas and Rome Residency

• EU/EEA/Swiss nationals: Full freedom of movement, register at the Anagrafe (Registry Office) of the Comune di Roma within 3 months; obtain your Codice Fiscale from the Agenzia delle Entrate
• Elective Residency Visa, For non-EU nationals with sufficient passive income (approx. EUR 31,000/year) who do not intend to work in Italy; popular with retirees
• Remote Worker Visa (Digital Nomad Visa), Italy's digital nomad visa introduced in 2024 for non-EU remote workers; minimum income threshold applies; 1 year initial validity
• Codice Fiscale: Italy's individual tax identification code, absolutely essential for every formal transaction in Italy including renting an apartment, opening a bank account, obtaining a SIM card, and accessing healthcare; obtainable at the Agenzia delle Entrate office with your passport

Cost of Living in Rome 2026

• Rent (1-bed apartment, Trastevere / Prati / Parioli), EUR 1,200-2,200+/month
• Rent (1-bed apartment, Ostiense / Garbatella / Pigneto), EUR 700-1,300/month, vibrant, creative neighbourhoods popular with younger expats
• ATAC monthly pass (Abbonamento Mensile), EUR 35/month, Rome's metro, buses, and tram network; the metro is limited (2 lines) so buses and walking are primary transport modes in central Rome
• Groceries (single person, Conad / Esselunga), approximately EUR 220-400/month
• SSN (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale): Italy's universal public healthcare; register at your local ASL (Azienda Sanitaria Locale) with your permesso di soggiorno and Codice Fiscale

Before You Move to Rome

• Permesso di Soggiorno: Non-EU residents must apply for a permesso di soggiorno within 8 days of arrival at the local Post Office (Sportello Amico); this is mandatory and the gateway to most services
• Roman bureaucracy: Rome's administrative processes are famously slow; patience, multiple document copies, and an Italian-speaking fixer or translator can save significant frustration
• Traffic and noise: Rome's centro storico is noisy, Vespas, tourism, and late-night activity are part of the Roman experience; if you need quiet, look at outer neighbourhoods or courtyards (cortili) that face inward