Italy is situated in the very heart of the Mediterranean Sea and is bordered by Switzerland, France, Austria, Slovenia and San Marino. It has a population of nearly 61 million people, which makes it the fourth most populous country in the EU. Italy’s Mediterranean climate is one the main reasons why so many people choose to move to Italy – the summers are hot and dry while the winters are generally mild. The north of Italy often sees a lot of snow in the winter, which is great news for ski enthusiasts who can benefit from Italy’s many world-class ski resorts. Although English is widely spoken – especially in the larger cities such as Rome and Venice – you would be well advised to learn some basic Italian. This will prove a great advantage, not only in day-to-day life, but also when seeking employment opportunities, as business culture in Italy is very much a social affair.

After moving to Italy, you will need to apply for residency at your local town hall (or Commune – Ufficio Anagrafe) if you intend to remain in Italy for over 3 months. Here you will be given a certificate that is valid for 5 years from the date it is issued. You will then be able to apply for permanent residency after 5 years residency if you are an EU national. It is also important to obtain your Italian tax code (or codice fiscale) – you can actually do this before leaving the UK by applying to the Italian Consulate. This obligatory tax code is vital to living in Italy and is essential for many day-to-day dealings, such as opening bank accounts and finding a job. For more information on how to apply for one visit the Agenzia delle Entrate website.