Elective Residency

1. Proof of residence within the Toronto consular jurisdiction area: domestic utility bill or driving license (photocopy).
2. Proof of legal residence in Canada (only for non-Canadian citizens): Canadian permanent residence card or visa valid for at least three months after the date of re-entry (photocopy).
3. National visa application form, carefully and correctly completed and signed. Please ensure that you leave no blank spaces. If an item does not apply to you, enter N/A (not applicable).
4. One recent passport-size color photo (must have been taken less than six months before the application), size 35mm x 40mm, full-face and light colored background. The face must be correctly centered and must be seen from a front view, with both sides visible. Styled poses (looking over one shoulder, head bowed etc.) are not allowed. The head must be free of all headgear, no hats, scarves, headbands or other decorative objects.
5. Your passport, which must be valid for at least 3 months after the visa expiry date, as well as photocopies of the first 2 pages and of visas previously issued, if any. Furthermore, there must be at least two blank pages in the passport.
6. A copy of your flight reservation. Buying your ticket in advance does not ensure that a visa will be issued.
7. Proof of availability of lodging in Italy for the entire period of residence: a purchase/rental contract of a property in compliance with local zoning laws.
8. Proof of consistent, ongoing and ample financial means of support for the entire period of residence in Italy: reference of pension provision or lifelong income, capital earnings, documents of property ownership, etc. The economic resources cannot be less than three times the annual amount provided for by the “Table A” of Ministry of Interior Directive 1.3.2000 DIRETTIVA 1° marzo 2000 (approximately 32,000 euros) per each applicant and must come from the possession of substantial income deriving from annuities, pensions, income from securities and real estate, income from stable entrepreneurial and commercial activities.
   Please note that this Consulate must ascertain that sources of income presented by the applicant are not directly linked to remuneration/profit, i.e. they must be available independently of the actual, day-to-day performance of a work activity.
   Sources of income from employment or self-employment cannot be taken into account.
   With this regard, the annual amount provided for by the aforementioned ‘Table A’ represents one of the requirements, to be considered as a minimum economic starting value, and to be assessed in the context and in consideration of the specific purpose of visa for elective residency.
   Proof of financial means may be provided, as an example, by recent and official letters from banks, financial institutions, private or public pension institutions.
9. Visa fees can be paid by money order/bank draft made out to the Consulate General of Italy in Toronto (Canadian dollars only). Because of the fluctuation of the exchange rate, the type of visa and duration of stay, the fees are subject to change. Please consult regularly our updated list of Consular Fees.
10. The last 2 years of your Income Tax Return.
11. Prepaid Xpresspost envelope (or UPS pre-addressed envelope) with your address already filled (TO) and the address of the Consulate as sender (FROM), with a photocopy of the envelope itself, to return your passport.

Applications for National Visas are received by mail. No need to book an appointment.

You must gather all the documents indicate below (“What documents do I need to apply?”) and send them by mail (preferably Canada XpressPost or any courier service with a tracking number) to the address of the Consulate:

Consulate General of Italy
Visa Office
136 Beverley Street,
M5T 1Y5, Toronto, ON

Please be aware that the Consulate does not take responsibility for applications, passports or money order / bank draft lost by the postal service or by courier services.

We strongly recommend that you to bring with you copies of the documents submitted as part of your elective residency visa applications, as Border Control Officers in Italy may ask to examine them.

Within eight (8) working days of entry into Italy, foreign nationals must fulfil the obligations of the laws regarding residence in the territory of the State by submitting a request for a Residence Permit relevant to the purpose of the visa. Procedures are indicated here “Types of Visas”. Select the type of National Visa you wish to apply for by clicking on the button “types of visas” and carefully read the information provided.