Cheap way to live in Italy for a year...?

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lion of judah

take some advise from an EU citizen with an Italian wife who lives here... don't bother..

it took me well over a year and a half to get residence and a codice fiscale..

From you're question I assume your American, from your American English..

what with visas and permesso di soggiorno, too much hassle...

work here is hard to find for italians so you can immagine what chance a non italian speaking foreigner has... slim to no chance

conley39

There really isn't a "cheap" way to do this. Your dogs would require pet passports which take some time and expense to get plus there are the transportation charges. http://www.pettravel.com/passportnew.cfm

First, you need to know that it isn't legal for you to work here without having a work permit and a visa that allows you to do so unless you're from the EU. Generally, you cannot apply for a work permit yourself - the company has to apply for it which means you need to have a job lined up. This website of the Italian government has visa information: http://www.esteri.it/visti/home_eng.asp

Jobs for people outside the EU are difficult. EU citizens have the right to move and work within the EU, so there's a much smaller burden for a company to hire someone from here than from the US. You have to have the visa before you arrive here. Here in Italy, you will also need to apply for a permesso di soggiorno after you arrive and get a codice fiscale (the equivalent of an SSN).

A good starting point for planning this type of move is to do some research on the expat websites for the countries you're interested in. This is a good way to get current information and make in-country contacts. These are sites for expats in Italy with general info on living and working and a couple with jobs listings:

http://www.us-expatriate-handbook.com/
http://www.expatsinitaly.com/
http://www.jobonline.it/
http://italy.jobs.com/

The trick is finding a job that pays enough that you can support yourself. I was fortunate enough to move here through my existing job. There are not a huge number of available jobs right now, and people from the EU will have preference. I already had a job here and the paperwork took 8 months. (Note - I've been here 9 years, but the process hasn't changed much other than the specific forms changing).

As an American expat, you'll have to file tax returns both here and in the US. You should also be aware that it's more expensive to live here than in the US. The expenses for my one bedroom apartment in a small city in northern Italy are about the same as my 4 bedroom house in Colorado.

zafir

You don't state your nationality, but as you say you're 'graduating college' I take it you're from the US, which very much limits the type of visa you can get for Italy.

Americans get an automatic visa to stay in Italy (and other Schengen countries) for 90 days out of every 180 days. Once the 90 days are up you either need to return home, or go to a non-Schengen country for 90 days, then return to Italy. You are not allowed to work on this visa.

Long-term visas, for a year or so, require that you rent accommodation in advance, and show that you can fully support yourself for the time you're there, and again you are not allowed to work on this visa.

I don't think Italy has an working holiday visa arrangement with the US.

Groovymule Odiato e Fiero

Contacting "Easy London", a private agency who offers to italians home and work in England, you will easily find an english-speaking help for the "reverse" service, finding a place to stay and a job. They can help you for the proper visa, too.

ahferfuxsake

You can't go straight to the country. The best way is to get in a big city, find a point of contant and follow it. For example, if you sleep in a hostel and some kids are filming a Hollywood movie, and you see the set. Now you know....

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