Italy is the EU’s third-largest economy. Provisional figures released by ISTAT, the national statistics institute, in March 2026 put the resident population at about 58.94 million on 1 January 2026, including about 5.56 million foreign residents (9.4%), up 188,000 in a year. An ageing population, young Italians leaving and steady immigration are reshaping the country at the same time.
Italy is familiar territory for many Chinese: the garment industry in Prato, wholesale and trade in Milan, and Chinese restaurants and shops across the country are all built by several generations of migrants. This guide looks at Italy from the angle of someone leaving China: the conditions for moving, etiquette, jobs and living costs, healthcare, life in the Chinese community and the main visa routes, so you can judge whether Italy suits you and weigh the pros and cons. Figures carry their source and year; always check policy details against official Italian announcements.
Why choose Italy
Chinese people who choose Italy usually value four things: membership of Schengen and the EU single market, so residence allows short trips across Schengen; living costs that are moderate for a large Western European country, with rents in Rome, Turin and Bologna well below Paris or London; a pleasant climate, food and pace of life with outstanding cultural heritage; and a large Chinese community with complete supply chains, so newcomers easily find fellow migrants and Chinese-language services.
The weaknesses are just as clear: slow growth, wages that are low for Western Europe, a wide north–south gap and famously slow bureaucracy. ISTAT reports that Italy issued 290,119 new residence permits to non-EU citizens in 2024, 12.3% fewer than in 2023; family reasons accounted for 36.1% and work for only 13.9%. Moving to Italy by finding a job is not easy.
Culture and etiquette
Italians are warm and place great value on family and personal relationships. Greet people with “Buongiorno” in the morning and “Buonasera” in the afternoon and evening; friends kiss on both cheeks. Use the formal “Lei” with older people, officials and new acquaintances. Compared with China, Italians put more weight on relationships and face-to-face contact; turning up in person often works better than phone calls or emails.
- Meals: lunch and dinner are late and served in courses; coffee is cheaper standing at the bar, and cappuccino is usually a morning drink.
- Daily rhythm: many small shops close at midday, more close on Sundays and holidays, and many businesses shut in mid-August around Ferragosto.
- Dress: Italians dress carefully; churches require covered shoulders and knees.
- Religion: Catholic culture runs deep and many holidays are religious, but the state is secular and religious freedom is protected.
- Tax code: the codice fiscale is needed almost everywhere, for renting, opening a bank account or signing a phone contract.
English is less widespread than in northern Europe, and public offices, hospitals and most small businesses work in Italian. If you plan to settle, start learning Italian before you leave.
Economy and jobs
Manufacturing and small and medium-sized firms are the backbone of the economy. Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia-Romagna in the north are industrial and export powerhouses, and Milan is the hub for finance, fashion and design; the centre and south rely more on tourism, agriculture and the public sector. Chinese residents concentrate in garments and textiles (Prato), wholesale and import-export (Milan, Rome), restaurants, retail and beauty services, and a growing number of Chinese graduates now work in design, engineering and luxury.
Non-EU citizens hired in Italy usually need the employer to obtain a work authorisation (nulla osta) first, and ordinary salaried places are capped by the annual quota system (Decreto flussi). Highly skilled workers can use the EU Blue Card, and there are also categories for remote salaried work, digital nomads, self-employment and start-ups. Numbeo shows average net monthly pay of about €1,915 in Milan and €1,736 in Rome, though users consider these high and actual pay varies widely by sector. More in our guide to working in Italy.
The north–south gap is large: the north has more jobs and higher pay but also higher rents; the south is cheaper but has fewer jobs. Decide where your income will come from before choosing a city.
Cost of living
Milan is Italy’s most expensive city. Numbeo data updated on 6 October 2026 puts a central one-bedroom at about €1,527 a month and €1,038 outside the centre, with single-person costs excluding rent of about €1,048. Rome is cheaper: about €1,080 for a central one-bedroom, €780 outside the centre and €848 for monthly costs excluding rent. Public transport is cheap: €39 a month in Milan and €35 in Rome.
| Item | Milan | Rome |
|---|---|---|
| One-bedroom rent (centre) | €1,527 | €1,080 |
| One-bedroom rent (outside centre) | €1,038 | €780 |
| Single-person costs excl. rent | €1,048 | €848 |
| Monthly transport pass | €39 | €35 |
| Meal at an inexpensive restaurant | €20 | €15 |
As a rough editorial estimate based on the Numbeo figures above (not an official number), a single person lives comfortably on about €1,700–2,000 a month in Rome and €2,100–2,600 in Milan; smaller cities are much cheaper. Landlords usually want a deposit and proof of income, and lease types are complex, so read the terms carefully before signing. See cost of living in Italy.
Healthcare
Italy runs a national health service (SSN), managed by the regions. Foreigners who live and work legally in Italy generally must register with the local health authority (ASL), after which they choose a family doctor; most basic care is covered, and specialist visits and tests carry a co-payment (ticket). Residents who do not work, such as elective-residence holders and some students, usually buy private insurance or join the SSN voluntarily by paying a contribution as the rules require.
Waiting lists for specialists in public hospitals can be long, so many people add private health insurance; see insurance in Italy. Until you have a residence permit and SSN registration, the insurance required for your visa is your only cover, so never let it lapse.
The European emergency number is 112. For minor problems, start at a pharmacy (farmacia): Italian pharmacists give useful advice on over-the-counter medicines.
The Chinese community
Italy has one of the largest populations of Chinese citizens in Europe. ISTAT data, as cited by Wikipedia, show about 309,000 Chinese citizens living in Italy in 2024; this excludes people who have become Italian and Italian-born citizens of Chinese descent. ISTAT’s October 2025 report adds that new family-reunification permits for Chinese citizens rose 11.5% in 2024 and that more Chinese students are arriving.
Most Chinese in Italy come from the Wenzhou and Qingtian area of Zhejiang. Main centres include Prato in Tuscany, known for fast-fashion garment making and with a high Chinese share of the population; the Via Paolo Sarpi area of Milan, the historic Chinatown; the Esquilino district around Piazza Vittorio in Rome; and Florence, Turin, Bologna and Naples. Every city has Chinese business associations, hometown associations and Chinese schools.
The Chinese Embassy is in Rome, with consulates-general in Milan and Florence. The embassy also holds mobile consular sessions in places such as Sardinia (the latest notice was published on 29 September 2026). For passports and notarial services, see the Chinese Embassy in Italy website. More on community life in the Chinese community in Italy.
Visa and residence routes at a glance
PRC ordinary passport holders need a visa for Italy. The main routes listed by the Italian Embassy in China:
| Route | Who it suits | Key points |
|---|---|---|
| Schengen short-stay visa (type C) | Tourism, family visits, business | Up to 90 days in any 180; fee €90, filed at a visa centre |
| Study visa (type D) | University, language courses, Marco Polo/Turandot students | Pre-enrolment on Universitaly first; fee €50 |
| Salaried work visa (type D) | People hired by an Italian employer | Employer obtains authorisation; ordinary places capped by annual quotas |
| EU Blue Card | Highly qualified professionals | A sub-type of the salaried work visa |
| Self-employment, start-up, digital nomad | Freelancers, founders, remote workers | Conditions vary; digital nomads fall under self-employment |
| Elective residence visa | People with steady passive income who will not work in Italy | Often used by retirees |
| Family reunion visa | Family of legal residents or EU citizens in Italy | One of the largest permit categories |
For documents, fees and where to apply, see our Italy visa guide; for getting and renewing a residence permit, see residency in Italy.
Safety
Italy is generally safe with low violent crime, but pickpocketing and bag snatching are frequent at sights, on the metro and at stations in Rome, Milan, Naples and Venice. In August 2025 the Chinese Embassy published a safety guide for Chinese tourists in Italy, warning about valuables, fake police officers and street approaches. Newcomers should also watch for phone scams impersonating embassies or police, and illegal agents selling “residence services” or “work contracts”.
- Keep original passports and residence cards safe and carry copies; carry ID as the law requires.
- Call 112 in an emergency; English-language help is available.
- Be wary of “helpful” strangers when buying tickets or boarding trains.
On the leisure side, Italy licenses gambling through the state, with separate rules for casinos, lotteries and online betting. Whether local gambling is legal and how it affects Chinese citizens is covered in gambling laws in Italy.
Pros and cons
Advantages
- Schengen and EU member: easy travel and business
- Lower living costs than the main cities of France, the UK or Germany
- Large Chinese community with mature supply chains and Chinese services
- Pleasant climate, food and cultural life
- Broad public healthcare with low basic costs
Challenges
- Slow growth, low wages, big north–south gap
- Ordinary work visas capped by annual quotas
- Slow paperwork for residence permits and renewals
- Italian is essential; English is limited
- Pickpocketing in big cities; illegal agents and scams
FAQ
Is moving to Italy a good idea?
It depends on your income. People with remote or passive income, or family in Italy, often enjoy a high quality of life; those who need a local job should weigh language, quotas and pay carefully.
What are the requirements to move to Italy?
Italy has no single “immigration” visa. You apply for a long-stay visa by purpose, such as work, study, family, elective residence or investment, and then apply for a residence permit after arrival. Funds and documents differ by category.
Can I keep Chinese nationality after becoming Italian?
No. China does not recognise dual nationality, and voluntarily acquiring a foreign nationality means automatically losing Chinese nationality. See dual nationality and renouncing Chinese nationality.
How does Italy compare with France or Spain?
Italy is usually cheaper than France and has a larger Chinese community, but pay and job opportunities are weaker. Compare our France guide and the Europe overview.
Sources
- ISTAT – Indicatori demografici, anno 2025 (31 marzo 2026) (accessed October 2026)
- ISTAT – Cittadini non comunitari in Italia, anno 2024 (28 ottobre 2025) (accessed October 2026)
- Ambasciata d’Italia Pechino – 签证（Visti） (accessed October 2026)
- Ambasciata d’Italia Pechino – 签证费用及支付方式 (accessed October 2026)
- Ambasciata d’Italia Pechino – 根据需要选择正确的签证类型 (accessed October 2026)
- Ambasciata d’Italia Pechino – 去意大利留学 (accessed October 2026)
- Ministero degli Affari Esteri – Facilitazioni per l’attrazione di investimenti, talenti e innovazione (accessed October 2026)
- European Commission – Entry/Exit System (EES) (accessed October 2026)
- 中华人民共和国驻意大利共和国大使馆 (accessed October 2026)
- Numbeo – Cost of Living in Milan (updated 6 Oct 2026) (accessed October 2026)
- Numbeo – Cost of Living in Rome (updated 9 Oct 2026) (accessed October 2026)
- Wikipedia – Chinese people in Italy (cites ISTAT; secondary source) (accessed October 2026)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC – Chinese Consulates General (Europe) (accessed October 2026)