Special Report: Elective Residency Visa Income Rules Just Changed
Hey everyone, it’s Samantha Wilson with a special breaking news episode of Your New Life in Italy.
On today’s show, I’m unpacking a landmark court ruling that could completely change how families apply for one of Italy’s most challenging visas—the Elective Residency Visa (ERV).
Here’s the big news: For years, consulates (especially in the US and UK) have insisted that each adult applying under the ERV prove their own independent passive income of over €31,000 per year. So if you were a couple? That meant €62,000 total—and from separate sources.
But a recent ruling by the Regional Administrative Court in Lazio just struck that down. A British couple who were denied their visa in 2022 because they applied jointly—using shared income—just won their case. And the implications are huge.
In this episode, I explain:
- What the court actually said (and why it matters)
- The real income thresholds families now need to meet
- What this means for couples who applied before—and got denied
- What we still don’t know (yet) about how this applies if one spouse has no income
- Why this is about more than money—it’s about how Italy defines family
If you’ve been told “no” before because your income was shared, or you were applying as a couple—this could be your chance to reapply, with the law now on your side.
📎 I’ve linked the full court ruling in the show notes for those who want to dig into the details.
Let’s be clear—this doesn’t mean everyone gets an automatic approval. But it does mean the consulates can’t make up rules that aren’t supported by Italian law. And that’s a big win.
Ciao for now!
Samantha
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