benefits of citizenship

02/06/2010 - 16:09

My wife and I plan to move this year to Italy, she can gain citizenship through her grandfather being born in Italy.We will rent for a year or 2 and then buy, is it worth having the citizenship in place before we move, or should we do it once we are there.What are the benefits of doing it ?thanks in advance

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Introductions

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Hi gazzagher, as far as I am aware as long as you are a EU citizen I don't think there are any benefits

Thanks for replying, I thought when it came to buying a house and car then it may be easier having citizenship before we moved, we are both British so should make life easier.

I'm fairly (99%) certain that you have to be 'resident' status to buy a car in Italy. You do not have to be resident if you wanted to buy a house strangely(!)...............BUT if you are not resident, you pay quite a bit more in taxes on the house if you did buy. If you're renting this obviously won't be a factor. Buying the car in Italy..............I wouldn't bother ! Costs are much greater than in the UK and even just 3rd party car insurance is SKY (I mean S.K.Y. !!) high. Residents get (slightly) lower charges on Electricity and Water, but it really is nothing to write home about. Stay as you are, S

Are you confusing Citizenship with residency with regard to cars etc.? To buy a car you need to be a resident, which you can only be if you are resident (obviously). Citizenship can be obtained after 5 years for non ��s (i.e Pasport holders). You do not need either to buy a house only a Codice Fiscale and Bank account which can be obtained easily. As Bagni says there are only a few Citizenship benefit if you are an EU citizen; the main one being Healthcare (a whole new can of worms). Ciao

Gromit is right. Healthcare benefits can be obtained more easily if one member of the couple is an �� citizen and if you are both under the age of 65. It is important for the �� citizen to declare that the non-�� husband or wife is a dependant if he/she is not working.