My sister is getting an Italian/American passport

[BigmanPigman]

for herself and my mother, she asked if I wanted to join them since we have direct lineage. Since my family of heavy duty Dems is not too thrilled with the country they are choosing the option of living in Italy as citizens. I have been told that I wouldn't have to worry about my health care with out the ACA as I do in the US.

I was wondering if anyone living in Italy has gone this route as an American. I have a lot of relatives all over Italy but they have always lived there.

[Thekaspervote]

1. Lucky you!!

[tblue37]

2. My paternal grandparents came here from Sicily, so I could do that, too. I had no idea!

[montanacowboy]

3. My Sister just completed all her paperwork

and had a meeting with the Italian Counsel in San Francisco. Now we wait to see if everything goes through.

[RockRaven]

4. Well, if it was a completely open menu, I'd maybe not choose Italy... But you take what you can get,

or not, I suppose the question is. I don't have any input on Italy specifically, but it certainly seems worth considering seriously.

You've got to know the cost/tax implications, if any, etc. But beyond that, might as well, no? If it costs nothing significant, it might be good to have.

One of my neighbors with citizenship/passports in both France and America due to their mixed marriage took off for France once the summer COVID boom hit in the US. They aren't coming back any time soon, it seems. There are tax implications on both sides, for better or for worse, depending on how many days in a given year they live here or there, but compared to risk of death, that's a secondary consideration. They're retired, and have family wealth anyway, and are artsy free spirit types, so they can afford to go either way and find ways to enjoy life. So long as they stay alive.

A couple of my cousins got their Irish passport years ago (eligible through the non-shared grandparents) in the wake of Bush-era wars and travel hazards for Americans. They have not regretted it so far.

[HockeyMom]

5. You can claim Italian Citizenship also through a GREAT-Grandparent

Most Countries, including Ireland, it can only go back as far as Grandparents.

https://www.italiandualcitizenship.net/italian-citizenship-by-descent/

Discovered this doing Genealogy. My Great-Grandpa, born in Salerno, never became a Naturalized citizen. Therefore, he never renounced his Italian Citizenship. Great-Grandma was naturalized but not until after her husband passed away. You can read between the lines of that! lol Grandma was born here. I doubt she ever knew she had Dual Citizenship from her parents to renounce her Italian citizenship.

It requires a lot of documentation but I suppose it is possible to do. If I was a lot younger, I might try to do it since I have some of the documentation from doing genealogy.

[Thyla]

6. With an Italian passport you then have a free hit

at living in any other EU country so that is a big plus.

[3Hotdogs]

7. No tax implications unless you earn money there. From there, it gets complicated.

If your lineage was male, $300.00. If your lineage was female. you gotta hire a lawyer in Rome... however, check the consulate to see if this is still valid.

[Old Crank]

8. Italy taxes on worldwide income

For residents.
Most EU countries do if I am not mistaken. My Social security is taxed in Germany. But at a pension rate. You will have to become part of the health insurance scheme of the country.
There are issues with investing in foreign stocks if you are a US citizen also. You can buy property though.

[3Hotdogs]

9. My comment was on how to get Italian citizenship.

[Old Crank]

10. One reply talked about taxes

It looked like they held the idea if you didn't work in Italy you could escape taxation to some degree. That is not the case.

Did you find a path to citizenship in Italy?

We have friends in Italy now. She is Italian and it was like pulling teeth for her husband of over 10 years to get it done...The

Should you come over, we are in Munich, our advise is to have some of your retirement savings in nontaxable funds before you get here. Our funds were in IRA accounts and every withdrawal is taxed here first then in the US if Germany doesn't take at least what the US taxes would be. Your tax bite in the US will likely be lower than in Europe.