Anyone tried the "Get Paid to Move Here" programs in Italy/Europe?
Posted by LuluMystic@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 55 comments
Hey everyone,
I've recently stumbled upon these intriguing programs in Italy and other parts of Europe where you can supposedly get paid to move there. It sounds almost too good to be true! I'm curious if any of you or someone you know has actually tried these programs.
If so, could you share your experiences? What was the process like? Did you encounter any challenges? And most importantly, did it live up to the hype?
Also, if anyone knows how to go about sending off an application for these programs, I'd greatly appreciate some guidance. It seems like a fantastic opportunity, and I'm eager to learn more.
Looking forward to hearing your stories and insights!
Wise_Possession@reddit
Haven't done it but looked into it heavily when I was living in Italy. The rule for getting paid to move there is generally, you have to be eligible for a visa, you have to have x level of income, you have to buy property (which means paying cash outright most likely) and generally, they're looking for families that will grow the population in that reason. A few even wanted only specific job backgrounds that would be useful in such a small town. You have to commit to x time - generally I think 2 to 5 years, and the amount you would get really just isn't that much.
Then you have the 1euro house deals, but you have to pour 25k to 50k into a broken-down, basically unlivable house within 2 years.
Honestly, if you want to move abroad, you should absolutely do it, but these programs are not the way. You'll be isolated in a small town, you'll feel locked in...there's better ways.
MuchMarsupial5669@reddit
I'm interest I'm from bhutan ❤️
Awarewolf19@reddit
Hi interest, I'm cornelius
LuluMystic@reddit (OP)
I do not want to feel locked up so thank you very much🙌🏽
Thanmandrathor@reddit
These programs look attractive for a reason. If a place was very desirable to live in, they wouldn’t be giving you an almost free house.
The reality is that these are likely to be low population, economically depressed areas with fewer opportunities and amenities that are in dire need of a resurgence. The programs are to benefit the region, not you specifically (that’s more happy circumstance if it works out.)
CommunicationRound67@reddit
As an American I still find this deal attractive as it's a miserable place to live and I don't have a free house. 😂 Seriously, we are not ok over here. Send help!
Capable-District-377@reddit
I agree with you!
AmongTheElect@reddit
I remember watching a special on the $1 Italy houses and the $50k to renovate the place didn't throw me so much as the realization that there would be little to no amenities there and nobody would speak English.
It really appeals to the romantic side of a person, but it's tough when you think about the practical realities of it.
Japan has the same kind of program and you can get free land on Pitcairn Island, too.
Thanmandrathor@reddit
Imagine doing a renovation when you aren’t fluent in Italian? A renovation is hard and super stressful in your native language. You might struggle to find contractors or suppliers, and the amount of lost in translation seems like it would just be awful.
Plus as someone from a different part of the EU (NL) the Italians would drive me crazy as the general vibe is way more laid back, not great when you want things done on a timeline.
Majestic_Position_29@reddit
If you are a remote worker like I am then this can work out. Just get starlink, solar panels and batteries and get off grid!
Loose_Teacher5273@reddit
Starlink is a joke just like musk
Majestic_Position_29@reddit
No. Musk is a joke. However the tech is phenomenal.
monkey1791@reddit
I love my starlink
Loose_Teacher5273@reddit
Do you love it more when it's calculating votes and turning over Fair elections?
crazy1902@reddit
You are a joke.
monkey1791@reddit
Go cry in your safe space loser
Majestic_Position_29@reddit
This is exactly all the reasons I want to go there!
Haha, no people, isolated, off grid & self sufficient!
Sounds perfect for a recluse and self builder like me! Haha!
Wishy666@reddit
I think me personally I would fit right in with these older generation towns because my specialty is working with the elderly. I could do that at a low cost going to their homes but I’d do it so that I could live and eat well and that’s it. It’s something I really enjoy and elderly people often fall through the cracks when it comes to home care. I also don’t like big cities and was raised on a farm in the middle of nowhere so this would be ideal for me.
whisperingshadows26@reddit
Same my family and i arent really into the city life and live in a remote area would bother us because we stay home alot lol
Shit my son is 14 he wouldnt might it either My mom is a caregiver so it would a ideal
Bklyn_Bee@reddit
I feel similar. I have a background in education, design, art, and marketing. So I can bloom wherever I am. I've been interested in moving to Italy for YEARS now. I'm just looking for an "in". A legal in, because at this point, I'm ready to just visit and stay. But that's not helpful. I'm planning a trip to Italy next year, but I fear I might not come back.
YouMobile499@reddit
Did you ever make it? Ive also been wanting to at least visit but potentially move to italy
No_Butterscotch_9129@reddit
H
stereophil@reddit
say the house was successfully rebuilt .... what are the taxes now ? vs before the rebuild ... would the owners get hit with a bunch of costs now that they've increased the value?
mybelpaese@reddit
Everything everyone is saying here is true and more… if you follow the stories of people who have invested in one euro houses it generally costs far more than 50k to do the renovation. But the bigger issue is there is insane competition for these offers and the small towns get total overwhelmed with applications so it’s not as if you could just have one if you were willing to take the risk.
One Euro houses in Italy are, yes, essentially a publicity tactic that the towns themselves struggle to get approval and support for to run. It’s a complicated business from both sides.
“If a local doesn’t want to live there why would you…” I don’t totally agree with that thinking and here’s why. Small Italian towns emptied out because of lack of jobs, young went to the cities. And because of complex inheritance laws in Italy a lot of houses just got donated back to towns. This has happened in many places in Italy, not just the One Euro house towns. But for some people, many Americans for example, tiny half-empty little Italian towns are charming to them and exactly what they are looking for, especially for a second home or place to retire.
I do think that tends to be a win-win situation for foreigners and Italians, because the risk of gentrifying a town with population 2000 or something, most of whom are older folks, it’s kind of less likely.
It’d be awesome if people seek out really good fits for themselves and think about what they can offer the town as good members of a new community and not just what the town offers them in amenities and cheap housing. That would be pretty great. And I think People really want to do that typically. It’s just a better experience that way.
(By the way We help with that exact type of match-up between italian towns looking to attract foreigners and foreigners with something great to offer in a new community!)
Nkb615@reddit
My family and I are very interested. Coming from someone who ‘thinks’ we have a lot to offer, but doesn’t know for certain. My husband and myself combined have 24 years worth of hospitality background, and my husband is a chef. We would love to help a community, but does it benefit us, or limit us due to having a 4yo and 7mo? Any advice is appreciated before applying.
mybelpaese@reddit
Honestly the easiest would be to have a chat and speak more at length about your personal vision, preferences etc. Feel free to DM me if you are interested in doing so.
Bklyn_Bee@reddit
I'm interested.
mybelpaese@reddit
In December We are offering a free workshop on First Steps on a Move to Italy. DM me if you’d like the link. We will touch on the topics I mentioned in my prior message. Hope to see you there!
Fickle-Turn3238@reddit
Are these incentives still available? I am looking more into this and i’m extremely interested
MapDifferent6939@reddit
i'm interested too. we are three friends, want to move Italy and start our own business. We need someone who can tell us the exact process. By the way i'm from India.
mybelpaese@reddit
Hi. Feel free to dm me. My focus though is on location research and I offer some free move to Italy for beginners type resources to get started. I don’t specialize is consulting on starting a business in Italy and surely do not know every step. I’d imagine you’d want to work with a lawyer and probably commercialista on that.
Leighaheath@reddit
I'm interested too!
No-Communication8476@reddit
I'm interested.
Flimsy_Ad8567@reddit
Trying to read comments but can’t access
Content_Audience3664@reddit
My concern for the 1 dollar move abroad program would be getting the supplies. Being American mu guess would be thats not possible especially in a rural community
ThatScholar8481@reddit
?
Smoker63@reddit
For Italy, you get a Grant for about $88,000+$22,000 to Renovate and Purchase Property. The catch is, you must Live there for 10 Years, or Rent out the Property for 10 Years, or you will have to Pay that Money back.
Same I think for Ireland, but apparently there are those saying the COL is much higher than here in the US.
ultimomono@reddit
If no one from the country in question wants a free house--not even immigrants--that should tell you something... These places are isolated, kind of lonely, have bad infrastructure, lack of decent healthcare, schools, etc. The structures are in bad shape and you can easily get into a "money pit" situation.
Beneficial-Skill-424@reddit
If healthcare is an issue you should probably not reproduce like breading a dog with disease
ultimomono@reddit
Um, you appear to be lost. Wtf are you talking about, responding to a comment from over a year ago with such ignorant, incoherent nonsense?
nurseynurseygander@reddit
Exactly this. There’s a place for this if you have a fully-remote, do anywhere career (not just a single remote job, you need to be able to get more of them reliably) or you’re a self-funded retiree, and you have a good tolerance for pretty isolated living - say, you’re the type to sit on reddit all day or game all day. Generally their own young people have left because there aren’t any prospects worth talking about there, so you have to be coming from a position where they aren’t needed.
MuchMarsupial5669@reddit
I'm from bhutan.. I'm interest to move Italy
MuchMarsupial5669@reddit
I'm interest
No_Cress8843@reddit
Some of these places (especially Italy) are VERY remote, with dying populations. Challenge yourself and ask "Why does no one live there? Why do all the young people move away?"
I love Italy. It's the most visited country in the world. If you are ok with huge amounts of alone time, little to no city center, and can work remotely then these places are for you. Of course you could get lucky, but you really have to do your research first.
OdinoPrime@reddit
haven't partecipate to the program but i'm Italian and i've read with curiosity all the information about this kind of program.
speaking of Italy it could be intruiguing but for what i've seen is to relocate to specific area with an heavy population problem, so regions where the average age is really old and there aren't a lot of opportunity to younger folks.
probably the succes of it will turn it to a better situation, also because a lot of these places are really beautiful small cities with a lot of History and with a lot of amazing places nearby.
a lot depends of what you want in life and what you want to achieve. speaking of young adults a lot of them in italy is moving to the big city (Milan on top of other) for bigger opportunity and vibrant social environtment.
what you are looking for in this program?
Missmoneysterling@reddit
Which areas would you recommend for somebody who wants to retire early and then travel a lot? I love Italy.
OdinoPrime@reddit
I personally prefer spend my retirement in Tuscany/Emilia Romagna in a small city a little outside the big ones.
The food in that region is amazing, che winter are mild and also the summers are bearable and you have the seeaside really close.
plus, its better in my opinion live in the north/centre nord if you are not a native speaker. (my opinion but of course there are exceptions)
Missmoneysterling@reddit
I love Tuscany, and so does everybody else who's been there. :)
LuluMystic@reddit (OP)
Thank you so much. It’s good to hear from a “local”😜 I’m actually just looking for a fresh start with my pets and to get away from my home country with all these norms 🙏🏽
nadmaximus@reddit
If you're able to move to a place like this...there are generally much better choices.
These_Tea_7560@reddit
They’re a trap per se. Not a bad trap though, but expect to come up off your savings…
HGHUA@reddit
I think those kinds of programs don’t solve the Visa issue unless you have lots of $$ to start. You might get a €1 euro home or a stipend but need to figure out how to legally stay in the country first.
LuluMystic@reddit (OP)
Great, thank you so much🙌🏽
Glass_Confusion448@reddit
There are many news reports, youtube videos, and websites about people's experiences.
You can get a very good overall summary from ChatGPT.
LuluMystic@reddit (OP)
Good idea to get a summary from chat. I will try that, thanks