It’s almost the end of August, the time when Milan fills up with workers and students returning from the long Ferragosto month. And if you’re moving to Milan for the first time this fall, here is a comprehensive checklist of things to know or do. Here’s the ultimate moving to Milan checklist! I did the move myself two years ago (still here though) so I know exactly what you need to know or do before moving to Italy.
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MOVING TO MILAN CHECKLIST
BEFORE MOVING TO MILAN
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTATION
Okay, this is a must-have before any kind of travel really, let alone moving to another country:
- Valid Passport or ID card
- Visa (extra EU citizens)
- Travel insurance
- International health insurance (European Health Card if you’re from EU)
- University acceptance/admission letter
- Rental contract (if required for your visa)
CODICE FISCALE
Codice Fiscale (fiscal code) is the tax code in Italy. You will need a codice fiscale for most administration procedures, including signing a rent contract, opening a bank account, or getting a monthly public transport card. I recommend requesting a codice fiscale before arrival.
HOUSING IN MILAN
If possible, book your apartment in advance. It will save you a headache, plus apartments in Milan are a nightmare to find in September. All that will end up with you spending more money than predicted on accommodation. If you would prefer to see apartments in person, book temporary accommodation through Booking.com (it’s cheaper than Airbnb) and begin the apartment hunt once you land in Milan.
LEARN THE BASICS OF ITALIAN
It’s general knowledge Italians tend to speak more Italian than English (sorry Italian friends). Even though you can get along with English in Milan, it’s nice to know the language of the country you’re moving to.
From my experience, everyone in Italy appreciates if you know at least the basics of the Italian language.
UPON ARRIVAL TO MILAN
PERMIT OF STAY/PERMESSO DI SOGGIORNO
If you come from a non-EU country, you will likely need to apply for permesso di soggiorno (Italian permit of stay), a document that allows you to stay in Italy. To get one, you will need to, within 8 days of arrival, visit either one of the post offices or Questura to grab a permesso di soggiorno kit. Your university/employer can help you in the process.
Don’t forget to renew permesso di soggiorno when it expires!
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Upon arrival in Milan, you will want to make sure to be able to move around the city swiftly. That’s what ATM Milan is here for. The public transport in Milan is great and you can read all about it in the two posts below:
ITALIAN SIM CARD
Not obligatory but good to have, especially as some administrative procedures require one (e.g. paying bills online). I recommend Iliad. They have one of the cheapest services with fair amounts of calls and data and great coverage; I pay only 6.99€ per month. You can apply for a sim card online and order it to your address, super easy!
Again, the choice of a mobile provider in Italy depends on how much you will use the Italian sim card. Other providers in Italy:
- Vodafone
- WindTre
- TIM
ITALIAN BANK ACCOUNT
Yet another important thing to set when you arrive in Italy. Mostly you will need an Italian bank account to pay bills, file taxes, or receive a salary. And paying rent will be much easier.
I have an account with Intesa Sanpaolo. The bank is international friendly with an English interface app and free of fees if you’re a resident under 35. A small fee applies if you wish to open a non-resident account.
RESIDENZA
If you plan to stay in Italy for a period exceeding 90 days, you will need to apply for residenza, that is a permanent address in Italy.
It’s a long and tiring and funny process and no one really understands it, so don’t stress too much and just roll with it. It’s different for everyone and I can not really give guidance. What I can tell you is you need to apply through the Comune di Milano website as a guest, attach all documents, and hope for the best. Oh and contact me if you need help.
ITALIAN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
Also optional and more applicable if you’re in Milan for work. Italy provides free public healthcare to anyone and also has one of the best healthcare systems around; the second best in the world, to be precise!
In general, public healthcare is free. If you go to a specialist, they will charge you, so not free. Dentists are all private and quite expensive as well.
Once you’re a resident, you can register for the healthcare system for free by filing an online form, ordering tessera sanitaria (public healthcare card), choosing a primary care physician (medico di base), and confirming everything with an appointment at one of the ASLs (local health care office – Azienda Sanitaria Locale). Feel free to contact me for more information 🙂
ONCE YOU SETTLE IN
EXPLORE MILAN
Start exploring your new home, Milan! Don’t forget to check the best areas of Milan and the areas of Milan to avoid.
To get some beginner’s guidance, here’s some recommendations on what to do in Milan:
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Hi, it's Neja
I am an expat from Slovenia,
living in Milan since 2021 and writing a travel blog for all of you who are curious about life in Italy or traveling in Europe.
Follow me on my journey and learn everything about Italy and the European destinations.
