🇮🇹 Game-changing Self-Check-in Ban for Rentals Upends Italian Tourism – We Tell You How
Face-to-face is now the norm, as key lockboxes get the axe... We also explore Jubilee 2025, set for Rome & the Vatican in a few weeks, explore investor & student visas ➕ more!
New Ban on Self-Check-In Means Big Changes for Short-Term Rentals
When news came last week that Italy has banned self-check-in for holiday rentals, many panicked emails went out from owners to property managers: Why did they do this? HOW can they do this?! What does it all mean for your property and people staying there when they visit? Or for your next trip to Italy?
We’ve got you covered in this week’s Per Te.
Short-term rentals in Italy have already seen many new regulations in the past few years as they have gained massive popularity among travelers. In fact, according to the data-crunching website Statista, Italy has the highest market percentage (16%) of short-term rentals of the eight countries they examined. The popularity of short-term rentals has sent a ripple effect across the country. Florence famously banned new Airbnb’s in the historic center of the city in 2023. But this July, the Regional Administrative Court of Tuscany [TAR] overturned that move, and the city is now working toward amended regulations.
This latest move – to ensure that check-ins are face-to-face and not via remote means like a key lockbox or auto-unlock app – seems to be the next front in the battle against “overtourism.”
The United Nations World Tourism Organization said that in 2022 nearly 50 million people visited Italy, only eight million shy of the actual population of the country! And the Jubilee Year of 2025 (officially kicking off on Christmas Eve) is expected to bring 30 million travelers to Rome alone. So that reason alone is often cited as a big impetus for the “why now?” question many are asking.
The head of the state police, who signed the order, also cited security, noting that self-check-in could lead to rentals “occupied by one or more individuals whose personal details remain unknown to the competent Police Headquarters, posing a potential danger to the safety of the community."
This all means that, as a tourist, gone are the days of just sending a photo of your documents to property owners on WhatsApp. What’s still a grey area are late-night check-ins, but expect more properties to take that option off of their listing and higher prices as many owners will now need a property manager to welcome guests.
The move strikes more of a balance than an outright ban, but it also means increased responsibility for property managers, who now must be more of a presence on-site. For tourists, it means the possibility of a bit more inconvenience in arriving at your destination.
Finally, this does not seem to be the kind of regulation that was passed just for appearances. Police in Rome have already begun removing key lockboxes. The mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, called the ban ”good news for everyone," noting that key lockboxes "disfigure our streets and prevent adequate security checks."
So whether you agree with this move or not, it’s definitely one that will affect visits to Italy for a long time to come. Stay tuned to Per Te for any updates to this new policy.
We Mentioned Jubilee 2025… Here’s What It’s All About
We mentioned that 2025 will be a Jubilee year in Rome & the Vatican. So what does that mean?
According to the Jubilee’s official website, Pope Boniface VIII called the first Jubilee (also known as a “Holy Year”) in 1300. The frequency of Holy Years has changed over time from every 100 years to 50 years to now 25 years. The Vatican defines a Jubilee as “a year of forgiveness of sins and also the punishment due to sin… it is a year of reconciliation between adversaries, of conversion and receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and consequently of solidarity, hope, justice, commitment to serve God with joy and in peace with our brothers and sisters.”
Pope Francis will officially open Jubilee 2025 with the rite of the Opening of the Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of St. Peter on December 24, after which he will preside over the celebration of Christmas Eve Mass. Celebrations will then take place over the course of 2025. Different days will serve as Jubilees for different groups of the Catholic faithful, from artists to healthcare workers. Additionally, many Catholics use the Jubilee Year to make a pilgrimage to Rome, and there are many steps one can take as part of this pilgrimage. It usually concludes with passages through the Holy Doors of Roman churches, culminating at St. Peter’s. Anyone who completes a pilgrimage is granted a plenary indulgence – a forgiveness of sins.
At the end of it all, Epiphany on Jan. 6, 2026, the Vatican will reseal the Holy Door to await its next opening in 25 years.
On a more practical – rather than spiritual – level, Rome will be PACKED in 2025! The addition of an expected 30+ million visitors on top of the usual tourist crush means planning in advance of any trip to the Eternal City will be crucial. Also, while not set just yet, the tourist tax in Rome will most likely increase for the Jubilee.
If your move to Italy was in Rome and you're looking for a rental, think again. Rome has always been a difficult market, and 2025 will be practically impossible.
That all said, a Jubilee Year is a … well, if one is lucky… three-or-four-times-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Rome in a whole new way!
Have a visit to Rome coming up in 2025, or thinking of making one after reading this? Click here to visit the Jubilee site and plan your journey!
An SMI “Freebee” for a Fast, Flexible Visa!
We’re continuing to feature Smart Move Italy’s “Freebees” this month to make your dream of moving to Italy easier and less expensive.
This week, we’re focusing on a different kind of visa than those we usually discuss. They aren’t for everyone, but Investors Visas are, hands-down, SMI’s favorite Italian visa. They are fast, flexible, no-strings attached options – and it's not as expensive as you may think.
Here is a little history of the "Golden Visa" for Italy. The Investor Visa was introduced in 2017 when the Italian immigration law made visas available for individuals who can invest in the Italian economy. Unlike other countries, this visa is tied to investing in Italian businesses, not individual property. In other words, you cannot buy a property and use that as your investment. Italy wants funding for their start-ups and existing businesses to help them create jobs, research, and development.
In 2020, they approved a reduction in the required investment to €500,000 and €250,000 for a start-up (half of what was before)—making this incredibly flexible and valuable visa accessible to many more people. Our immigration team has successfully applied for dozens of Investor Visas last year on behalf of Smart Move Italy clients, and the guide we’ve compiled based on those experiences will help you answer the most frequently asked questions.
Ready to get started? We know you are! So download that free “Investor Visa” guide here!
Class is in Session! If You’re Thinking About a Student Visa, the Most Important Question is… Where?
We get asked a lot about the student visa, which can be a great way for people to come to Italy long term and improve your Italian to the point where you can be fluent by the time you’re done.
Every year, thousands of international students arrive in Italy to study at one of the many universities and specialty schools across the country. Let’s face it… if you are going to school, why not go to one in the most beautiful country in the world?
People have asked if there is a list of accredited Italian language schools that are suitable for an application for the student visa?
That’s taking the question the wrong way around, in our opinion! There are tons of programs – mostly in bigger cities like Rome, Florence and Milan, but there are also plenty in smaller towns like Siena, Perugia, Lucca, and even Montepulciano.
But the BEST thing you can do is… instead of looking for a school first, think about where you want to LIVE first… and then look for a school.
As always, think carefully about your options, and know that Smart Move Italy has resources to help with your student visa every step of the way.
Location Spotlight📍Cortemilia, Piemonte
This week we have a property that’s twice as nice: Two properties in one!
Nestled in the Langhe Hills in Piemonte, these restored country homes are being sold as a pair for €235,000. The property offers privacy in a somewhat remote location – the definition of “down a country road” – it also offers the convenience of easy trips to Asti, Turin, Genoa and even Milan, which is a bit further down the road. Looking for some fresh powder? World-class skiing in the Alps is also just a stone’s throw away.
And just listen to the perks of the homes themselves – an exposed stone-arch wine cantina. A wood-burning fireplace. Terrace and private courtyard. You have 2,300 sq. ft. or interior space and nearly four acres of property! And the best part is, you can live in one and rent the other if you like – there’s no end to the possibilities.
Want to see more? Subscribe to Vendita and get 30 property picks sent to you every Sunday. To subscribe via email, click here or join our Telegram channel.
And if you’re thinking about buying a property in Italy, you don’t have to do it alone! Book a free 10-minute property purchase discovery call here.
PerTe è finito for this week. But don’t forget — we always have lots more to share with you! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
As always, thanks for being a part of the Smart Move Italy famiglia. A presto! 👋