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Local Italy
30-05-2025
- Automotive
- Local Italy
Five questions to ask before buying a second home in Italy
Whether it's a rustic cottage in a peaceful countryside village, or an elegant apartment in a major city like Rome, Florence or Milan, having a second home in Italy is a dream for many. But if you're planning to make that dream come true, there are some things to consider before you go house-hunting. Here are some questions we suggest you ask yourself before purchasing a seconda casa in Italy. What do you want to use it for? For some people, purchasing a home in Italy may just be a way to secure a place to spend the holidays in the country without resorting to a property rental or a hotel year in, year out. That said, it's far from uncommon for foreign nationals to buy an Italian property, use it as a holiday home for a while and then decide that they want it to become their main residence. This makes the process of moving to Italy a lot easier since you already have a place to stay and are familiar with the area. However, it also brings up a number of practical questions, including important legal considerations. If you're a non-EU national and intend to live in Italy full-time, you'll have to get a long-stay visa. Exactly which type you need will depend on your plans - namely, whether you want to work, study or retire to Italy. Securing a visa will only be the first part of the process, as you'll need to apply for a residency permit within eight days of arriving in the country. Besides your residency status, there are other factors to keep in mind if you plan to move to Italy full-time. If you plan to relocate while still of working age, are there good job opportunities nearby? And if you're thinking of your property as a place to retire to in the future, are there good health facilities locally? Will you need a car? While many major cities around Italy have robust public transport networks, services in rural regions are often very limited, with just the occasional bus. If you have your eye on a property in a small town or village in rural Italy, chances are you'll need a car to move around. Unfortunately, Italy's Highway Code places restrictions on who can buy a vehicle in the country. Under Article 134 of the Code, foreign nationals who are not Italian residents cannot purchase and register a car in Italy. This leaves few options for second-home owners. Foreign motorists who are not Italian residents can drive their foreign-registered cars or motorbikes for a maximum of one year in Italy. As a non-resident foreign national, you can also rent a car or drive a friend or relative's vehicle, though there are some important restrictions and rules to be aware of in the latter case. Depending on your nationality, you may also need to get an International Driving Permit (IDP) or a certified translation of your foreign-issued licence to drive in Italy. If you're a non-EU national and plan to move to Italy full-time in the future, remember that you'll need to get an Italian licence to drive in the country after one year of residency. This may involve taking an Italian driving test if your home country doesn't have a licence agreement with Italy. Can you fund upkeep and maintenance? The purchase cost is only the beginning, as you'll also need to pay for the upkeep of the property, as well as taxes including Italy's tax on second homes, IMU (Unified Municipal Tax). If your financial plan depends on your home partially paying for itself through holiday rentals, it's strongly advisable to familiarise yourself with both local and national rules, including a requirement for owners to hold a national identification code. Italy has strict regulations on renting out property on platforms like Airbnb and Booking. And there is growing disquiet about housing shortages caused by tourist rentals in major cities and holiday hotspots, which means that legislation could be further tightened in the years to come. If you intend to rent out your second home, you should also keep in mind that this will bring you within the scope of the Italian taxman. As a foreign resident generating rental income in Italy, you'll be required to declare and pay tax on that income by filing yearly tax returns (dichiarazioni dei redditi) with Italy's Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate). Rental income will be subject to Italy's income tax IRPEF, which ranges from 23 percent to 43 percent of your earnings. Can you bear the costs (and paperwork) of extensive renovation? Italians may have little interest in buying and fixing up Italy's many unwanted old houses, but foreign nationals are often swept away by their charm. And international interest in old Italian properties has only intensified in recent years, with dozens of idyllic villages advertising 'one-euro' homes and and other low-cost property offers aimed specifically at foreigners. Of course, these long-neglected buildings cost much more than one euro to actually buy and renovate. Besides the hefty taxes and fees involved in the purchase process, the cost of renovating an old property can quickly run into tens of thousands of euros, not least because old homes are unlikely to comply with current regulations when it comes to things like energy efficiency or earthquake safety. Securing the necessary construction permits for a renovation project can also be a significant challenge without professional help, especially if your property is classed as a building of historic importance or is protected by Italy's conservation rules. Failure to secure the correct permit can ultimately result in you being ordered to tear down any work you have done. As a final point, prospective buyers are also strongly advised to ensure that the property they have their eye on is not an illegal build (abuso edilizio) – this is usually done by commissioning a technical inspection by a surveyor, as well as a review of the property's cadastral records by a notary. Illegal housebuilding is a decades-old issue in Italy, and hundreds of cases are detected every year. Remember: barring some rare exceptions, if you buy a property with undeclared modifications or without the correct permissions, you'll be responsible for paying to regularise the property. What will your social life be like? It's not all tedious admin - having a second home is supposed to be fun, and that will probably involve making some local friends to share dinners and drinks with. Readers of The Local have previously told us that knowing at least some Italian is vital to integrating into your local community. Here are their top tips for learning or improving your italiano. Many of our readers have also told us that one of the best ways to get to know people and find friends is to join a local group, take a class or start a new sport. Some cities offer hobby-specific groups and courses through the comune or local associations. Another great place to look is Facebook, as it includes groups that often organise meet-ups, aperitivi and dinners.
Malay Mail
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Malay Mail
JPJ launches new Malaysian driving licence with 10-year durability, anti-tamper tech
JOHOR BARU, May 22 — The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has introduced a newly designed Malaysian Driving Licence (LMM) card, now equipped with enhanced security features. Its director-general, Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli, said the latest version of the card, being distributed in phases nationwide starting yesterday, was currently limited to two categories of applicants — Malaysian citizens travelling abroad and non-citizens renewing their driving licences. He said ordinary applicants who renewed their licences would only receive the digital version of the licence. 'We are aware that not all countries accept the MyJPJ app — Singapore has accepted it, but some other countries still do not accept digital driving licences. 'Therefore, travellers need to bring their physical driving licence along with the International Driving Permit (IDP), which can be applied for at JPJ, since each country has its own regulations,' he told a press conference at IM Intensif Sdn Bhd Adda Height here yesterday. He said the newly designed LMM card was intended to prevent tampering and forgery of the card, and was built to withstand usage for up to 10 years. In terms of design, the latest LMM features a background image of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and an abstract wave motif on the front, while the back showcases the Istana Negara and a floral abstract motif. 'Printing of the LMM cards for the permitted categories is currently being conducted in phases at selected JPJ branches, allowing time for the transition from the previous version of the card to the latest one,' he said. In a related development, Aedy Fadly said JPJ was gradually enhancing three aspects of licensing and operations at 248 driving institutions nationwide. He said the move aimed to boost integrity, improve quality, and address recurring issues at the driving institutions. 'These three aspects include improvements to the guidelines for establishing new driving institutions, promoting the development of the eTesting system and the KPP01 Computer-Based Testing Centres at all driving institutions, and enhancing enforcement operations at IMs. He said the improved guidelines for setting up new driving institutions were aimed at ensuring sufficient service provision in highly populated areas and reducing the waiting time for candidates to complete their learning process. 'For instance, in Klang, Selangor, some candidates reportedly wait up to three months to complete their training, while at places like IM Intensif Sdn Bhd Adda Height here, the process only takes about a month. 'In today's Special Driving Institution Enforcement Operation (Okim) in Johor, two driving institutions were found to have committed 80 offences, such as instructors handling more students than allowed, students learning without supervision, instructors teaching without a Driving Instructor Certificate (SPIM), instructors smoking during lessons, and failing to submit teaching records (SM4), among many other violations,' he said. — Bernama
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
JPJ introduces new Malaysian driving licence with enhanced security features
JOHOR BAHRU: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has introduced a newly designed Malaysian Driving Licence (LMM) card, now equipped with enhanced security features. Its director-general, Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli, said the latest version of the card, being distributed in phases nationwide starting today, was currently limited to two categories of applicants—Malaysian citizens travelling abroad and non-citizens renewing their driving licences. He said ordinary applicants who renewed their licences would only receive the digital version of the licence. 'We are aware that not all countries accept the MyJPJ app—Singapore has accepted it, but some other countries still do not accept digital driving licences. 'Therefore, travellers need to bring their physical driving licence along with the International Driving Permit (IDP), which can be applied for at JPJ, since each country has its own regulations,' he told a press conference at IM Intensif Sdn Bhd Adda Height here today. He said the newly designed LMM card was intended to prevent tampering and forgery of the card, and was built to withstand usage for up to 10 years. In terms of design, the latest LMM features a background image of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and an abstract wave motif on the front, while the back showcases the Istana Negara and a floral abstract motif. 'Printing of the LMM cards for the permitted categories is currently being conducted in phases at selected JPJ branches, allowing time for the transition from the previous version of the card to the latest one,' he said. In a related development, Aedy Fadly said JPJ was gradually enhancing three aspects of licensing and operations at 248 driving institutions nationwide. He said the move aimed to boost integrity, improve quality, and address recurring issues at the driving institutions. 'These three aspects include improvements to the guidelines for establishing new driving institutions, promoting the development of the eTesting system and the KPP01 Computer-Based Testing Centres at all driving institutions, and enhancing enforcement operations at IMs. He said the improved guidelines for setting up new driving institutions were aimed at ensuring sufficient service provision in highly populated areas and reducing the waiting time for candidates to complete their learning process. 'For instance, in Klang, Selangor, some candidates reportedly wait up to three months to complete their training, while at places like IM Intensif Sdn Bhd Adda Height here, the process only takes about a month. 'In today's Special Driving Institution Enforcement Operation (OKIM) in Johor, two driving institutions were found to have committed 80 offences, such as instructors handling more students than allowed, students learning without supervision, instructors teaching without a Driving Instructor Certificate (SPIM), instructors smoking during lessons, and failing to submit teaching records (SM4), among many other violations,' he said.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
JPJ introduces new Malaysian driving licence
JOHOR BAHRU: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has introduced a newly designed Malaysian Driving Licence (LMM) card, now equipped with enhanced security features. Its director-general, Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli, said the latest version of the card, being distributed in phases nationwide starting today, was currently limited to two categories of applicants—Malaysian citizens travelling abroad and non-citizens renewing their driving licences. He said ordinary applicants who renewed their licences would only receive the digital version of the licence. 'We are aware that not all countries accept the MyJPJ app—Singapore has accepted it, but some other countries still do not accept digital driving licences. 'Therefore, travellers need to bring their physical driving licence along with the International Driving Permit (IDP), which can be applied for at JPJ, since each country has its own regulations,' he told a press conference at IM Intensif Sdn Bhd Adda Height here today. He said the newly designed LMM card was intended to prevent tampering and forgery of the card, and was built to withstand usage for up to 10 years. In terms of design, the latest LMM features a background image of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and an abstract wave motif on the front, while the back showcases the Istana Negara and a floral abstract motif. 'Printing of the LMM cards for the permitted categories is currently being conducted in phases at selected JPJ branches, allowing time for the transition from the previous version of the card to the latest one,' he said. In a related development, Aedy Fadly said JPJ was gradually enhancing three aspects of licensing and operations at 248 driving institutions nationwide. He said the move aimed to boost integrity, improve quality, and address recurring issues at the driving institutions. 'These three aspects include improvements to the guidelines for establishing new driving institutions, promoting the development of the eTesting system and the KPP01 Computer-Based Testing Centres at all driving institutions, and enhancing enforcement operations at IMs. He said the improved guidelines for setting up new driving institutions were aimed at ensuring sufficient service provision in highly populated areas and reducing the waiting time for candidates to complete their learning process. 'For instance, in Klang, Selangor, some candidates reportedly wait up to three months to complete their training, while at places like IM Intensif Sdn Bhd Adda Height here, the process only takes about a month. 'In today's Special Driving Institution Enforcement Operation (OKIM) in Johor, two driving institutions were found to have committed 80 offences, such as instructors handling more students than allowed, students learning without supervision, instructors teaching without a Driving Instructor Certificate (SPIM), instructors smoking during lessons, and failing to submit teaching records (SM4), among many other violations,' he said.
New Straits Times
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
RTD introduces new Malaysian driving licence with enhanced security features
JOHOR BARU: The Road Transport Department (RTD) has introduced a newly designed Malaysian Driving Licence card, now equipped with enhanced security features. Its director-general, Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli, said the latest version of the card, being distributed in phases nationwide starting today, was currently limited to two categories of applicants, namely, Malaysian citizens travelling abroad and non-citizens renewing their driving licences. He said ordinary applicants who renewed their licences would only receive the digital version of the licence. "We are aware that not all countries accept the MyJPJ app; Singapore has accepted it, but some other countries still do not accept digital driving licences. "Therefore, travellers need to bring their physical driving licence along with the International Driving Permit (IDP), which can be applied for at RTD, since each country has its own regulations," he told a press conference at IM Intensif Sdn Bhd Adda Height here today. He said the newly designed licencecard was intended to prevent tampering and forgery of the card, and was built to withstand usage for up to 10 years. In terms of design, the latest licence design features a background image of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and an abstract wave motif on the front, while the back showcases the Istana Negara and a floral abstract motif. "Printing of the licence cards for the permitted categories is currently being conducted in phases at selected RTD branches, allowing time for the transition from the previous version of the card to the latest one," he said. In a related development, Aedy Fadly said RTD was gradually enhancing three aspects of licensing and operations at 248 driving institutions nationwide. He said the move aimed to boost integrity, improve quality, and address recurring issues at the driving institutions. "These three aspects include improvements to the guidelines for establishing new driving institutions, promoting the development of the eTesting system and the KPP01 Computer-Based Testing Centres at all driving institutions, and enhancing enforcement operations at IMs. He said the improved guidelines for setting up new driving institutions were aimed at ensuring sufficient service provision in highly populated areas and reducing the waiting time for candidates to complete their learning process. "For instance, in Klang, Selangor, some candidates reportedly wait up to three months to complete their training, while at places like IM Intensif Sdn Bhd Adda Height here, the process only takes about a month. "In today's Special Driving Institution Enforcement Operation (OKIM) in Johor, two driving institutions were found to have committed 80 offences, such as instructors handling more students than allowed, students learning without supervision, instructors teaching without a Driving Instructor Certificate (SPIM), instructors smoking during lessons, and failing to submit teaching records (SM4), among many other violations," he said. – Bernama
