France or Italy
Two countries side by side across the same rows as the full comparison. A dash means the value is missing: fields are not filled with guesses. about the data
| France | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Salary in IT | $ 79 660 | $ 53 258 |
| Citizenship | 5 years | 10 years |
| Partner can work | yes | yes |
| Parents | difficult | difficult |
| Pets | no trouble | no trouble |
| Pet limit | 5 | 5 |
| Quarantine | no | no |
| Residence permit fee | — | — |
| Rent, 2 bedrooms | $ 1 707 | $ 1 920 · estimate |
| Basket | $ 51,8 | $ 47,1 |
| Life expectancy | 82.98 | 83.95 |
| Homicides/100k | 1.33 | 0.57 |
| Natural hazards, 0–10 | 4 | 5 |
How the two sets of routes differ
Long-stay routes in this reference: France — 94, Italy — 45. Types present in both: work, study, family, investment, retirement, job seeking and working holiday. France adds: startup and talent. Italy adds: remote work.
Fees, thresholds and deadlines
France: fees range from 50 to 350 EUR. Routes with no fee: 23. Routes stating an income threshold: 21; the lowest is 615 EUR a month. Routes with a published decision deadline: 73; the shortest is 60 days. Italy: fees range from 40 to 100 EUR. Routes with a published decision deadline: 5; the shortest is 20 days.
Beyond the first permit
Permanent status: both after 5 years. Citizenship: France after 5 years, Italy after 10 years. Both allow a second citizenship.
France in brief
A large EU economy with a developed tech market in Paris, Lyon and Toulouse, universal healthcare and dual citizenship allowed. Entry and settling in are held back by French at B2 for naturalisation, the absence of a separate simplified route for parents, the need to reissue the Passeport Talent when changing employer in the first two years, plus marked regional differences in crime (Marseille) and recurring summer heatwaves.
Italy in brief
Italy is a large EU economy with a developed health system that allows dual citizenship, but with a long naturalisation period (10 years for most foreigners) and IT salaries below Northern European levels. Natural hazards are above the EU average because of seismic and volcanic activity in several regions. EU sanctions compliance complicates banking for some applicants, and since November 2025 the EU has restricted the issue of multiple-entry Schengen visas.
Other comparisons
More on each: France · Italy. Build your own comparison — up to four countries
This material is for reference and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Visa rules, tax thresholds and prices change. Before deciding anything, check the official sources and consult a licensed professional in the relevant country.