An Italian Town Is Willing to Pay You More Than P1.6 Million to Move There
Maybe moving to Italy doesn't sound too crazy, after all.
If you've dreamt about living by the coasts all your life, you might have your wish granted soon. It turns out that Calabria, a town in the south of Italy, is offering foreigners the opportunity to enjoy its villages. In hopes of increasing its number of residents, the local government is offering residency applications that come with a sizable amount for relocation.
In other words, yes, you will be paid to stay here, too, just as long as you pass the application process. Of course, there is a catch: you have to be willing to help boost the local economy.
A charming Italian town, Calabria is best known for its ancient villages and clear waters. One of its most enduring tourist locations is the town of Tropea, which is positioned atop a cliff above the Tyrrhenian, reminiscent of the view of the Amalfi Coast. It's the seaside escape you've always imagined, minus the overcrowding.
So what are some of the baseline requirements to make it happen then?
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For starters, you're only eligible to take up the grant if you're 40 years old and younger, and only if you're willing to start a business or find a job in the area. With this, you get to receive a payment of €28,000 (P1.6 Million) to relocate to villages with 2,000 residents or fewer. Takers may choose to have the lump sum paid upfront or in monthly installments, as well. This would mean £1,000 (P59,000) per month over a span of three years.
The local council had come up with the idea to offer grants to meet the demand for work in the area. If the active residency income scheme pans out, it hopes to offer more friendly relocation programs in the near future.
It wasn't too long ago that the news of Italian villages offering homes for $50,000 (About P3.5 million) made headlines. In Campania, for instance, there were abandoned homes offered at Bisaccia, Teora, Altavilla Silentina, and Zungoli for just $1.
Over the years, a rapidly declining population and a growing number of abandoned homes in Italy have led some local governments to offer similar grants. Programs like these exist for other towns in the country, including Presicce-Acquarica, Santa Fiora, Santo Stefano di Sessanio, and Sardinia, among others. Most of them offer anywhere between €15,000 and €30,000 to relocate to certain villages that meet the criteria.
For more details on the documents needed for the application process, visit the official Calabria website here. You may well just be a few pieces of paperwork away from your Italian coastal life.
