Useful tips for students moving to Milan
Are you thinking about moving to Milan? Here we have some information that will help you to settle in this amazing Italian city.
Before starting your adventure in the Italian fashion capital, have a look at our brief guide and discover what you need to know before moving to Milan.
What to expect from your adventure abroad in Milan? This incredibly lively city will surprise you with its mix and match of atmospheres. You will discover outstanding historical sights and yet be surrounded by the most modern buildings and designer masterpieces.
Moving to Milan also means that you will meet loads of other people coming from all over the world: students and young professionals that choose this melting pot to kick off their international career.
Living abroad is challenging, but sure it will be the best thing that ever happened. Believe or not, you will be back home with new skills, acknowledgment, you will broaden your horizons and collect unforgettable memories.
Let’s have a look at our tips for moving to Milan and get ready to start your lifetime experience!
Moving to Milan, the Italian capital of fashion and design
What do you have to know before moving to Milan?
First of all, you are going to live in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, home to priceless historical treasures, such as Duomo, Castello Sforzesco, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Pinacoteca di Brera and many other amazing spots.
On the other hand, Milan also is the cradle of the latest fashion trends and visionary design philosophies. You can discover its amazing stores and luxury boutiques, visit interesting contemporary museums and attend incredible society events in the fanciest venues.
If you’re still wondering about it, the two key ingredients for a great adventure are: some very good planning and a little bit of improvisation. And our main goal is to help you get started for living in Milan and settle in the city. Therefore here we are going to provide you with the most important information.
Accommodation in Milan
One of the most important steps to take before moving to Milan is selecting the right accommodation. First of all, you have to set your budget, decide the type of housing solution, the neighbourhood and the comforts you are looking for (click here for more tips about it)
Our suggestion for young internationals is to rent a room in Milan (or a studio, better for professionals) for a brief period of time, let’s say 3 to 6 months.
The flat sharing in Milan is the best solution for those who want to build an international network by meeting other people, getting to know their languages and cultures.
Now, let’s talk about the rental market prices in Milan, which are among the highest in Italy and Europe. The average price for a room in Milan may vary from 450 to 700 euros, depending on: neighbourhood (a central location is clearly more expensive), features of the room and the apartment, what services are included, etc.
Only for a bed in a shared room, you can pay around 300 euros and if you are looking for a studio or a one-bedroom apartment by yourself, consider the double of the price for a room.
If you want to live in the centre of Milan with all the comforts and stay close to the main university campuses, just like most of the young internationals, renting a room in a shared apartment is the best solution for your budget.
As you know, the moments before your arrival can be confusing and we recognize that moving abroad can be a bit difficult, especially in the early days. Fortunately we thought about this too; in fact, thanks to the exclusive collaboration we have reserved for you with Anyvan, we offer our tenants the best parcel shipping service on the market. This way you can send or receive parcels of any size and weight, quickly and safely, as well as personalized service and low costs.
First steps to start your expat life in Milan
How to learn Italian in Milan
When you’re starting your life in Italy, learning a language and having fun can meet each other!
Milan sure is a cosmopolitan city and you won’t have any problem finding someone to practice Italian with.
What you need to know is that most of the young people in Milan speak English and you won’t have any problem surviving here! But it’s a little bit different when it comes to the older generations. Therefore, you should learn some basic Italian to communicate with them.
Beside living in shared accommodation with Italian people, our tips is to go on Facebook and look for language exchange groups and events. Or you can also download specific mobile applications to meet other people and learn Italian.
How to approach the Italian language? It depends on your personal, natural skills and on your native language. If your language has Latin roots (such as Spanish, French, Portuguese, Romanian, etc.) you can learn on field!
Speaking everyday with the locals and watching some YouTube videos will help you a lot to learn the basics.
But for those who have different roots in their native language, our suggestion is to take some classes before or upon arrival in Milan. Unlike English, Italian has a complex grammar and vocabulary.
Getting legal in Milan as a student
*The information below has been collected by the helpHousing team. Please, keep in mind that we are not directly related to any legal or government office and the information may change.
If you are planning to move to Milan, you need to learn the most important information about the legal paperwork and how to deal with the Italian immigration law.
EU Citizens (Schengen Area)
What you need when moving to Italy as European citizen:
- Tax identification number (codice fiscale): it is Issued by the Ministry of Finance, it is a document to identify citizens and it’s required to carry on several procedures, such as opening a bank account, signing a tenancy contract, completing an enrollment, etc. Check out the list of offices of Agenzia delle Entrate in Milan and get your tax code.
- NHS (National Health Service): which provides every kind of healthcare service. Choose a reference doctor and he/she will take care of things like prescriptions for pharmaceutical products, specialist visits or tests, etc.
- or private health insurance: you can also purchase a private health insurance to cover you in case of emergency or specialist visits.
As an EU citizen, you do not need to apply for any residence permit: they can stay in Italy for 90 days, always with a valid ID or passport for expatriation.
After three months you need to apply for the registration at Ufficio dell’Anagrafe (Registry office of the municipality where you live).
Required documents for the registration:
- Passport or ID;
- Certificate of enrollment at the university;
- Documentation attesting your adequate financial resources;
- A copy of your health insurance.
Non-EU Citizens
As a non-European citizen, the documents you need in order to live in Italy are:
- Tax identification number (codice fiscale): it is Issued by the Ministry of Finance, it is a document to identify citizens and it’s required to carry on several procedures, such as opening a bank account, signing a tenancy contract, completing an enrollment, etc. Check out the list of offices of Agenzia delle Entrate in Milan and get your tax code.
- NHS (National Health Service): which provides every kind of healthcare service. Choose a reference doctor and he/she will take care of things like prescriptions for pharmaceutical products, specialist visits or tests, etc.
- or private health insurance: you can also purchase a private health insurance to cover you in case of emergency or specialist visits.
- Residence Visa in Italy: if this is your first application, request the visa within the first week you are in the country. Fill and submit the Italian residence permit application kit in one of the post offices (look for the Sportello Amico desk) and then you will need to go to Questura (police headquarters) on the date of the appointment.
Required documents for the application:
- A copy of your passport
- Four photos of you (passport size)
- Documentation regarding your study program (with the duration and the stamp of the Italian diplomatic representation that issued your visa).
- A copy of the payment receipt for the healthcare insurance (that has to cover your entire stay in Italy).
Healthcare system in Italy
As mentioned above, the first thing to do in order to have access to the National Healthcare System is to apply for the Tax Identification Number.
And oh, you should know that Italy has a great public healthcare system, one of the best in the world!
Read here how to apply for the NHS as an EU and Non-EU citizen or you can always choose to get private insurance, which you can purchase at a very reasonable price.
How to open a bank account in Italy
Before opening an Italian bank account you should consider a couple of things: are you moving to Milan for study reasons or to work? For how long? Are you European or non European?
If you are a professional, your company will surely ask you to open a bank account. If you are a student, our tip is that you open it only if you’re going to stay in Milan for a long period of time or if you are a Non European student. In this case, the Italian bank account will make you save loads of money in commissions and change fees.
What you need to open a bank account in Italy:
1. You must be at least 18 years old;
2. Have a valid identification document (ID or Passport);
3. Have a Tax Identification Number (codice fiscale);
4. Never committed business bankrupt;
5. Pay a small, first amount.
Well, nothing left to say. We truly hope this can be useful to start planning your move to Milan. Are you ready?