Can a foreigner buy property in Italy?

Foreigners may buy, but with permission, zones or type limits

Italy allows foreigners to buy property, but for citizens of countries outside the EU the right depends on reciprocity: it applies if Italians may buy property in the buyer's country.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

Rules change. This page describes the structure of the rule, not prices, taxes or quotas. Confirm the current position with the official source listed below, and with a lawyer in the country, before you pay anything. This is general information, not legal advice.

Land

EU citizens may buy land freely. A non-EU citizen may buy if the law of their own country gives Italians the same right.

Houses and flats

The same reciprocity rule applies to houses and apartments. In practice it is checked through the Italian foreign ministry.

Buying through a company

A foreign company may buy, subject to the same reciprocity condition if it is from outside the EU.

Limits and closed zones

Land in border zones and near military sites can carry extra restrictions.

What to watch for

A notary completes the sale. Ask a local lawyer to confirm whether reciprocity applies to your country before you commit.

Understand the legal system first

Italy belongs to the Civil law family. Property is registered and transferred differently in different traditions, so it helps to know how the system works.

Read the Italy legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
Compare Italy with another country →

Official sources

TheLawToKnow Tools’s guide to foreign property ownership is an educational overview of general rules. It is not legal advice, and it does not replace the official source or a lawyer in the country. Report a mistake.