A California woman shared her incredible experience after securing a visa for her dream life in Italy – and moving within days.
Chelsea Waite managed to secure a visa to Milan, Italy, as part of a new digital nomad visa launched in April, but so far few appear to have been able to do the same.
She joined several groups on social media for those applying for jobs, but has yet to find another successful applicant. So why are these visas so difficult to obtain?
Waite had lived in San Francisco as a PR expert and fell in love with Italy after her first visit in 2017, when she took a trip to Florence and Tuscany.
Chelsea Waite uprooted her life in San Francisco to live in Italy after the nomad visa program was announced earlier this year
Waite knew moving to Italy would be a difficult process, and it wasn’t until the nomad visa scheme was announced that she saw hope for her dream
Waite was aware of how difficult it would be to move and get a visa for herself, she said CNN: ‘I really fell in love with everything Italy had to offer, but knowing I had to find sponsorship or work, that didn’t feel feasible.’
Waite made her first trip to Italy in 2017, where she said she “fell in love with everything Italy had to offer.”
She also had a full-time job in San Francisco until the pandemic hit. In 2020, Waite started her own PR firm working with tech startups.
She then visited Milan in 2023, and upon returning to the United States, she contacted an immigration lawyer.
“I had a deep feeling that I was meant to live here,” she said,[But] they said it was even more challenging now because I was self-employed.
Waite said she was advised to find an Italian company to do business with and have a partnership contract stating that it would be beneficial for her to be in Italy, but this was not something she could pursue.
‘The lack of information was the biggest thing I struggled with. There is no one online sharing their experiences, nothing showing what you needed to get the visa,” Waite said
Waite visited Milan in 2023 and immediately saw an immigration lawyer upon her return home to San Francisco
Then, as luck would have it, the nomad visa program was launched in April 2024 and suddenly this move seemed like a possibility.
Waite sprang into action seeking information, but few details were available about the process other than telling her she needed an appointment with an Italian consulate – which is notoriously difficult to get.
She hunted for six weeks, but it was not until May that her prayers were answered.
“I randomly looked at another time of day and it took me to a portal,” she said. The usual warning of a four-month wait was not the case for Waite, as one was available just ten days later.
With information still as sparse as ever, Waite scrambled to put together whatever documentation she could that could paint her as the perfect candidate.
‘The lack of information was the biggest thing I struggled with. There is no one online sharing their experiences, nothing showing what you needed to get the visa,” she told CNN.
‘I knew ten days was quite a task; I would need a lease [on an apartment]health insurance, tax returns, client contracts and certification of my degree,” she added.
As luck would have it, Waite was able to bring it all together. Her father, who works in real estate, was able to put her in touch with a real estate agency in Milan, and she paid a deposit of three months’ rent.
She bought health insurance, graduated in a few days and collected her tax returns, as well as documentation of her remote work since 2020 and previous employment contracts.
She went a step further and also included state and federal background checks and her resume, totaling 120 pages of documentation for her appointment in June of this year.
She managed to get her life back on track in just two days after receiving her visa for her month-long trip to London on June 17
Waite also managed to bring her two rescue dogs along for her trip to London, where she would then head straight to Milan.
Ten days later, Waite received her visa and said, “by nothing short of a miracle, everything fell into place.”
Still, the stressful part was far from over. Her visa arrived just two days before her June 19 trip to London, where she would stay for a month-long trip.
Instead of seeing the trip as a reprieve from her move, Waite decided to view her stay in London as a stopover as she traveled the world.
In just 48 hours, she packed her life into suitcases and arranged for her two rescue dogs to fly with her.
She officially left her San Francisco apartment in September by hiring an assistant and enlisting friends to tidy up her things for her. Her last belongings were sent to her in suitcases by her friends.
“I love Milan,” she said. ‘I work in technology and I think it is the most business-friendly city in Italy. I can definitely see myself staying here. I have been able to meet some expats and foreigners and am starting to create a community.”
Waite has hardly been idle in her efforts to build her new life in Italy; she goes to workshops, gym classes and finds herself chatting in local cafes to make new contacts.
She has also explored Italy and beyond, taking several trips to Lake Como, Florence and Tuscany and a few flights to Greece.
She has managed to visit many places in Italy, including Lake Como, which is about an hour from Milan
Waite has worked hard to build her life in Italy by fully immersing herself in life and creating her own community
Her nomad visa lasts for one year, after which she can extend a residence permit. Five years later she can qualify for permanent residency and after ten years she can apply for an Italian passport.
‘So far my experiences have been extremely positive. “I have made new friends, other expats, and live in a beautiful apartment complex with very friendly neighbors,” she said.
Waite has said she is “extremely grateful” to have been successful in her application, but others have not been so lucky.
The Italian Consulate in London alone has issued just 13 to British residents.
Waite said there are many steps that can make you a better candidate, such as securing long-term accommodations. She added: ‘At first I thought maybe I could rent an Airbnb for a few months and then figure out permanent accommodation. , but that wouldn’t be enough.’
Applicants should secure a signed rental agreement for themselves, but should also ensure that it contains a clause allowing them to cancel if they are unable to complete their visa process.
Waite wants to help those going through the same visa process as her by offering the information she wishes was available to her at the time
Waite said she is “extremely grateful” to be living her dream lifestyle
Waite also believes applicants should demonstrate a minimum salary of more than $27,000, CNN reported, as she was able to demonstrate a higher salary in the past three years.
Finally, she told the outlet that certified qualifications and certifications are a must.
“It’s a huge requirement to assert your professional status and expertise,” she said, adding that it’s much better to be overprepared.
However, the process, as brutal as it seems, is also not suitable for people who have little savings.
Waite estimated that between $5,000 and $10,000 was spent on the entire process, with the visa application itself costing $124, as well as collecting her documentation and her deposit.
She has started working on a guide for potential nomad visa applicants, who may need help navigating the process, because she couldn’t find it.
Waite says that despite all the trials and tribulations of the process, it was worth it: “There are high highs and low lows, and it was very emotional. Just stay positive.’