Many countries from outside the EU, including the UK and the US, have reciprocal agreements with Italy, meaning citizens can purchase property in Italy without legal residency and vice versa.

However, you need an Italian tax code to buy a home here. EU citizens can apply for this through any office of the Italian Revenue Agency with a valid ID.

For non-EU citizens who plan to relocate to Italy, tax codes are allocated by local immigration offices or police district headquarters, depending on your type of residence permit. If you're not relocating to Italy, you can nominate a representative to apply for a code for you from the Italian Revenue Agency.

How to buy a €1 house: from visas to costs, everything you need to know