Buying your first home in Napoli as an expatriate

Legal assistance for those relocating from abroad and purchasing a residence in Napoli

Buying your first home in Napoli as an expatriate relocating to Italy


The expatriate who has decided to establish residence in Napoli and wishes to purchase a primary residence faces a series of legal and fiscal considerations that differ from those applicable to non-resident purchasers.
First-home (prima casa) tax benefits — which significantly reduce the registration tax — are available to purchasers who establish residence in the municipality of Napoli within eighteen months of the purchase.
The firm is available to assist the relocating expatriate with the eligibility requirements, the contractual process, and the post-purchase compliance obligations.


The purchase procedure in Napoli follows the standard Italian conveyancing model: preliminary contract, due diligence encompassing building compliance, cadastral verification, and encumbrance searches, followed by the notarial deed.
For the expatriate unfamiliar with the Italian system, the firm provides step-by-step assistance in English, ensuring that every phase is managed with full awareness of the client's rights and obligations.


Tax benefits for expatriates — the impatriati regime


Qualifying expatriates who transfer their tax residence to Italy may benefit from the impatriati tax regime, which can reduce taxable employment or self-employment income by fifty percent, up to an annual income threshold of six hundred thousand euros.
This regime, combined with the prima casa tax benefits on the property purchase, can render the relocation to Napoli particularly advantageous from a fiscal perspective.
The firm advises on the eligibility conditions, the application procedure, and the interaction between the impatriati regime and the property acquisition.


How to proceed — preliminary consultation


The first recommended step is to schedule a thirty-minute preliminary consultation, available in English, to evaluate the specific relocation and purchase scenario and identify the applicable benefits and obligations.
The firm outlines the principal steps typically required to complete the purchase and establish residence in Napoli.


Book a consultation with L’Aurora Law Firm
  • The L'Aurora Law Firm is available for those requiring highly professional virtual legal consultation and personalized solutions in Napoli. We offer a rich range of customized legal services suitable to satisfy the needs of private individuals, companies and professionals.
  • We remain always updated on legislative developments and the most recent judicial trends, ensuring comprehensive, personalized and cutting-edge assistance. Every client is unique and has specific needs, which is why we offer customized and strategic consultations, designed to resolve legal matters quickly and with maximum effectiveness, both in the private sphere and in professional and business contexts.
  • Our approach is based on a meticulous, thorough and detailed analysis of each situation, providing practical, concrete solutions always aimed at protecting the interests and rights of our clients. We are convinced that mutual trust, absolute transparency and clear communication are the keys to building a solid and lasting professional relationship, therefore we guarantee open, constant and direct dialogue with our clients, keeping them punctually informed at every stage of proceedings.
  • We offer qualified virtual legal consultation in Napoli and in the region of Campania, operating competently in numerous sectors of law, including civil, commercial, corporate, labor and criminal. Whether it involves complex contractual disputes, family issues or business litigation, we are ready to provide you with all the professional legal support you need to face every challenge with confidence and serenity.
  • We operate with dedication, expertise and professional rigor to achieve concrete and measurable results, always with the primary objective of ensuring the complete legal protection and safeguarding of our clients' rights. Contact us for an initial introductory meeting and discover how we can assist you in managing every legal matter with professionalism, precision and promptness.
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FAQ
  • Does the law firm handle legal matters related to Napoli?
    • The firm provides specialised legal counsel on matters involving Napoli and the surrounding territory — irrespective of the client's place of residence.
    • From property disputes to local regulations, employment law to family matters: should a case be connected to Napoli or neighbouring municipalities such as Casavatore, Calvizzano, Cercola, the firm is available to assist.
    • Consultations are conducted remotely via video call or telephone, without the need to attend the office in person.
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  • Can legal assistance be obtained for a matter involving Napoli without residing there?
    • The firm handles legal matters connected to the territory of Napoli and surrounding municipalities, regardless of where the client is based.
    • Cases involving local real estate, commercial activities, contracts, inheritance and disputes tied to the following areas are fully covered: Casavatore, Calvizzano, Cercola, Massa di Somma, San Sebastiano al Vesuvio, Volla, San Giorgio a Cremano, Casandrino, Pollena Trocchia, Mugnano di Napoli.
    • The firm is available to provide qualified legal assistance tailored to each specific situation.
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  • Does the firm assist with online fraud, cryptocurrency scams, trading fraud or family law matters connected to Napoli?
    • The firm assists victims of online fraud, cryptocurrency scams and unauthorised trading platforms connected to the Napoli area, conducting a preliminary legal assessment to determine whether the conditions exist to pursue fund recovery, and providing support in filing complaints with the Postal Police.
    • The firm also handles family law matters — separation, divorce, child custody and contested inheritance — connected to the territory of Napoli and surrounding municipalities such as Casavatore, Calvizzano, Cercola.
    • Whether the client has been defrauded by a fraudulent broker, suffered losses through an abusive crypto platform, or requires legal support in a family dispute, a remote consultation can be arranged from any location.
    • Book a consultation for your case →
  • Does the firm provide legal assistance for over-indebtedness and debt crisis procedures connected to Napoli?
    • The firm offers specialised legal assistance for over-indebtedness procedures under Italian Law No. 3/2012 and the Business Crisis Code (D.Lgs. 14/2019), assisting both private individuals and sole traders connected to the Napoli area.
    • Available procedures include the debt restructuring plan, the consumer arrangement, and the controlled liquidation of assets — instruments designed to provide a lawful and structured resolution to situations of financial distress.
    • Clients residing in or holding assets within Casavatore, Calvizzano, Cercola, Massa di Somma, San Sebastiano al Vesuvio, Volla, San Giorgio a Cremano, Casandrino, Pollena Trocchia, Mugnano di Napoli and surrounding municipalities may access these procedures with the support of the firm.
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INTERNATIONAL CLIENTS REQUIRING REAL ESTATE AND INHERITANCE LAW ASSISTANCE IN NAPOLI


  • Inherited property in Napoli — assistance for Argentine and Brazilian heirs
    • Descendants of Italian emigrants residing in Argentina or Brazil frequently inherit property in Napoli or neighbouring municipalities in Napoli. In many instances, the succession chain involves multiple generations and requires reconstruction of civil status documentation across Italian and South American registries. The firm regularly handles cases involving apostilled foreign documents, consular certificates, and multi-party successions where co-heirs reside on different continents. Where the inherited property is encumbered by debts or building irregularities, the firm advises on acceptance with benefit of inventory under Articles 484 and following of the Italian Civil Code, or on strategic renunciation under Article 519 of the Italian Civil Code.
    • Schedule a preliminary consultation
  • Cross-border property transactions between France and Napoli
    • French nationals acquiring or inheriting property in Napoli benefit from EU Succession Regulation No. 650/2012, which permits the choice of applicable law for succession matters. However, the Italian conveyancing system, cadastral regime, and building compliance framework remain exclusively governed by Italian law. The firm provides French-speaking clients with structured guidance through each phase of the real estate transaction or succession procedure in Napoli, ensuring alignment with both Italian regulatory requirements and the client's obligations under French fiscal law, including reporting to the Direction générale des finances publiques.
    • Schedule a preliminary consultation
  • Italian property inheritance for US and Canadian heirs in Napoli
    • A United States or Canadian citizen who has inherited real property in Napoli or in the province of Napoli is required to complete the Italian succession procedure, regardless of residence abroad. The process entails filing a declaration of succession with the competent Revenue Agency, settling applicable inheritance taxes — which differ substantially from US estate tax provisions — and registering the transfer with the local land registry. Where building code violations affect the property, preliminary regularisation may be necessary before any disposition. Remote assistance may be provided for the principal procedural steps, which may allow the heir to fulfil obligations without travelling to Campania, depending on the specific circumstances of the case.
    • Schedule a preliminary consultation
  • Real estate acquisition near Napoli for German and Swiss buyers
    • German and Swiss nationals represent a significant share of foreign property purchasers in Campania. Whether acquiring a primary residence, a holiday home, or an investment property in the Napoli area, the purchaser must contend with Italian conveyancing procedures, cadastral verifications, building compliance assessments, and a taxation framework distinct from that of Germany or Switzerland. The bilateral conventions for the avoidance of double taxation between Italy and each country have direct implications for property income and capital gains. The firm offers dedicated assistance in German legal terminology where required, with the aim of supporting the client's interests from preliminary inquiry through to registration.
    • Schedule a preliminary consultation
  • Purchasing property in Napoli as a British citizen after Brexit
    • Since the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union, British nationals seeking to acquire real estate in Napoli must navigate a distinct regulatory framework. Reciprocity conditions under Italian law must be verified, tax identification must be obtained, and the conveyancing procedure differs markedly from the English system of solicitors and land registry. Furthermore, post-Brexit residence considerations apply where the purchaser intends to reside in the property for extended periods. The firm is available to assist UK clients at each stage of the acquisition process in the Napoli area, from preliminary due diligence and building compliance verification through to notarial deed execution.
    • Schedule a preliminary consultation

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FROM INTERNATIONAL CLIENTS IN NAPOLI


  • How long does the property purchase process take in Napoli?
    • From the signing of the preliminary contract (compromesso) to the final notarial deed (rogito), the typical timeframe in Napoli ranges from sixty to one hundred and twenty days, depending on the complexity of due diligence, mortgage approval if applicable, and cadastral verifications. Building compliance issues may extend this period.
    • Schedule a preliminary consultation
  • Do I need to pay IMU property tax as a non-resident owner in Napoli?
    • Non-resident property owners in Napoli are generally subject to IMU (Imposta Municipale Unica) at the applicable municipal rate, which varies by municipality and property category. The primary residence exemption is not available to non-resident owners unless specific conditions are met. The firm advises on the applicable rates and filing obligations.
    • Schedule a preliminary consultation
  • Can a foreign citizen purchase property in Napoli without Italian residency?
    • Yes, subject to the verification of reciprocity conditions under Italian law. Citizens of countries with which Italy maintains reciprocity agreements — including the United States, the United Kingdom, and all EU member states — may acquire real property in Napoli without holding Italian residency. The purchaser must obtain an Italian fiscal code prior to the transaction.
    • Schedule a preliminary consultation
  • Is a power of attorney sufficient to complete a property sale in Napoli without being present?
    • A non-resident owner may grant a special power of attorney (procura speciale notarile) to an appointed representative, enabling the sale of property in Napoli without the owner's physical presence at the notarial deed. The power of attorney must be executed before an Italian consulate abroad or before a foreign notary with subsequent apostille and sworn translation.
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Book a Meeting, in person or virtually at the office in Terracina or virtually for clients from Napoli

Appointments Information

The law firm of Liliana L’Aurora is located at Via Roma 116, Terracina (LT)