Italy is offering up to €15,000 to move to Sardinia: who is eligible for the money

Sardinia offers a support program for those who purchase or renovate a home in a small municipality on the island. The non-repayable grant can be up to €15,000, but applicants must cover at least half of the costs themselves and meet the requirements for registering their place of residence. Learn more about the program’s terms, eligible towns, and the application process

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Moving to Sardinia may become more affordable thanks to a regional program aimed at combating population decline. The island’s authorities are providing non-repayable grants for the purchase or renovation of a primary residence in small municipalities.

The maximum grant amount is €15,000 per recipient and their family. However, the grant covers no more than 50% of verified expenses, so the applicant must pay the remaining amount out of pocket. The funds are not provided simply for the desire to settle on the island; they must be used for a specific property that will serve as the family’s primary residence.

In 2026, regional authorities updated the rules and expanded the program to include municipalities with a population of up to 5,000. Priority is given to applicants moving from outside Sardinia or from abroad, applicants under the age of 40, newly formed families, and families with minor children. Each municipality sets its own final criteria, deadlines, and application procedures in its own announcement.

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Why is Sardinia offering grants to new residents?

The program is part of Italy’s regional policy to combat depopulation. Small communities in the inland areas of Sardinia are hardest hit by population decline: young people are moving to large cities or off the island, homes are left vacant, and local businesses and social services lack a steady population.

To support these areas, the Autonomous Region of Sardinia funds several initiatives: the purchase and renovation of first homes, assistance for families with children, the establishment or relocation of businesses, and tax incentives for companies. The region has allocated over €360 million for measures to combat depopulation between 2022 and 2025.

The housing grant program was previously available to municipalities with populations of fewer than 3,000 people. Starting in 2026, it was expanded to include communities with populations of no more than 5,000 people. €15 million is allocated for this initiative each year from 2026 to 2028.

The goal of the funding is not merely to sell vacant homes. The government aims to attract people who will actually settle in the community, register their primary residence there, use local services, and support the local economy. That is why the grant is tied to the purchase or renovation of a primary residence and requires long-term residency in the property.

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What can you receive up to €15,000 for?

The program provides non-repayable financial assistance for the purchase or renovation of a first home in one of Sardinia’s small municipalities.

The maximum grant amount is €15,000, but it cannot exceed 50% of eligible expenses. Therefore, the applicant must have their own funds to cover at least half of the purchase price or renovation costs.

Funding can be used for:

1. The purchase of a house or apartment that will serve as the applicant’s primary residence

2. Renovation or major repairs of a property already purchased

3. A combination of purchasing real estate and its subsequent renovation, if permitted by the terms of a specific municipal call for proposals

4. Work on a property located within the territory of a municipality participating in the program

For example, if eligible expenses for the purchase or renovation total €20,000, the grant may cover no more than €10,000. To qualify for the maximum €15,000, verified expenses must total at least €30,000.

Assistance is provided to a single applicant and their household. This means that spouses or members of the same family cannot separately receive multiple grants for the same residence solely to increase the total amount of funding. Each municipality specifies the exact rules regarding applicants, eligible expenses, and required documents in its own announcement.

It is also important not to confuse this program with other regional business assistance programs. The grant of up to €15,000 for housing is intended specifically for the purchase or renovation of a primary residence. Separate grants for starting or relocating a business are awarded through different competitions and have their own criteria.

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Who is eligible for the grant?

Applications may be submitted by individuals who are purchasing or renovating their first home in a Sardinian municipality with a population of up to 5,000. Each municipality sets the exact requirements, deadlines, and list of required documents in its own call for applications.

During the evaluation of applications, additional points may be awarded to:

- People moving to Sardinia from another region of Italy or from abroad

- Applicants under the age of 40

- Young families

- Families with minor children

- Sardinian natives returning to the island and their descendants

Belonging to one of these categories does not guarantee receipt of a grant. Funding is allocated on a competitive basis within the budget of the specific municipality.

The standard regulations, a sample municipal call for applications, and the application form are published on the official website of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia. However, documents must be submitted directly to the selected municipality once the local call for applications opens.

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What requirements must be met?

The grant is awarded only to those who will use the purchased or renovated property as their primary residence. According to the 2026 standard rules, the recipient must:

- Sign the final purchase agreement within six months if only a preliminary agreement was attached to the application

- Register their residence at this house or apartment within six months after the final grant payment

- Maintain registration at this address for at least five years

- Not sell or rent out the property for five years

- Begin renovation work within six months after the municipality has allocated the funds

- Complete the work within 24 months, unless the building permit specifies a different timeframe

The property must comply with urban planning, building, and cadastral regulations. Expenses must be supported by documentation and paid for in a traceable manner, such as by bank transfer. Notary fees, furniture, and other related expenses are not covered by the grant.

In the event of a violation of the deadlines or the obligation to reside in the home, the municipality may demand full or partial repayment of the funds received, along with interest.

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How do I apply for the grant?

There is no single online application form for all of Sardinia. Funds are distributed by municipalities, so the application must be submitted directly to the municipality where the applicant plans to purchase or renovate a home. Each municipality independently announces the call for applications, sets deadlines, and specifies how to submit documents.

Steps to follow:

1. Select a municipality with a population of up to 5,000

2. Find the “Bandi,” “Avvisi,” or “Amministrazione trasparente” section on its official website

3. Check whether a call for applications for the purchase or renovation of a primary residence is open

4. Download the local application form and the list of required documents

5. Submit your application using the method specified in the call for applications: via certified email (PEC), the municipal portal, or in person at the registry office

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The official website of the Sardinia regional program publishes standard rules, a sample municipal call for applications, and the Modello modulo di domanda form in PDF and DOCX formats. This is a template that municipalities use to prepare their own documents, not a ready-made centralized application form.

Typically, the application must be accompanied by a form of identification, a tax ID number, property documents or a preliminary purchase agreement, a cost estimate for the renovation work, and declarations of compliance with the established criteria. The exact list of required documents should be verified in the announcement issued by the selected municipality.

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