In 2024 I started exploring the possibility of expanding my business into Europe.

At the time it was just that — exploration.

Like many founders, I had a sense that there might be opportunities outside Australia, but assumptions are dangerous things in business. Before making any decisions, I wanted to test whether the opportunities I imagined were actually real.

So I started where many founders do when they're looking for signals — I got on a plane.

I travelled to Austin for SXSW in 2024 and while I was stateside I also attended Female Founders Express in New York. The goal was simple: listen, observe, and validate whether the US was the right place to expand.

What I discovered surprised me.

While the ecosystem was energetic and ambitious, the political climate in the US at the time raised some red flags for me personally. Expansion is never just a commercial decision — it’s also a lifestyle decision, a regulatory decision, and sometimes a values decision.

So I stepped back from the US opportunity and turned my attention toward Europe.

Following signals, one step at a time

In 2025 I connected with the Italian Trade Agency. I started attending their online events and learning more about what Italy was doing to attract international founders and entrepreneurs.

One conversation led to another, and eventually we co-hosted an event for female founders exploring the idea of expanding into Italy as a European base.

At that point the idea of moving from exploration to action started to feel real.

The team at the Italian Trade Agency also shared information about the different visa pathways available for entrepreneurs and independent professionals. That kicked off what I can only describe as a very deep research rabbit hole.

I spent many hours reading through the visa requirements, trying to understand which pathway I would actually qualify for.

There are several options, and each has slightly different criteria. Choosing the right one matters because the documentation you prepare needs to align precisely with the visa category.

Eventually I narrowed the options down and started preparing the documentation.

This is where I made my first rookie mistake.

The small mistake that delayed everything

Even though my research had been thorough, I missed one sequencing detail that turned into a major delay.

The police check.

It sounds simple, but it needs to be completed early because it must also be formally apostilled before it can be submitted with the visa application. Because I didn’t start that process immediately, everything else slowed down.

To make things even more interesting, I began the process in November.

Which meant December arrived quickly.
And December meant Christmas closures.
And January meant offices reopening slowly.

Suddenly every appointment I needed had to be booked through online portals — and most of them were weeks in advance. What started as a straightforward administrative process began to feel like a race against time.

Eventually, with the police check completed and the apostille in hand, I submitted my application to the Italian Consulate in Sydney.

That’s when the next surprise arrived.

When the visa changed mid-process

When I submitted my documents I was informed that I would not be applying for the visa I had prepared for.

Instead, I would be applying for Italy’s new Digital Nomad Visa.

On one hand, that was good news. On the other hand, the visa was so new that the consulate team themselves were still becoming familiar with the exact requirements.

What followed was a few more visits to the consulate, a lot of emails, and a fair amount of patience.

Eventually the documentation was accepted and the visa looked promising.

And then one final curveball arrived.

The visa printing system had gone into maintenance mode.
No printing.
No visa.

And no timeline for when it would be back online. The consulate suggested Thursday or Friday.

But there was a problem. I was flying out on Wednesday.

The moment I almost gave up

I won’t pretend I handled that moment with perfect composure.

After months of preparation, the thought of having to fly back to Sydney within 90 days just to collect the visa was more than a little disheartening.

A few quiet tears were shed. Then I finished packing.

Sometimes when a process has taken that much energy, you simply accept what is outside your control and keep moving forward.

And then something unexpected happened.

The miracle

On the morning of my flight, my phone rang.

It was the consulate.

“Lisa, can you bring your passport in? The printer is back online.”

Within a blink of an eye, I was in an Uber.

Unshowered.

Still in my workout clothes.

Heading straight to the consulate.

Passport in hand.

Then ... the Visa was printed.

If you believe in miracles, I now have evidence.

The part nobody talks about

The visa itself was only one piece of the puzzle.

One of the biggest surprises was the housing requirement. To support the visa application I needed to secure a 12-month lease in Italy and provide the certified lease as part of the documentation. Committing to a property in a country where you don’t yet live is not for the faint-hearted.

Many agencies were offering leases structured as 4 + 4 year agreements — effectively an eight-year commitment. That definitely caused a few heart palpitations.

Fortunately I found a property manager who works with expats and entrepreneurs. She included a break clause in a 12-month lease that allows me to exit with three months notice if things go sideways.

That small detail made a very big difference.

A moment of perspective

I’ll admit something honestly.

I’ve moved house many times in Australia. Packing boxes and relocating within your own country feels like a big task. But setting up life in another country is something else entirely.

The logistics.
The paperwork.
The language.

The emotional weight of it all.

It also gave me a completely new appreciation for the people who have moved to Australia to build their lives. That takes courage.

And if they’ve done it while building a business as well, that’s another layer of complexity again.

Bank accounts.
Company structures.
Taxation rules.

Every system works differently.

Why I still chose to do it

There’s another detail people often ask about.

I’m a single woman in my mid-50s. My son — who is now 26 — stayed in Australia. When I explain that I moved to Italy on my own, many Italians look at me with genuine curiosity.

“Why would you come here alone?”

The answer is simple. Because it feels like the right place at the right time. Sometimes life sends signals.

And when those signals keep appearing, the best thing you can do is take the next step forward and see where it leads. If something changes later, I can always pivot. But if I never explored the possibility, I would always wonder.

What happens next

Next week will be my first real week exploring the startup ecosystem here in Milan and Monza.

I already have an event with a group of expat women in business, and I’m starting to look for startup summits and ecosystem gatherings.

I’ve also been watching the European funding landscape closely.

There are some very interesting opportunities emerging here — particularly for women founders — and I’m looking forward to sharing what I discover with the women in my network.

One final thought

If there’s one lesson from this experience, it’s this:

Sometimes the vision that sits quietly in the back of your mind is there for a reason.

It doesn’t mean you jump blindly.

You research.
You test.
You mitigate risk.
You take one step at a time.

But it also doesn’t mean you wait forever.

Because it’s never too late to explore something that feels meaningful.

And occasionally — just occasionally — the visa printer comes back online exactly when you need it to.