I moved from Missouri to Italy and started my own business. Here's how I became citizen and set up my new venture.

• Jennifer Sontag was an empty nester living in the Midwest who was bored at work and needed a change.
• She applied for Italian citizenship, and once it was granted she moved to Italy.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jennifer Sontag, the 49-year-old owner of Italian Citizenship Concierge. It has been edited for length and clarity.

The idea of moving to Italy came to me in 2015 when I learned about the possibility of acquiring Italian citizenship through my ancestry.

At first, moving to Italy seemed crazy. But it also felt right.

I was living in the Midwest and had recently become an empty nester, was divorced, and was looking for a career change.

I was ready for something new.

I want to live a more peaceful life at a slower pace, and Italy was a good fit

Of course, as a serial entrepreneur, I also was excited to begin a new chapter career-wise.

I started researching the idea of obtaining citizenship in 2016, but it wasn't until January 2020 that I got serious and began collecting all the necessary documents.

When I started looking for agencies to help with my Italian citizenship, I felt I was not being seen or heard.

I had to choose between doing the work myself or paying an agency up to $10,000. Finding all the necessary documents to obtain dual citizenship through ancestry is a roller-coaster ride. I was confused and frustrated, and even the attorneys I hired to help were confused.

I ended up applying myself, which took a couple of months. I finally received my citizenship in March 2021. The process cost me 3,400 euros.

I saw a gap in the market for people like me, which eventually led me to create my business, Italian Citizenship Concierge.

When I finally got to Terrasini, Sicily, in March 2021, the idea of starting a business seemed overwhelming

But as it turns out, it was simple to register as a working consultant. I met with a commercialista — the Italian equivalent of an accountant — who helped with legal documents, which cost only around 500 euros.

As my consultation involved American clients, I also had to set up a registration in the US, which cost around the same amount.

My business started very organically. While I worked through my citizenship process, I started helping other people I encountered on different social-media groups. This network has given me a leg up with my business. People on Facebook would ask me questions, and I would offer advice and share my experience.

Seeing the demand for help, I started working out a business plan and decided to move forward with Italian Citizenship Concierge.

Soon, the people I had helped strictly as a mentor started sending other clients my way. They began connecting me with referrals in late 2021. I spent April 2021 to December 2021 mentoring people while I built a website that launched in January 2022.

Since starting my business, I have helped over 20 clients and their families complete their applications for citizenship, with five incoming applicants this month.

The entire process usually takes about 4 months, from arrival to recognition

The average cost for everything — which includes document collection, apostilles, translations, our assistance, rent for four months, and fees paid to Italy for processing the application — is around $10,000.

We try to take care of everything. Obtaining citizenship can start a new life for many, so I help clients integrate into the community.

This is where having an amicable relationship with the locals helps — finding housing, finding schools, finding the right butcher.

Life in Italy is so different, and I'm genuinely embracing it all

I can wake up when it suits me and take walks by the beach in the morning. I then sit at my laptop and catch up on emails with clients. I take long lunches that even involve dessert.

Running my business in Italy even allows for afternoon naps before meetings with clients and partners in the US in the evenings.

It sounds like a dream because sometimes it is one.

Many Americans eligible for Italian citizenship have realized the potential merits of living in a country with free healthcare and a balanced lifestyle without the fear of guns.

I still have time for my walks, naps, and daily gelato — but it's a lot busier now with lots of inquiries

Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade and other political challenges in the US, I am also seeing a steady supply of potential clients, especially women who no longer feel safe.

Many of my clients are intrigued by the idea of "slow living," especially now that they can work remotely due to all the changes that the pandemic brought about. I've also helped several families with young children leave the US in pursuit of a better life.

I love that my business focuses on people. When people obtain dual citizenship, they gain a new passport. This creates new opportunities and a new chapter, just as it did for me.