Who has the obligation to register residency in Italy?
EU citizens and their family members are allowed to stay in Italy for up to 3 months without any requirement.
On the contrary, EU citizens who wish to reside in Italy for more than 3 months must register their place of residency at the competent Municipality. By doing this registration, they acquire a sort of permanent residency in Italy for EU citizens.
The same applies to citizens of:
– Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway;
– The Swiss Confederation;
– San Marino.
Even though the citizens of the above countries are not EU citizens, they can also register residency in Italy without holding a residence permit.
Advantages and Fiscal Consequences of Registering Residency
Registering residency is not only an obligation; it also makes several rights enforceable and gives access to several social and wealth fare services.
For instance, registering residency is a prerequisite to:
• Applying for citizenship after 5 years of continuous registered residency;
• Obtaining a certificate of the status of permanent resident issued by the Municipality of residency;
• Accessing social and welfare services or benefits delivered or granted by the Municipality of residency;
• Enrolling in the Italian health care system;
• Enrolling children in kindergartens managed by the Municipality of residency;
• Obtaining an Italian identity card;
• Obtaining a driving licence in Italy (if the EU national does not have one issued in his/her country, which is valid in Italy);
• Accessing assistance from Job Centres.
On the other hand, as a general rule, registering residency in Italy also implies becoming an Italian tax resident.
Main requirements to apply for the registration of residency
- Having a fiscal code;
- Having accommodation (e.g. rental agreement, declaration of hospitality by someone legally residing in Italy; ownership of a house);
- Having a valid identity document;
- Having sufficient means of subsistence not to constitute a burden on the Statal social assistance;
- Having private health insurance valid for at least 1 year from the date of the application or having enrolled in the Italian healthcare system;
- Having in Italy most of your personal interests and spend in Italy more than half a year (more than 183 days per year).
Main Procedural Steps
How to register in Italy
- Collecting all the relevant documents;
- Filing and submitting the residence registration application at the competent Municipality;
- Requesting the residence certificate at the competent Municipality;
- Requesting and issuance of the Italian Identity Card (if needed).
Time Frame
The expected timeframe for obtaining residency registration is on average between 2 and 3 months after application. In municipalities with a resident population higher than average, the timeframe may be longer.
