For EU & EEA citizens
Establishing residency in Italy, without the guesswork.
A step-by-step reference for the national residency journey — every page dated and cited to official Italian and EU sources, so you (and your lawyer, and your search assistant) can trust it.
Not an EU/EEA citizen? Start with our non-EU orientation →
Pick your city (grouped by region) to see local specifics — your comune's anagrafe office for residency, and your region's health authority for the SSN — layered on top of the national steps.
The residency journey
- 1
Getting your codice fiscale
How EU/EEA citizens obtain an Italian tax code (codice fiscale) — the free, foundational ID needed for almost every step of settling in Italy.
- 2
Registering your residency (anagrafe)
How EU/EEA citizens register as residents at their Italian comune (iscrizione anagrafica) — required for stays over three months, and the gateway to the health service.
- 3
Enrolling in the health service (SSN)
How EU/EEA residents enrol in Italy's national health service (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale), get a tessera sanitaria, and choose a family doctor.
- 4
Getting a digital identity (SPID & CIE)
How EU/EEA residents get an Italian digital identity — SPID or the CIE electronic ID card — to log in to INPS, the tax and health portals, and comune services.
- 5
Opening a bank account
How EU/EEA citizens open an Italian bank account — your EU right to a basic account (conto di base), what banks require, and the stamp-duty rules.
- 6
Your driving licence in Italy
What happens to an EU/EEA driving licence when you become an Italian resident — how long it stays valid, when conversion is required, and how conversion works.
- 7
Tax residency basics
When a newcomer becomes an Italian tax resident — the post-2024 criteria, what worldwide taxation means, and when your first Italian tax return is due.
- 8
Bringing non-EU family members
How a non-EU spouse or relative of an EU citizen settles in Italy — entry, the 5-year carta di soggiorno from the Questura, and their registration rights.
Beyond the journey
- Not an EU citizen? Seven visa and permit routes covered in detail — from the digital-nomad visa to long-term residence.
- Italian citizenship The residence ladder (4 years for EU citizens), marriage, and descent after the 2025 reform.
- Renting a home Contract types, the 30-day registration rule, the 3-month deposit cap, cedolare secca.
- School for your children Compulsory 6–16, mid-year enrolment at any time, the Unica window, what is actually free.
- Driving on your licence EU licences work as-is; non-EU ones for one year — then conversion or the Italian exams.
- The full checklist Every step and every document on one printable page.
Why trust this guide
Dated
Every page shows when it was last verified and when it is next due for review. Overdue pages are flagged, not silently trusted.
Sourced
Each page cites the primary official sources it is based on. The site cannot publish a page without them.
Narrow on purpose
We cover the EU national residency journey deeply rather than everything shallowly — so the information stays accurate.
The receipts are public: every re-verification is logged on the updates page, and every citation is indexed on the sources page.