The following information reflects the most commonly submitted queries which this Embassy receives.
Please be aware that the FAQ’s in English display information which is more commonly of interest to all people living in the UK who need information on Italian matters, whereas the FAQ’s in Italian provide information which is commonly requested by Italian citizens living in the UK or who intend to move to the UK.
1. Commonly Requested Consular Services
1.1. Visa
1.2. UK Passport validity for travelling to Italy
1.3. Italian Passport
1.4. Citizenship
1.5. Registry Office (To register a marriage, divorce, birth or death in Italy)
1.6. Residential Registration (AIRE Anagrafe Italiani Residenti all'Estero)
1.7. Official translations
2. Notary Issues
2.1. Criminal Check
2.2. Inheritance
3. Economic Issues
3.1. Investing in Italy
3.2. Trading with Italian Companies
3.3. Properties belonging to the Italian State
3.4. Issue of codice fiscale
4. Studying
4.1. Scholarships for foreign students in Italy
4.2. Studies-Degree Recognition
4.3. Enrolment at Italian Universities
4.4. Information for students reasearching Italy
5. Italy: Holidays and Culture
5.1. Uk passport validity for traveling to Italy
5.2. Luggage restrictions
5.3. Tourist information
5.4. Information on upcoming transportation strikes
5.5. Italian cultural project proposals in the UK
6. Italian Government
6.1. List of Italian Ministries
7. Moving to Italy
7.1. Residency requirements
7.2. Finding a job
7.3. Italian tax system
7.4. Schools
7.5. Registering a vehicle
7.6. Driving licence
7.7. Travelling to Italy with pets
7.8. Tourist information
7.9. Purchasing a property
8. British institutions in Italy
8.1. List of British institutions
____________________________________________________________________
1.1 Visa
Kindly note this Embassy does not provide this type of service, which is handled by the Italian consulates. You should therefore address your request to the Italian consulate of reference for the area in which you reside in the UK. The Italian consulates in the UK and their consular districts, their full addresses and contact information can be found by consulting this page.
You can self-assess whether you need a visa for Italy and access further visa information by consulting the website of the Italian Foreign Ministry.
1.2 UK Passport validity for travelling to Italy
Foreigners may travel to Italy provided their UK passport is valid when they
exit Italy (no minimum validity required). This applies to all EU passport-holders.
If you have a non EU passport, please consult the website of the Italian Foreign Ministry to verify whether you need a visa to enter Italy.
1.3 Italian Passport
Kindly note this Embassy does not provide this type of service, which is handled by the Italian consulates. You should therefore address your request to the Italian consulate of reference for the area in which you reside in the UK. The Italian consulates in the UK and their consular districts, their full addresses and contact information can be found by consulting this page.
Once you will have identified your Italian consulate of reference, please visit the web site of that Consulate for more detailed passport information.
Please note that if you do not have Italian citizenship, and you are eligible to apply for it, you will first have to formally obtain Italian citizenship before being able to request an Italian passport (see next point).
1.4 Citizenship
Kindly note this Embassy does not provide this type of service, which is handled by the Italian consulates. You should therefore address your request to the Italian consulate of reference for the area in which you reside in the UK. The Italian consulates in the UK and their consular districts, their full addresses and contact information can be found by consulting this page.
Once you will have identified your Italian consulate of reference, please visit the web site of that Consulate for more detailed citizenship information.
Additional information on Italian citizenship can also be found on the website of the Italian Ministry of the Interior.
1.5 Registry Office (To register a Marriage, Divorce, Birth or Death in Italy)
Kindly note this Embassy does not provide this type of service, which is handled by the Italian consulates. You should therefore address your request to the Italian consulate of reference for the area in which you reside in the UK. The Italian consulates in the UK and their consular districts, their full addresses and contact information can be found by consulting this page.
Once you will have identified your Italian consulate of reference, please visit the web site of that consulate for more detailed information for registering British certificates of birth, marriage and death, and divorce decrees relating to Italian citizens. Once submitted to the consulate of reference, these documents will not be kept but will be sent to the relevant Italian town hall for registration.
Should you require it, this link will download a list of professional translators who can assist with translations of documents from Italian to English or vice versa.
1.6 Residential Registration (AIRE Anagrafe Italiani Residenti all'Estero)
Kindly note this Embassy does not provide this type of service, which is handled by the Italian consulates. You should therefore address your request to the Italian consulate of reference for the area in which you reside in the UK. The Italian consulates in the UK and their consular districts, their full addresses and contact information can be found by consulting this page.
Registring your residence through the consulate of reference does not require going to that consulate in person. Just download, complete and mail the AIRE registration form (downloadable from the web site of the Italian consulate of reference for the area in which you reside in the UK). Please follow the instructions provided on the form very carefully.
Click here for general information on AIRE, but should you have additional queries or wish to register, please refer to your consulate of reference.
For changes of address or if you are definitively leaving the consular district.
To communicate your change of address, you should send your written notification by e-mail or snail mail to the Italian Consulate of reference for the area in which you reside in the UK.
It is important that you update your address whenever you move so that important updates regarding future Italian elections or administrative issues, which may have legal consequences for you, can be brought to your attention. You should also let the consulate know if you move to another country, so that your AIRE (residential) status can be updated.
The confirmation of the update does not come from the Consulate but from the Comune (town hall) of reference in Italy, since it is the town halls which are ultimately responsible for completing AIRE registrations/cancellations and updates.
You should also contact the Italian consulate of reference for the area in which you reside in the UK for any changes in your family's civil status (see previous point).
1.7 Official translations
Neither the Embassy nor the Consulates provide translation services, so if you require this kind of service please contact one of the translators from the list mentioned below, who will translate for a fee.
A list of interpreters and translators residing in the London consular district is available (click here to download). Alternatively, you could ask for translators closer to your area by enquiring with the Italian consulate of reference for your area or enquire a directory service.
The Italian consulates in the UK and their consular districts, their full addresses and contact information can be found by consulting this page.
For declarations confirming that a translation into English complies with its Italian original, please note that the British authorities may accept translations carried out by "certified translators".
Δ top
Kindly note this Embassy does not provide this type of service, which is handled by the Italian consulates. You should therefore address your request to the Italian consulate of reference for the area in which you reside in the UK. The Italian consulates in the UK and their consular districts, their full addresses and contact information can be found by consulting this page.
Please note that most services which are normally provided by notary publics in Italy are handled outside Italy by the notary offices of the Italian consulates. The most frequently requested services regard:
- legalisation of signatures on declarations;
- notarial acts such as powers of attorney and proxies;
- documents executed as public deeds.
For these cases it is necessary to come in person to the consulate of reference for the area in which you reside in the UK. Bring a valid identity document (passport or ID card for Italian nationals, passport for foreign nationals).
Married women who hold a British passport, besides the passport itself also need to produce a "full birth certificate" as well as a "marriage certificate" on which their maiden surname appears.
If the notary office cannot intervene directly in your case, it should be able to refer you to a solicitor or institution which is competent for specific legal issues.
2.1 Criminal Check
In order to obtain a "police background check" referring to a period of residence in Italy (certificato penale) you should contact the Procura della Repubblica of the city where you used to live in Italy. The Procura will issue that certificate and, once the applicant has received the document, he or she may need to have it translated in English. If this is the case, please contact your Italian Consulate of reference for a list of Italian translators.
To find the Procura della Repubblica of the city of last residence in Italy, please consulting the website of the Italian Ministry of Justice.
2.2 Inheritance
For assistance with legal procedures pertaining to inheritance in Italy you can consult the website of Italian National Notaries Council.
You could also contact the British consular network in Italy which assists British citizens in Italy and could possibly refer you to a list of professionals who are competent in this specific field.
Δ top
3.1. Investing in Italy
Some general information on setting up a business in Italy is available on the website of InvestInItaly, the national government organization with a view to helping foreign companies set up or expand their business in Italy.
3.2. Trading with italian companies
For information on italian companies you should contact the Italian Institute for Foreign Trade (also known as Italian Trade Commission) which can better assist you with identifying the Italian companies who produce the goods you are interested in.
Please note that on the website of the Italian Trade Commission you can search directly for Italian companies in your sector of interest.
In the UK there are also several offices of the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the UK which are affiliated with the local Chambers of Commerce in Italy.
3.3 Properties belonging to the Italian State
All public tenders for real estate properties belonging to Italian Governmental bodies can be found on the website of the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance.
For the lists of private investor companies, house brokers / mortgages and banks you can refer to the websites of the Italian Trade Commission and of Investinitaly.
3.4 Issue of Codice Fiscale
Kindly note this Embassy does not provide this type of service, which is handled by the Italian consulates. You should therefore address your request to the Italian consulate of reference for the area in which you reside in the UK. The Italian consulates in the UK and their consular districts, their full addresses and contact information can be found by consulting this page.
Δ top
4.1 Scholarships for foreign students in Italy
Every year British citizens with a good knowledge of Italian language can apply to the Italian Embassy in London, through the Italian Cultural Institutes in London and in Edinburgh, for scholarships to study in Italy, at an Italian institution recognised by the government. The age limit, except for teachers of Italian, is normally 35 years, but further restrictions may apply in some Universities/Schools/Institutes. Scholarships are not intended for students attending a regular degree or postgraduate course in Italy, and monthly payment is around €600 Euros per month (2007 data). The scholarships cannot be cumulated with other grants and once allocated dates and venues cannot be altered. Information about scholarships offered by the Italian Government is published in this website and is made available by the Italian Cultural Institutes in London and Edinburgh, generally in March or April.
Other opportunities may be consulted on the website of the Scientific Attaché.
Scholarships can be requested for the period from October to September of the following year, for a duration (except for courses in Italian language) of 3, 6, 9, or 12 months.
4.2 Enrolment at Italian Universities & Studies/Degree Recognition
Kindly note this Embassy does not provide this type of service, which is handled by the Italian consulates. You should therefore address your request to the Italian consulate of reference for the area in which you reside in the UK. The Italian consulates in the UK and their consular districts, their full addresses and contact information can be found by consulting this page.
Additional detailed information can be obtained by consulting the website of the Italian Cultural Institute in London.
4.3 Information for school students researching Italy
This Embassy frequently receives requests from primary school students requesting information on Italy and visual materials such as posters and maps of Italy, which they need for scholastic purposes. For the convenience of students and teachers, a detailed brochure on Italy has been made available, which can be downloaded here.
Visual material such as posters, maps or flags, may be requested from ENIT, the Italian Government Tourist Board.
Δ top
5.1 UK passport validity for traveling to Italy
Foreigners may travel to Italy provided their UK passport is valid when they exit Italy (no minimum validity required). This applies to all EU passport-holders. If you have a non EU passport, please consult the website of the Italian Foreign Ministry to verify whether you need a visa to enter Italy.
5.2 Luggage restrictions
For information on luggage restrictions for travelers to Italy, please visit the website of DEFRA.
Alternatively, you may consult the website of the Italian Customs Agency.
5.3 Tourist Information
For tourist Information the best official source you can contact is the Italian Government Tourist Board: ENIT.
For information on social, artistic, historical and geographical aspects of Italy, please visit the country profile section of the Foreign Office’s website.
5.4 Information on upcoming transportation strikes
For the latest warning of upcoming strikes, please visit the website of the Italian Ministry of Transportation.
Alternatively, visit the website of the Committee for the monitoring of strikes which provides lists of planned strikes in Italy relating to all sectors.
5.5 Italian cultural project proposals in the UK
If you wish to propose a project for a cultural event or exhibition involving visual arts, literature, music, live performance, cuisine or other, you should contact the Italian Cultural Institute of reference for the area where the event should take place:
Italian Cultural Institute in London (England and Wales);
Italian Cultural Institute in Edinburgh (Scotland and Northern Ireland).
6.1 List of Italian Ministries
The full list of contacts is published on the website of the Italian Government.
Δ top
Please note that the British Embassy in Rome already has a comprehensive webpage named "Moving to Italy". The above mentioned page provides detailed information for British Nationals who intend on moving to Italy. We highly recommend that you consult it and contact the British Embassy in Rome if you have further queries. The British Embassy is responsible for assisting British nationals in Italy, whereas the Italian Embassy provides similar services to Italian citizens in the UK.
Moreover, for relevant information, you may also wish to visit the website "Europa" of the European Union.
7.1 Residency requirements
European Union nationals may reside in Italy for an indefinite period. No application is necessary through the Italian Consulate as E.U. citizens do not require a visa. A residence permit ("permesso di soggiorno") may be obtained directly from the police station ("Questura") in the area in which you intend to reside, and you would normally be requested to provide proof of your financial means or, where applicable, of your intended status (i.e.: student, employee, property owner, retired person or person of independent means).
Non European Union nationals wishing to visit or reside in Italy are requested to contact the Visa Section of the Italian consulate of reference for the area in which they reside. You may find visa information on this website.
The Italian consulates in the UK and their consular districts, their full addresses and contact information can be found by consulting this page.
7.2 Finding a job
Please refer to the website of the British Embassy in Italy, which provides several useful resources.
7.3 Italian tax system
Please consult the "Moving to Italy" section of the British Embassy in Rome website.
General information on double taxation can be found on the website of the HM Revenue & Customs. Italy and the United Kingdom have signed a Convention for the avoidance of double taxation.
7.4 Schools
For information regarding British schools and educational institutions in Italy, please contact the British Council by accessing its corporate website or country website for Italy.
For information regarding Italian schools, we suggest you visit the "Eurydice" website, which provides an information network on education in Europe.
7.5 Registering a vehicle
The right to register a car in Italy applies to all European Union citizens who:
• have established a "residenza" in Italy (which means a residence in Italy for a period of at least 181 days per year);
• own a house/flat in Italy;
• have rented a house/flat for the past four years with a duly registered tenant agreement.
If you have a vehicle in the UK registered with the DVLA, you are free to drive it to and from Italy for short periods of time (up to six months per year).
Any European citizen (therefore including UK citizens) is free to buy motor vehicles and or motor scooters in any EU country. EU citizens who buy a new vehicle in Italy can apply for "EE" licence plates which allow circulation in Italy up to 6 months. If the vehicle is to remain in Italy, it should be registered with the public registry for motorvehicles (PRA, Pubblico Registro Automobilistico). In order to apply for registration the owner should give proof of residence or proof of "legal domicile" in Italy. In case you purchase and register a vehicle in Italy, you should check with local insurance companies concerning their requirements for insuring vehicles for the first time. It is advisable that you at least get a Third Party cover, "responsabilità civile auto" insurance (also known as RCA). Full and comprehensive insurance (also know as kasko) is also available.
More detailed information on these issues can be obtained from the website of ACI (Italian Automobile Association).
7.6 Driving licence
You may drive in Italy with your full and valid UK driving licence. When you drive in Italy you must always carry with you the original (not a photocopy) of the following documents:
• Driving licence;
• Passport;
• Vehicle registration document;
If you are not in possession of the above documents in the event of a Police check, you are liable to a fine. EU driving licences need not be converted if the stay in Italy is short. EU citizens who decide to live in Italy can apply for a conversion of their driving license after having officially changed their residence to an Italian one. In addition, you may wish to view the Direct.gov website's tips on driving in other countries on a GB licence.
7.7 Travelling to Italy with pets
Please refer to the FAQ page of website of the Italian Consulate in London, which provides several useful resources.
7.8 Purchasing a property
If you wish to purchase a property in Italy or make inquiries about property in Italy, we suggest you contact a solicitor in Italy. For a list of English-speaking solicitors you should contact the British Consulate in Italy closest to the place where you intend to purchase the property.
Δ top
8.1 List of British institutions
• British Embassy in Rome
• British Consulates in Italy
• British Council offices in Italy
Δ top
Update:
03/02/2008
Disclaimer:
This information is provided by the Italian Embassy for the convenience of the enquirers, but neither the Italian Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this Embassy nor any official here employed can be held responsible for the contents or accuracy of the information. We are not responsible for the availability or accessibility of any other website and links we provide to such external sites are for information only. We welcome reports from those of you who find any broken links or inaccurate information, or who can suggest other useful information.