Original document : https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-italy
Change description : 2019-10-23 16:10:00: Brexit update: information updated in 'driving in Italy after Brexit' section [Brexit]
Showing diff : 2019-09-23 15:50:45 +00:00..2019-10-23 15:34:50 +00:00
Guidance
Official information for BritishUK peoplenationals moving to andor living in Italy, including Brexitguidance guidance,on Brexit, residency, healthcare and driving. passports.
This page tells you what to do ahead of the UK leaving the EU. It will be updated if anything changes, including if a deal is agreed.
You should:
A Brexit deal has been agreed but needs to be ratified. The UK could still leave with no deal on 31 October 2019 if the UK and EU do not approve and sign the withdrawal agreement.
This page tells you how to prepare for Brexit and will be updated if anything changes. You should:
The British Embassy regularly holds events across Italy for UK nationals. Attend one of our citizens’ outreach meetings to keep up to date on working and living in Italy after Brexit.
You can also:
Check the entry requirements for Italy.
You must register as an Italian resident (in Italian) if you want to stay in Italy for more than 3 months. You will get one of the following from the local town hall or comune:
If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, the Italian government will recognise the rights of all UK nationals legally resident in Italy before the end of the implementation period. On 21 December 2018, the Italian government made an announcement about its plans for UK residents if there is a deal: ‘the Italian Government continues its preparation for Brexit’ (in Italian).
If there are changes to residency rules or registration processes after Brexit, we will update this guidance as soon as information is available.
The Italian government has passed legislation stating which measures will be put in place if there’s no deal.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
If there’s no deal, UK nationals resident in Italy will need to get a new non-EU residence permit before 31 December 2020. This will protect your rights, including access to healthcare, rights to work and access to social benefits.
If you have lived in Italy for 5 years or more, you will be eligible for a permanent residency permit. If you have been living in Italy for less than 5 years, you will be eligible for a temporary residency permit, which will be valid for 5 years.
After Brexit, you will have to go to your local police station in person to get the new residence permit before 31 December 2020. Your current EU residency certificate, temporary or permanent, will stay valid until you get your new non-EU residency one.
If you are a UK national applying for Italian citizenship and you have the required 4 years residency in Italy before the UK leaves the EU, then your Italian citizenship application will be considered on the basis of EU nationality if it is submitted before 31 December 2020.
YouIf canthe applyUK forleaves or renew your British passport from Italy.
After Brexit, the rulesEU onwith travel will change. Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. You’ll need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.
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If you’re staying in Italy for more than 3 months, you must register with the Italian National Health Service (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale – SSN) through your local health authority (Azienda Sanitaria Locale).
You can register for free with the SSN if:
If you are not eligible to register for free, you can pay an annual fee to receive state healthcare. Contact your local Azienda Sanitaria Locale.
Read the NHS guidance on accessing healthcare in Italy and how to register.
If you live in Italy and receive an exportable UK pension, contribution-based Employment Support Allowance or another exportable benefit, you may currently be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK. You must apply for a certificate of entitlement known as an S1 certificate and register it with your Azienda Sanitaria Locale.
If you are resident in Italy, you must not use ayour EuropeanEHIC Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the UK for healthcare in Italy.
When you travel from Italy for a temporary stay in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, you can use an EHIC to access state-provided healthcare in that country. During that short stay:
If you are registered for public healthcare as a resident in Italy, and are travelling outside of Italy, carry your Italian health card (tessera sanitaria) with you.
If you are a student, read the NHS guidance on healthcare and studying abroad.
You can find an English-speaking doctor in Italy.
You must check your prescriptions are legal in Italy.
If there is a deal, your current rights on access to healthcare in Italy will remain the same until the end of the implementation period, as long as you remain a resident in Italy.
If there’s no deal, your access to healthcare may change. You must confirm your residency status and decide how you will ensure access to healthcare.
If there’s no deal, and you are a legal resident in Italy on or before 31 October and you pay into the public health care system, through employment or voluntary contributions, you will be covered by Italian no-deal legislation which ensures continued access to healthcare.
The Italian no-deal legislation also includes a commitment to continue social security coordination and access to healthcare until 31 December 2020. This includes S1 holders and students.
This still requires a formal agreement between the UK and Italian governments. We will update this guidance when more information becomes available. You should consider registering with the public healthcare system or obtaining private health insurance.
InIf thethere absenceis ofno an agreement with Italy and you currently have your healthcare costs paid for by the UK government, we can help if you are asked to pay for treatment during the first 6 months after Brexit. To organise a payment, you must give your healthcare provider’s details to the NHS Business Services Authority’s Overseas Healthcare Services.
Your EHIC may not be valid if there’s no deal. The UK has offered to maintain the EHIC scheme if there’s no deal, however this relies on Italy continuing to accept UK EHICs.
Read the Italian government’s legislation on the rights of UK nationals if there’s no deal (in Italian).
If there is a deal, your current rights on access to healthcare in Italy will remain the same until the end of the implementation period, as long as you remain a resident in Italy.
Read the NHS’s guidance on healthcare for UK nationals in Italy and how it may change after Brexit.
You can apply for or renew your British passport from Italy.
After Brexit, the rules on travel will change. Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. You’ll need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.
If there’s no deal, you must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.
If there’s no deal, UK nationals will not need visas for short stays elsewhere in the EU. You will be able to stay up to 90 days in another EU, EEA or EFTA country, within a 180-day period. You must retain evidence of travel (such as train and plane tickets), in case these are requested by national authorities. If you hold a residence permit from an EU, EEA or EFTA country, you will be able to transit through other EU, EEA or EFTA countries to reach your country of residence.
If there is a deal, nothing will change until the end of 2020. During this time you can continue to travel freely in the Schengen area with your UK passport. What happens after 2020 will form the next part of negotiations.
If you are resident in Italy, exchange your UK licence for an Italian one. You can still use your Italian licence in the UK or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test if you return to live in the UK.
For information on driving in Italy, read the guidance on:
If you are in Italy and your UK driving licence is lost, stolen or expires you will not be able to renew it with the UK Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). You will need to apply to the DVLA for a ‘certificate of entitlement’ in Italian to be able to apply for an Italian driving licence.
Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.
If you move to Italy with your UK-registered car, you must register your car with Italian government’slicence legislationplates within 60 days of being officially resident in Italy. If not, your car may be impounded.
Be aware that from the moment you start the process of registering your car in Italy you will not be able to use your car, until you get your new documentation and licence plates. For more information, contact an Ufficio Motorizzazione Civile.
You can read the European Union’s guidance on car registration and taxes in Italy. You may be exempt from some of these taxes. If so, you will need certificates of exemption.
You should exchange your UK licence for an Italian one before Brexit. If there’s no deal, you will only be able to use your UK licence for 12 months from the rightsdate you first registered as a resident. You will also need to carry an official translation of the licence with you.
To get an Italian licence after Brexit, you will need to re-sit your test, including a theory test in Italian, unless an agreement is in place with the UK.
Visitors nationalsto Italy will require an International Driving Permit if thedriving with a UK leaveslicence after Brexit. We will update this guide when there is more information.
Read our guidance on driving in the EU withoutafter a dealno-deal (in Italian)Brexit.
If there is a deal, driving licence rules will stay the same during the implementation period.
If you are registered as a resident in Italy, you have the right to work in Italy. Read our guidance on working in another EU Country. To apply for a job, you may need to provide a:
If there is a deal, your right to work will stay the same until the end of the implementation period.
Read the guidance on providing services after Brexit if you’re planning to start a business, provide a service, or do a job in a regulated profession after Brexit.
If there is a deal, your right to work will stay the same until the end of the implementation period.
The UK has a double-taxation agreement with Italy to make sure that people do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.
Read guidance about:
You should get professional advice on paying tax in Italy. You can find a tax adviser or business consultant (commercialista) at the British Chamber of Commerce for Italy or Centro Assistenza Fiscale – Tax Assistance Centre (CAF), or find an English-speaking lawyer.
Check if you need to file an annual declaration of overseas assets using the Quadro RW form (part of the annual Unico tax form). There are severe penalties if you do not file, or give incorrect or incomplete information.
You can get more information from a tax adviser or business consultant (commercialista) at the British Chamber of Commerce for Italy or Centro Assistenza Fiscale – Tax Assistance Centre (CAF).
Find out if you can pay National Insurance while abroad so that you protect your UK State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.
If you are employed or self-employed in the EU and you have a UK-issued A1/E101 form, you will remain subject to UK legislation until the end date on the form.
If the end date on your form is after 31 October 2019, you should contact the relevant EU, EEA or Swiss authority to confirm whether you need to start paying social security contributions in that country after 31 October, as well as UK National Insurance contributions.
Find out more about social security contributions after a no-deal Brexit.
Brexit will not change existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Italy. Send your questions about double taxation to the relevant tax authority.
If there’s no deal, it may become more expensive to use your UK bank card in Italy. Read more about using a bank card, insurance or other financial service in the EU.
You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.
If you retire in Italy, you can claim:
If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you need to respond as soon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you don’t.
The UK government will continue to pay a State Pension to those eligible in the EU after Brexit. Your UK State Pension will be uprated in April 2020, 2021 and 2022 if you live in the EU, EEA or Switzerland.
If there is a deal, and you work and pay social security contributions in Italy, you will still be able to add your UK social security contributions towards your Italian pension. This will happen even if you claim your pension after the end of the implementation period.
If there’s no deal, we will seek agreement with the Italian government for them to take into account periods of work in the UK before Brexit when calculating your Italian pension. We will update this guidance when there is a formal agreement on this.
Read our guidance on pensions if there’s no deal.
If there is a deal, and you work and pay social security contributions in Italy, you will still be able to add your UK social security contributions towards your Italian pension. This will happen even if you claim your pension after the end of the implementation period.
You may still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in Italy.
Many income-related benefits such as pension credit and housing benefit cannot be paid to you if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.
You can request proof of the time you’ve worked in the UK from HMRC if you are asked for this.
You may be eligible to claim some Italian social security benefits.
The UK government will continue to pay the UK state pension, child benefits, and disability benefits to eligible people living in the EU after Brexit.
If there is a deal and you work and pay social security contributions in Italy, your UK social security contributions will be taken into account when applying for Italian contributions-based benefits. This will happen even if you claim contributions-based benefits after the end of the implementation period.
If there’s no deal, we will seek an agreement with the Italian government for them to continue to take periods of work in the UK before Brexit into account when claiming Italian contributions-based benefits. We will update this guidance when there is a formal agreement on this.
Read our guidance on benefits and pensions if there’s no deal.
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Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.
If you move to Italy with your UK-registered car, you must register your car with Italian licence plates within 60 days of being officially resident in Italy. If not, your car may be impounded.
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You can read the Europeanend Union’s guidance on car registration and taxes in Italy. You may be exempt from some of these taxes. If so, you will need certificates of exemption.
If there is a deal, driving licence rules will stay the same during the implementation period.
If there’s no deal, UK driving licences will likely be considered as third country national licences. To continue using your licence, you may need to re-take your test, including passing a theory test in Italian. We will update this guide when there is more information.
Read our guidance on driving in the EU after Brexit.
If you’re resident in Italy, you can vote in local municipal and European Parliamentary elections.
You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:
UK nationals resident in Italy will no longer be eligible to vote or stand in local and European elections after Brexit. We are pursuing bilateral arrangements with individual Member States to secure voting rights for UK nationals living in the EU, and EU citizens in the UK.
If your child is born in Italy, you will need to register the birth abroad.
If someone dies in Italy you can:
Find out how you can get married abroad.
Find out about notarial and documentary services for BritishUK nationals in Italy.
Brexit will not affect the right of UK nationals (resident in Italy and elsewhere) to get married in Italy. However, there may be some changes to the documentary process required for getting married.
Read our guidance on getting married abroad for the latest information.
Read guidance on how to buy a property in Italy.
You can buy property or land in Italy if you are:
We will be seeking a reciprocal agreement to make sure that UK nationals who are not resident in Italy can continue to purchase property in Italy after Brexit. We will update this guidance when there is more information.
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For moving pet horses and other equines read guidance on export horses and ponies: special rules.
You can dial the European emergency number on 112 or:
If you’re the victim of crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact the British Embassy in Rome or the British Consulate General Milan.
Read our guidance on:
Tell the UK and Italian authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently. To help prove you are now living in the UK, de-register with your:
If you get UK State Pension or benefits payments, you must tell the International Pension Centre and the Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale (INPS). You must also contact the Agenzia delle Entrate before you return to the UK.
If you get healthcare in Italy through the S1 form, you must contact the Overseas Healthcare Team on +44 (0)191 218 1999 to make sure your S1 is cancelled at the right time.
Contact us through our web form if you have a specific question on how Brexit will affect your rights.
Please note that this information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Italian authorities. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.
2025-03-24 07:49
This guidance has been reviewed and updated where necessary.
2024-10-17 11:42
Added section about Name change and proving your identity. Added section about Sailing in Italy with attachments to administrative letters.Update regarding EU EES (Entry Exit System).
2024-07-17 13:46
Update to visas and residency with information for people who were living in Italy before 1 January 2021.
2024-07-03 12:14
The healthcare section for British nationals living in Italy before 1 January 2021 has been updated,
2024-06-10 15:30
Passport section completely revised to reflect the introduction of the EU Entry/Exit Scheme (EES), scheduled for Autumn 2024.
2024-05-17 11:52
Healthcare section updated 17 May 2024
2024-03-14 14:46
Update to the paragraph on Healthcare – 14 March 2024
2024-03-08 13:19
There is an update on the healthcare for those living in Italy before 1 January 2021.The Italian Government has recently decided that:British nationals who entered and have been living in Italy prior to 1 January 2021 and are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement can register for free (iscrizione obbligatoria) with the Italian National Health System (Sistema Sanitario Nazionale) and are therefore not required to make voluntary contributions. We continue to engage to fully understand guidelines and requirements. Any update will be posted here.
2024-01-24 16:07
Driving in Italy section updated 24 January 2024
2023-08-03 14:02
Coronavirus paragraph removed due to end of pandemic.
2023-04-19 12:59
Updated instructions on how to exchange your UK licence
2023-03-27 11:16
Update on bilateral (driving licence) exchange agreement and entry into force date
2022-12-30 09:55
Driving in Italy update
2022-12-23 12:46
New UK-Italy Bilateral Agreement on driving licence exchange signed
2022-12-23 10:01
Driving License update
2022-10-20 14:13
Changes to wording in healthcare section – updated 20-10-22
2022-03-11 09:00
Important information in the ‘Working in Italy’ and ‘National insurance and social security contributions’ sections if you work in Italy, even it if it is for an employer based in the UK.
2022-01-24 08:30
2022-01-14 12:45
Driving section: updated guidance about how long valid UK licences will be recognised for in Italy.
2021-12-29 13:15
Extension to 31 December 2022 for exchanging your valid UK driving licence for an Italian one.
2021-05-20 10:04
Updates to Withdrawal Agreement and Visa and Residency sections with updated information from the Italian government; update in Passports section on documentation for spot checks; Driving section updated with latest deadlines on licence validity.
2021-02-22 15:22
New link to detailed guidance on how to get the new biometric residence card
2021-02-15 14:36
Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines.
2020-10-13 09:43
updated to include ANCI guidance on registering as a resident in Italy
2020-09-09 10:30
We have updated the Citizens' Rights Information Booklet
2020-09-07 13:02
Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021
2020-07-24 08:48
Visas and residency section updated to include information about how to access the UK Nationals Support Fund for those who may find it harder to complete their residency applications.
2020-05-04 13:23
Information added to the 'Visas and residency' section on the impact of Covid-19 measures on local residency processes in Italy
2020-03-10 13:03
Link to travel advice added for latest coronavirus guidance
2020-03-03 13:29
A new link to Italian government guidance on residency registration in the 'Stay up to date' section.
2020-02-07 14:02
New information on the Withdrawal Agreement and a new link to Italian government guidance on healthcare in the 'Stay up to date' section. 7 February 2020
2020-01-23 16:36
Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.
2019-10-23 16:10
Brexit update: information updated in 'driving in Italy after Brexit' section
2019-09-23 16:46
Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement
2019-09-03 16:45
Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.
2019-07-29 08:31
update on getting married in Italy – 26 July 2019
2019-07-25 14:54
Updated 25 July 2019
2019-05-31 15:44
EU Exit update: information on no-deal conditions for passports and visas
2019-05-07 14:35
New link to Ambassador's newsletters – updated 7 May 2019
2019-04-15 14:13
EU Exit update: updated text for passports, pensions, and returning to the UK.
2019-04-09 19:07
EU Exit update: updated information on EU Exit in healthcare, visas and residency, driving and working sections