Living in Italy

Stay up to date

A Brexit deal has been agreed but needs to be ratified. The UK iscould leavingstill 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:

• sign up to email alerts to this guidance
• follow the British Embassy in Italy on Facebook and Twitter

Attend a citizen outreach meeting

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:

• read Living in the EU: prepare for Brexit
• read ourthe Ambassador’sItalian newslettersgovernment’s tolegislation on the rights of UK nationals if there’s no deal (Italian only) (Section II, Art. 14 – 17)
• read the December 2018 announcement from the Italian government’sgovernment guidance(Italian ononly)
• read Brexitour andAmbassador’s citizens’newsletters rightsto (inUK Italian)nationals

Visas and residency

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:

• an attestazione di regolarità di soggiorno
• a certificato di residenza
• attestazione di iscrizione anagrafica or attestazione di soggiorno permanente (if resident for 5 years or more)

Residency after Brexit

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, 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.

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 periodperiod. onOn 3121 December 2020,2018, youthe willItalian begovernment ablemade toan stay.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.

Healthcare

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:

• you have a work contract, are self-employed in Italy or are an immediate family member of someone who is
• you are an immediate family member of an Italian citizen
• you have been officially resident in Italy for 5 years or more
• you are unemployed, registered on the employment lists (liste di collocamento) or registered for a professional training course
• you hold a UK social security form, such as an S1 form for pensioners

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.

State healthcare: S1

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.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you are resident in Italy, you must not use your 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:

• the EHIC covers treatment that is medically necessary until your planned return home
• an EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance
• for more information, read our travel advice pages and advice on foreign travel insurance pages

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.

Healthcare after Brexit

ThereIf willthere’s be no changesdeal, your access to healthcare may change. You must confirm your healthcareresidency 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 DecemberOctober 2020.and Youyou canpay 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 usehealthcare youruntil EHIC,31 asDecember you2020. didThis before,includes duringS1 holders and students.

This still requires a formal agreement between the UK and Italian governments. We will update this time.guidance when more information becomes available. You should consider registering with the public healthcare system or obtaining private health insurance.

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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 aswill youremain dothe now,same provideduntil the end of the implementation period, as long as you remain resident.a resident in Italy.

Read the NHS’s guidance on healthcare for UK nationals in Italy and how it may change after Brexit.

Passports and travel

You can apply for or renew your British passport from Italy.

Passports and travel after Brexit

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Driving in Italy

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:

• what you need to drive abroad
• driving licence exchange and renewals
• contacting an Ufficio Motorizzazione Civile

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.

Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Italy

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.

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.

Driving after Brexit

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 date 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 to Italy will require an International Driving Permit if driving with a UK licence after Brexit. We will update this guide when there is more information.

Read our guidance on driving in the EU after a no-deal Brexit.

If there is a deal, driving licence rules will stay the same untilduring 31the Decemberimplementation 2020.period.

Working in Italy

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:

• UK criminal records certificate
• Italian criminal records certificate (Certificato del casellario giudiziale) issued by the Italian Law Court (Ufficio Casellario Giudiziale c/o Procura della Repubblica, Tribunale)

Working in Italy after Brexit

YourRead 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.

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Money and tax

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:

• telling HMRC if you leave the UK to live abroad
• the tax on your UK income if you live abroad
• paying income tax in Italy

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.

Declaration of overseas assets

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).

National Insurance

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 or EEA 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.

Money and tax after Brexit

Brexit will not change existing double-taxationdouble taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Italy. Send your questions about double taxation to the relevant tax authority.

Pensions

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If you retire in Italy, you can claim:

• your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. Contact the International Pensions Centre to claim
• your Italian and UK State Pension from the Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale (INPS), if you have worked in Italy
• pensions from working abroad, if you have worked in other EU countries

Life certificates for UK Statestate Pensionspensions

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.

Pensions after Brexit

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If 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.

Benefits

There will be no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on claiming UK benefits in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

You may still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in Italy.

• read our guidance on which benefits you can claim if you live abroad
• use our tool to check which benefits you can claim while you’re abroad

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.

Italian benefits

You may be eligible to claim some Italian social security benefits.

• read the EU’s guidance on claiming benefits in Italy
• visit your nearest Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale (INPS)

Benefits after Brexit

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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.

Voting

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:

• check if you are able to vote
• register as an overseas voter

Voting after Brexit

YouUK 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.

Births, deaths and getting married

If your child is born in Italy, you will need to register the birth abroad.

If someone dies in Italy you can:

• read our guidance on what to do after someone dies abroad
• read guidance for UK nationals on bereavements in Italy
• find a list of English-speaking funeral directors in Italy

Find out how you can get married abroad.

Find out about notarial and documentary services for UK nationals in Italy.

Getting married in Italy after Brexit

Brexit will not affect the right of UK nationals (resident in Italy and elsewhere) to get married in Italy.

Read our guidance on getting married abroad for the latest information.

Accommodation and buying property

Read guidance on how to buy a property in Italy.

Buying property after Brexit

You can buy property or land in Italy if you are:

• an EU citizen
• a national from outside the EU who is fully resident or has a valid permit of stay in Italy
• a national from a country that Italy has a reciprocal agreement with and who is resident outside of Italy

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.

Pets

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Whilst the UK is still in the EU, you can take your pet between the UK and the EU under the current pet travel rules using your current EU pet passport.

If you’re travelling with your pet for the first timetime, you must visit your vet to getobtain a pet passport.

Read guidance on returning your cat, dog or ferret to the UK.

For moving pet travelhorses and other equines read guidance on export horses and ponies: special rules.

Emergencies

You can dial the European emergency number on 112 or:

• 113 for police
• 115 for fire brigade
• 118 for first aid

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.

Returning to the UK

Read our guidance on:

• access to benefits and services in the UK if there’s no deal
• bringing your family to the UK
• access to higher education, 19+ further education and apprenticeship funding
• importing vehicles back to the UK
• bringing your pet back to the UK
• checking your tax status after returning to the UK

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:

• local town hall (comune)
• the Italian State Police (residenza)
• your local health centre (ASL)

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.

Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, tax, access to services and bringing family members.

If you have further questions

Contact us through our web form if you have a specific question on how Brexit will affect your rights.

Disclaimer

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.