OfficialInformation informationfor UKBritish nationalscitizens livingmoving into or movingliving toin Italy, including guidance on residency, healthcare and passports.
Italy implements the Agreement through a declaratory system. This means that if you were lawfully living in Italy before 1 January 2021, you automatically have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.
You have these rights even if you do not have the new ‘carta di soggiorno elettronica’ (biometric residency card) issued under the Withdrawal Agreement. You should ask for the new ‘carta di soggiorno elettronica’, as it provides the clearest evidence of your rights.
The Italian government’s ‘carta di soggiorno elettronica’ guidance for officials (in Italian) confirms that the ‘carta di soggiorno elettronica’ is not mandatory. You can show this guidance to service providers if you do not yet have a ‘carta di soggiorno elettronica’ and you are experiencing difficulties accessing services.
You should also read our Living in Europe page for detailed guidance about citizens’ rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.
You should follow the advice of the Italian Government and your local authority. You can also read our Italy travel advice.
For information on getting a COVID-19 vaccine as a UK national in EuropeItaly, see our coronavirus travel advice.
Visas and residency
Withdrawal Agreement ‘carta di soggiorno elettronica’
If you have beenlived residentin Italy since before 1 January 2021, you and your family members shouldhave askthe forright theto newrequest biometrica new residence card,document, the ‘carta di soggiorno elettronica’. This document shows that you have the rights defined in the Withdrawal Agreement.
This card is a separate document to the biometric identity card (‘carta d’identita).d’identita’). We strongly recommend that you request the carta di soggiorno elettronica. It shows your right to enter Italy and exempts you from European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) and visa requirements.
If you have been legally resident in Italy:
more than 5 years as a permanent resident, you can ask for a 10-year renewable ’carta‘carta di soggiorno elettronica’
less than 5 years, you can ask for a 5-year renewable ‘carta di soggiorno elettronica’
with permanent residence status and you are under 18 years old, you can ask for a 5-year renewable ‘carta di soggiorno elettronica’. When you are 18 years old you can ask for a 10-year renewable ‘carta di soggiorno elettronica’
To ask for the ‘carta di soggiorno elettronica’ you need to book an appointment at your local immigration office at the police headquarters (questura) in person.
the Italian government’s guidance on residency, which includes information on how to get the new carta di soggiorno elettronica’ and the supporting documentation you need to provide
In Italy by law you must carry identification with you at all times.
If you and your family members have been lawfully living in Italy since before 1 January 2021, you are not legally required to carry a residency document to prove your rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.
If a police officer asks you for an identification document, you may need to prove your status under the Withdrawal Agreement. You can show one of these documents:
your ‘carta di soggiorno elettronica’
a copy of your current residency document , which is valid until it expires
the Withdrawal Agreement ‘attestazione di iscrizione anagrafica’
other proof of being legally resident in Italy before 1 January 2021
If you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement, you do not need a non-EU national ‘permesso di soggiorno’ and a police officer cannot ask you to show one.
When you have your Withdrawal Agreement ‘carta di soggiorno elettronica’, you should carry it with you.
Hosting guests at your property
If you host a UK national (or any non-EU national) as a guest, you must inform your local immigration office (questura) in writing within 48 hours after they arrive at your property.
IfWhen you havetravel, rightsespecially underwithin the WithdrawalSchengen Agreement,area, you should carry with you your residence document (‘carta di soggiorno elettronica’, the ‘attestazione di iscrizione anagrafica’ or your EU residency document),document) asor wellfrontier asworker yourpermit validissued passportunder whenthe youWithdrawal travel.Agreement, in addition to your valid passport.
IfYou youmust haveproactively notshow yetyour appliedresidence fordocument, aor other evidence of residence document,status, if you shouldare carryasked evidenceto thatshow youyour arepassport residentat inborder Italy.control. ThisOther couldevidence includemay abe your tenancy agreement or a utility bill in your name, dating from 2020. If you have applied for, but not yet received, your residence document, carry your certificate of registration.
If you cannot prove that you are a resident in Italy, you may be asked additional questions at the border to enter the SchengenEU. area,Your andyourpassport may be stamped on entry and exit. This will not affect your rights in Italy.
If you renewedyourcurrentpassportbeforethepreviousoneexpired,extramonthsmayhave beenrights addedunder toitsexpirydate.Anyextramonthsonyourpassportover10yearsmaynotcounttowardsthe 6Withdrawal monthsAgreement, needed.
Renewyourpassportbeforebookingyourtravelifyou do not haveneed enoughany timeextra leftmonths on your passport.
If you are inplanning Italyto andmove yourto UKItaly drivingand licencework, islost,stolenorexpiresyou cannotmay renewitwiththeUKDriverandVehicleLicensingAgency(DVLA).Youneed toa visa.
To apply totheDVLAfor a ‘certificatejob ofyou entitlement’may inneed Italianto beprovide abletoapplyforanItaliandrivinglicence.a:
If you were settled in Italy as a student before 1 January 2021 but did you did not register as a resident, you should apply for the new Withdrawal Agreement biometric residency card ‘carta di soggiorno’ from your local immigration office (‘questura’). You should then register your residency with your local town hall.
If you did register as a resident with the town hall before 1 January 2021 including if you registered under the ‘registro della popolazione temporanea’ (temporary register) using a UK-issued EHIC for your healthcare you should now request the new biometric residency card ‘carta di soggiorno’ from your local questura.
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.
Whether UK banks can provide services to customers living in the EEA is a matter of local law and regulation.Yourbankorfinanceprovidershouldcontactyouiftheyneedtomakeanychangestoyourproductorthewaytheyprovideit.Ifyouhaveanyconcernsaboutwhetheryoumightbeaffected,contactyourproviderorseekindependentfinancialadvice.
Italian bank requests for a ‘permesso di soggiorno’ or ‘carta di soggiorno elettronica’
If you were resident in Italy before 1 January 2021, you do not need to show your Italian bank a non-EU residency document (‘permesso di soggiorno’) or a biometric residency card (‘carta di soggiorno elettronica’) issued under the Withdrawal Agreement.
The ABI advises that the non-EU ‘permesso di soggiorno’ is not issued to UK nationals with rights under the Withdrawal Agreement, and the ‘carta di soggiorno’ is not mandatory.
Many income-related benefits such as pensionPension creditCredit and housingHousing benefitBenefit cannot be paid toyouif you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.
YouUK cannotnationals votecan buy property or standland in localItaly municipalwhether electionsor not you live there. Read our guidance on buying property abroad.
If you were living in Italy orbefore European1 ParliamentJanuary elections.2021
To purchase property, you do not need a non-EU national residency permit (permesso di soggiorno). You may be ableasked to voteprove inyou somehave UKrights elections.under the Withdrawal Agreement. You can:can do this by providing an EU residency document such as:
IfYou cannot renew or replace your childUK isdriving bornlicence if you live in Italy,Italy. If you willlive needthere toyou registermust theexchange birthyour abroad.licence for an Italian one.
The British and Italian governments are negotiating on long-term arrangements for exchanging driving licence without needing a practical test. If someoneyou diesneed into Italyexchange your valid UK licence, you can:currently need to take a driving test.
You andcannot buyinguse propertyan International Driving Permit (IDP) instead of exchanging your licence.
If your UK driving licence was issued on or after 1 January 2021
SeeYou ‘visascan anduse residency’your valid UK licence for actions12 months from the date you became a resident. Before the end of the 12 months, you must exchange your licence for an Italian one. You will need to take ifa youdriving havetestguests(in stayingItalian).
You atcannot use an International Driving Permit (IDP) instead of exchanging your property.licence.
Disabled drivers
If you have a UK nationalsBlue Badge and live in Italy, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority. You can buyapply propertyfor ora landnew inItalian Italydisabled whetherparking orcard(in notItalian). You must go to the Legal Medical office of your local health department (ASL) to get a medical certificate proving your right to the disabled parking card. Then you livemust there.ask the Mayor of your Municipality for the disabled parking card.
You cannot drive a non-Italian registered car in Italy after you werehave livingbeen resident in Italy beforefor 160 Januarydays 2021or more.
ToIf purchaseyou property,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 you do not needdo athis, non-EUyour nationalcar residencymay permitbe (permessoimpounded.
As disoon soggiorno).as Youyou maystart the process of registering your car in Italy, you will not be askedable to proveuse your car until you haveget rightsyour undernew thedocumentation Withdrawaland Agreement.licence plates. For more information, contact an Ufficio Motorizzazione Civile (in Italian).
Driving outside Italy with an Italian licence
You can douse thisyour byItalian providinglicence anto EUvisit the UK. residencyKeep documentup-to-date suchwith as:the UK Highway Code.
attestatoIf diyou soggiornogo (EUto live in the UK, residencyyou document)can exchange your Italian licence for a UK one without taking a test.
attestazioneTo didrive soggiornoin permanenteanother UEcountry, (in addition to your Italian licence you may need to apply for an IDP.
Read the EU permanentguidance residencydocument)on:
If you have a pet passport issued by Italy or another EU member state, you can use it to travel with your pet to Great Britain and elsewhere in the EU.
A GB-issued EU pet passport is not valid for travel to the EU or Northern Ireland. You should speak to your vet before you travel to get the necessary pet travel documents and ensure you’re compliant with the EU Pet Travel Regulations.
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,bringing family members, tax and access to servicesservices.
If you return to the UK permanently and bringingmeet familythe members.ordinarily resident test, you’ll be able to access NHS care without charge.
Published note22 thatMarch this2013
Last informationupdated is29 providedDecember as2021
+ show aall guideupdates
Extension informationto should31 beDecember obtained2022 fromfor theexchanging your valid UK driving licence for an Italian authorities.one.
Visas and residency section updated: The Foreign,additional Commonwealthsupport &provided Developmentby Officethe UK Nationals Support Fund to UK nationals making their residency application, will notend beon liable30 September 2021. Contact the relevant implementing partner before this date if you need this additional support. 8 September 2021
Guidance reviewed for anyMoney, inaccuraciestax and banking, Benefits, Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships, and Useful information sections.
Guidance reviewed for Passports and travel, Healthcare, Working in thisItaly, information.Studying in Italy, Emergencies, and Returning to the UK sections.
Published
Professional 2013 Lastqualifications section updated 20for MayBritish citizens who are moving or moved to Italy after 1 January 2021+ showalland updates
those living there since before 1 January 2021.
Working in Italy section updated: new guidance for frontier workers
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.
Visas and residency section updated: new information on your legal requirement to register guests staying with you.
14 April 2021
Updated guidance on buying property and working in Italy
7 April 2021
Update to links regarding Driving in Italy - 7 April 2021
22 February 2021
New link to detailed guidance on how to get the new biometric residence card
15 February 2021
Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines.
31 December 2020
Updated as the transition period ends with new information on residency, driving, pet travel and moving to Italy
18 December 2020
Uploaded a Healthcare Information Booklet
18 December 2020
Passports and travel section updated on carrying proof of residence when travelling.
10 November 2020
Healthcare section updated on how to apply for a new UK EHIC as a student or S1 holder. Working section updated with information on frontier workers.
27 October 2020
Visa and residency section updated with new links to detailed guidance on how to register for residency
13 October 2020
updated to include ANCI guidance on registering as a resident in Italy
9 September 2020
We have updated the Citizens' Rights Information Booklet
7 September 2020
Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021
24 July 2020
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.
4 May 2020
Information added to the 'Visas and residency' section on the impact of Covid-19 measures on local residency processes in Italy
10 March 2020
Link to travel advice added for latest coronavirus guidance
3 March 2020
A new link to Italian government guidance on residency registration in the ‘Stay up to date’ section.
7 February 2020
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
23 January 2020
Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.
23 October 2019
Brexit update: information updated in 'driving in Italy after Brexit' section
23 September 2019
Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement
3 September 2019
Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.
29 July 2019
update on getting married in Italy - 26 July 2019
25 July 2019
Updated 25 July 2019
31 May 2019
EU Exit update: information on no-deal conditions for passports and visas
7 May 2019
New link to Ambassador's newsletters - updated 7 May 2019
15 April 2019
EU Exit update: updated text for passports, pensions, and returning to the UK.
9 April 2019
EU Exit update: updated information on EU Exit in healthcare, visas and residency, driving and working sections
28 March 2019
EU Exit update: Italian government issues emergency decree on the UK leaving the EU without a deal explaining the impact it has on UK nationals living in Italy
15 March 2019
webpage address for ACRO criminal records office made more precise. March 2019
13 March 2019
We have updated the contact details you need to apply for an S1 form.
6 March 2019
EU Exit Update: On residency appointments and information on getting married in Italy.
22 February 2019
Updated information on passports: you must use the checker tool to see if your passport is still valid for your trip
14 February 2019
Update to section on re-registering a car in Italy 14 February 2019
7 February 2019
EU Exit update: Further information about residency applications added to the Italian government residency announcement
29 January 2019
EU Exit update - Updated information on access to healthcare
18 January 2019
EU Exit update: updated information on pensions and driving.
8 January 2019
EU Exit update: added in further information about 'applying for Italian citizenship'.
2 January 2019
Update on voting rights 2 January 2019
27 December 2018
Italian govt announcement on EU exit.
22 November 2018
EU Exit update: New information in residency and visa section on draft withdrawal agreement in principle between the UK and EU. Plus information on travelling with pets in Europe in pet section.
8 November 2018
Link to page listing ambassador's messages to British nationals regarding EU exit. Added 8 November 2018
13 July 2018
Amended July 2018
9 May 2018
We have added more information on applying for Italian citizenship.
23 March 2018
More detail on how to register for healthcare added.
26 February 2018
Complete revision of guidance to ensure it's up to date and accurate.
20 June 2017
Major changes in all fields
11 April 2017
Updated guidance on UK state pensions in Italy
5 May 2014
Information added on changes to EHIC rules and health cover for early retirees.
2 July 2013
Updated the witness instructions for UK state pension life certificates.