Change of https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-italy

Change description : 2025-11-03 11:44:00: Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand. [Guidance and regulationForeign, Commonwealth & Development Office]

Showing diff : 2025-09-12 12:37:41.443569907 +00:00..2025-11-03 11:44:47.914550138 +00:00

Guidance

Living in Italy

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Updates to this page

Published 22 March 2013
Last updated 312 NovemberSeptember 2025 + show all updates
  1. Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand.

  2. Updated information about introduction of EES on 12 October 2025.

  3. This guidance has been reviewed and updated where necessary.

  4. 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).

  5. Update to visas and residency with information for people who were living in Italy before 1 January 2021.

  6. The healthcare section for British nationals living in Italy before 1 January 2021 has been updated,

  7. Passport section completely revised to reflect the introduction of the EU Entry/Exit Scheme (EES), scheduled for Autumn 2024.

  8. Healthcare section updated 17 May 2024

  9. Update to the paragraph on Healthcare - 14 March 2024

  10. 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.

  11. Driving in Italy section updated 24 January 2024

  12. Updated section on passport stamping for residents in Italy 28-09-23

  13. Coronavirus paragraph removed due to end of pandemic.

  14. Updated instructions on how to exchange your UK licence

  15. Update on bilateral (driving licence) exchange agreement and entry into force date

  16. Driving in Italy update

  17. New UK-Italy Bilateral Agreement on driving licence exchange signed

  18. Driving License update

  19. Changes to wording in healthcare section - updated 20-10-22

  20. 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.

  21. Guidance reviewed and updated with new information, including in the visas and residency, and working in Italy sections.

  22. Driving section: updated guidance about how long valid UK licences will be recognised for in Italy.

  23. Extension to 31 December 2022 for exchanging your valid UK driving licence for an Italian one.

  24. Visas and residency section updated: The additional support provided by the UK Nationals Support Fund to UK nationals making their residency application, will end on 30 September 2021. Contact the relevant implementing partner before this date if you need this additional support. 8 September 2021

  25. Guidance reviewed for Money, tax and banking, Benefits, Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships, and Useful information sections.

  26. Guidance reviewed for Passports and travel, Healthcare, Working in Italy, Studying in Italy, Emergencies, and Returning to the UK sections.

  27. Professional qualifications section updated for British citizens who are moving or moved to Italy after 1 January 2021 and those living there since before 1 January 2021.

  28. Working in Italy section updated: new guidance for frontier workers

  29. 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.

  30. Visas and residency section updated: new information on your legal requirement to register guests staying with you.

  31. Additional support section updated with link to guidance on UK Nationals Support Fund, healthcare section updated including guidance on the S1 form and applying for EHIC and GHIC cards; education section updated with information on moving to study in Italy; and working in Italy section updated with link to Department for International Trade (DIT) guidance on working or providing services and link to DIT guidance on recognition of professional qualifications.

  32. Updated guidance on buying property and working in Italy

  33. Update to links regarding Driving in Italy - 7 April 2021

  34. New link to detailed guidance on how to get the new biometric residence card

  35. Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines.

  36. Updated as the transition period ends with new information on residency, driving, pet travel and moving to Italy

  37. Uploaded a Healthcare Information Booklet

  38. Passports and travel section updated on carrying proof of residence when travelling.

  39. 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.

  40. Visa and residency section updated with new links to detailed guidance on how to register for residency

  41. updated to include ANCI guidance on registering as a resident in Italy

  42. We have updated the Citizens' Rights Information Booklet

  43. Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021

  44. 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.

  45. Information added to the 'Visas and residency' section on the impact of Covid-19 measures on local residency processes in Italy

  46. Link to travel advice added for latest coronavirus guidance

  47. A new link to Italian government guidance on residency registration in the ‘Stay up to date’ section.

  48. 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

  49. Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.

  50. Brexit update: information updated in 'driving in Italy after Brexit' section

  51. Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement

  52. Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.

  53. update on getting married in Italy - 26 July 2019

  54. Updated 25 July 2019

  55. EU Exit update: information on no-deal conditions for passports and visas

  56. New link to Ambassador's newsletters - updated 7 May 2019

  57. EU Exit update: updated text for passports, pensions, and returning to the UK.

  58. EU Exit update: updated information on EU Exit in healthcare, visas and residency, driving and working sections

  59. 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

  60. webpage address for ACRO criminal records office made more precise. March 2019

  61. We have updated the contact details you need to apply for an S1 form.

  62. EU Exit Update: On residency appointments and information on getting married in Italy.

  63. Updated information on passports: you must use the checker tool to see if your passport is still valid for your trip

  64. Update to section on re-registering a car in Italy 14 February 2019

  65. EU Exit update: Further information about residency applications added to the Italian government residency announcement

  66. EU Exit update - Updated information on access to healthcare

  67. EU Exit update: updated information on pensions and driving.

  68. EU Exit update: added in further information about 'applying for Italian citizenship'.

  69. Update on voting rights 2 January 2019

  70. Italian govt announcement on EU exit.

  71. 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.

  72. Link to page listing ambassador's messages to British nationals regarding EU exit. Added 8 November 2018

  73. Amended July 2018

  74. We have added more information on applying for Italian citizenship.

  75. More detail on how to register for healthcare added.

  76. Complete revision of guidance to ensure it's up to date and accurate.

  77. Major changes in all fields

  78. Updated guidance on UK state pensions in Italy

  79. Information added on changes to EHIC rules and health cover for early retirees.

  80. Updated the witness instructions for UK state pension life certificates.

  81. Added link for healthcare in Italy

  82. talian residence permit details updated.

  83. First published.

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Update history

2025-11-03 11:44
Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand.

2025-09-12 13:37
Updated information about introduction of EES on 12 October 2025.

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