The registration at Registry Office for European citizens

Before arriving in Italy, it is essential to look for housing to settle in. This can be a rented apartment, a room in a hostel, or temporary accommodation through short/medium-term services. Make sure the accommodation is suitable for your stay and meets any legal requirements, such as registration with local authorities. Looking for an apartment in Italy could be a complex task if the EU citizen is oriented toward large cities or in university towns, so it would be advisable to contact specialized bodies/associations or agencies.

Once you have found an accommodation, it is time to plan your trip to Italy. You can get to the country through various means of transportation, including plane, train, bus or car. Make sure you have all the necessary documents with you for the trip, including your passport or valid ID card. Being a European citizen allows you to avoid customs checks, but having an identification document is always essential when traveling.

Upon arrival in Italy, the EU citizen should apply for a tax code. This code is essential for many transactions and administrative procedures in Italy, including opening a bank account or signing a lease. You can apply for the tax code at the Agenzia delle Entrate or through other authorized services, such as some Caf (Centro di Assistenza Fiscale) and Patronati.

Before starting the registry enrollment process, it is essential to ensure that you meet the necessary requirements. In particular:

(a) Be a citizen of a member state of the European Union;

(b) have the intention to settle in Italy for a period of more than three months.

Net of these requirements, any EU citizen who intends to stay in Italy for more than 90 days is required to apply for registration at registry office, regardless of the cases that bring them to Italian territory (e.g., study, training, work, family members).

Once the requirements have been verified, it is time to gather all the necessary documents. Make sure you have with you:

• Valid identification, such as an ID card or passport;
• Together with the certificate of residence, in case of transfer of residence;
• the application form from the official website of the municipality of residence.

In addition to these documents, an EU citizen who intends to stay in Italy for more than 90 days must present health coverage in accordance with Legislative Decree No. 30 of February 6, 2007. This element is often a cause of confusion among EU citizens who hold the European Insurance and Health Insurance Card (EHIC ). Let’s try to shed some light on the health coverage required of the EU citizen applying for registration at registry office, starting with the characteristics stipulated in Decree Law 2007 No. 30:

1. must clarify the process and documentation required to apply for reimbursement;
2. must be annual in duration, with specific start and end dates specified;
3. must be valid in Italy and provide full coverage of health risks;
4. must clearly indicate which family members are covered and their degree of relationship;
5. if written in a foreign language, it must be accompanied by an Italian translation.

EHIC and private coverage

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is a document issued to citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland that allows them to receive necessary health care during temporary stays in another European Union, EEA or Swiss country, based on the regulations and conditions in force in the host country. This implies that if an EU citizen is registered with the National Health System (NHS) of his or her home country and visits another EU country, he or she can use the EHIC to access necessary health services during the temporary stay. When an EU citizen decides to settle in Italy for a period of more than 90 days, he will be required to submit health coverage in accordance with Legislative Decree No. 30 of February 6, 2007.

Summing up, the EHIC can be used for temporary stays in EU and EEA countries. If, on the other hand, the EU citizen decides to settle in for more than 90 days, he or she will have to register for civil registration by presenting health coverage.

This point is crucial because registration at registry office in Italy, with associated presentation of health coverage, implies the EU citizen’s withdrawal from the National Health System of the country of origin.

Welcome Association Italy advises, before going to the registry office, to make sure you have all the required documents and fill out the application form correctly. This will help save time and avoid possible delays in the procedure.

Once the collection of documents is completed, it is advisable to go to the registry office of the municipality of residence. There, you can fill out the application form carefully, providing all the required information clearly and accurately. Once completed, you must submit the form along with the required documents to the registry office. During the meeting with the registry office staff, you can ask for clarification of any doubts or questions regarding the procedure. It is important to fully understand the civil registration process and the rights and responsibilities as a resident.

After the application is submitted, the registry office will proceed with document verification and evaluation of the application for registry registration. This process may take a few working days, so please be patient during this time. Once the verification is completed, you will receive a communication regarding the outcome of the application. It is advisable to maintain contact with the registry office for any updates on the file in order to keep track of the status of the application and take timely action if needed. Registration is instantaneous if the required documents are submitted in a compliant manner. Thereafter, the municipality will proceed to verify the declared domicile in the next 45 days.

Once registration has been obtained, the EU citizen intending to stay in Italy does not have to fulfill any further requirements for his or her stay. Through this administrative act of the public administration, the EU citizen has fulfilled his obligations in Italy. When the EU citizen decides to change his or her residence to another address or city, he or she must rectify his or her position at the registry office of the new municipality of residence within 20 days of the move.