The Italian Register of Resident Population
The Anagrafe is Italy’s civil registry of the individuals who have established their residence (centre of vital interests and habitual abode(Anagrafe della popolazione residente), withing the jurisdiction of an Italian Comune (local municipality). It records:
All residents (Italian citizens and foreign nationals)
Their official address
Family composition
Vital statistics (birth, marriage, death)
It is the backbone of Italy’s administrative system — used for everything from healthcare access to providing statistical information and voting rights. Being registered as resident is also a pre-requisite of purchasing motor vehicle in Italy as well as a number of other matters.
The Italian Register of Resident Population
The Anagrafe is Italy’s civil registry of the individuals who have established their residence (centre of vital interests and habitual abode(Anagrafe della popolazione residente), withing the jurisdiction of an Italian Comune (local municipality). It records:
All residents (Italian citizens and foreign nationals)
Their official address
Family composition
Vital statistics (birth, marriage, death)
It is the backbone of Italy’s administrative system — used for everything from healthcare access to providing statistical information and voting rights. Being registered as resident is also a pre-requisite of purchasing motor vehicle in Italy as well as a number of other matters.
When Is Registration Required?
You must register with the Anagrafe if:
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You move to Italy and intend to stay more than 90 days or establish your residence in Italy
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You obtain a stay permit (permesso di soggiorno, with the exception of the investor visa (non-EU citizens)
- You are non EU/EEA citizen staying in Italy for more than 90 days;
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You are an EU citizen staying more than 3 months
You can request registration either as a Temporary Resident or Long Term Resident.
Temporary Residence Registration in Italy
What is it?
Temporary residence registration (iscrizione temporanea) is a form of registration with the Anagrafe that is valid for 12 months, and can be renewed if the conditions continue to be met. It is available only to Italian citizens and EU/EEA citizens. Every Italian municipality is required by law (DPR 223/1989) to maintain a Temporary Residents Register (Anagrafe della Popolazione Temporanea).
This registration does not constitute full municipal residency and does not grant access to documents such as the Italian identity card or full enrolment in the national health system. It simply certifies that the person is temporarily present in the municipality.
Conditions for requesting temporary residence registration
According to official guidance, to request temporary registration you must provide the Anagrafe with:
- A valid passport or identity document
- Documentation showing the reason for your stay (employment contract, university enrolment, research grant, etc.)
- An Italian tax code (codice fiscale)
- Proof of health coverage (EHIC, private insurance, or enrolment in the SSN)
- A registered rental contract or other valid proof of accommodation
Italian citizens and EU/EEA citizens can request Temporary Registration. In practice, some municipalities also accept EFTA citizens.
It is not available to non‑EU citizens who do not yet have a residence permit. For non‑EU nationals, there is instead the temporary registry under Article 32 of DPR 223/1989, used when a person has been living in the municipality for at least 4 months but cannot yet apply for full residency (for example, because they are still waiting for their permesso di soggiorno).
Procedures and documentation requirements vary by municipality and some municipalities apply the rules more or less strictly.
When is Updating the Registry Required
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You change residential address within Italy
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You leave Italy permanently
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You wish to set up your “domicile” (domicilio) – for practical effects such that, even if your habitual abode remains at the original address you wish to appoint another address as centre of vital interests e.g to receive correspondence, health services etc.
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You have a child born in Italy (they must be registered too)
- A change in family circumstances, due to e.g. death, divorce or legal separation, adoption etc.
How Do I Get Myself Registered as Resident
You need to make an application, usually on a standard from provided by the Comune at the Anagrafe Office of your Comune. Many of Italy’s bigger cities have moved to the provision of online portals for purposes of registration. Registration through the portal is usually followed by an appointment at the offices of the Comune in order to produce original paperwork.
The Comune form, or online portal, will set out the supporting documentation to be produced, which can vary according to your circumstances. Typically this will comprise:
- up to date Identity document for you and members of your family
- your Stay Permit (Permesso di Soggiorno) issued by the Police Immigration Service *
- proof of residence and right to occupy the property – e.g. copy purchase deed, registered rent contract, or licence to occupy
- for those moving from outside Italy evidence of sufficient financial means so as not to become a burden on the State and of adequate health insurance, although these items may already have been disclosed when applying for the Stay Permit (Permesso di Soggiorno).
* the issue of a Stay Permit is usually a pre-requisite of being to able to register as resident. An exception to this rule applies for Stay Permits issued on family reunion grounds, where registration as resident can often be effected ahead of the issue of the Stay Permit.
After making the application, the Comune have, typically 45 days, to run their background checks and arrange for a verification visit, usually conducted by the local police service, to check that you are indeed residing at the premises you have indicated in your application. You generally need to be in attendance when the Police officers visit the property, although they will generally leave a note asking for a call to arrange a follow up visit. Practice here varies widely around the country and some Comuni no longer make verification visits or do so on a random basis.
After the Comune run their checks and verifications you will be deemed to be registered as resident from the date of application, or the following day. That date is fundamental for tax purposes (see below), the correspondence from the Comune will confirm the date – keep it.
After confirmation you can apply for a national ID Card. This for non Italian citizens will be expressed to be “not valid” for foreign travel, meaning that the ID card cannot be used for travel, even within the Schengen area.
Non Italian citizens, once registered and in possession of ID Card, you can apply for an Italian Digital ID (SPID), and apply for registration at the local area health authority (ASL or USL) .
Making the Declaration of Residence
When you register as resident you make a declaration, before a public official, that your “residence” i.e.. your centre of vital interests and “habitual abode” are at the address contained in that declaration. The penalties for making a false declaration are steep and include the possibility of criminal sanctions.
Tax Consequences of Being Registered as Resident
Income and Wealth Taxes
As a registered resident you will be presumed to be tax resident in Italy for any tax year in which your registered as resident for more than 183 days in the year (see following section). If you are tax resident in Italy for any tax year you are probably liable to income taxes on worldwide income and wealth tax on assets.
Local Property Taxes
If you own the accommodation you indicate as your residence in the application, once you are registered as resident, you can enjoy exemption from local property tax (IMU). If you register as resident within 18 months of completion of a residential real estate purchase, you may be entitled to a reduction in the purchase tax (imposte di registro or VAT (IVA) under the “prima casa” (first home) rules.
Once you are registered resident, as a non Italian citizen you commence entitlement generally to Italy’s public services, health care, schooling etc.
Registration as resident may trigger the deadline for e.g. conversion of a foreign driving licence, where permitted.
If you own the accommodation you indicate as your residence in the application, once you are registered as resident, you can enjoy exemption from local property tax (IMU). If you register as resident within 18 months of completion of a residential real estate purchase, you may be entitled to a reduction in the purchase tax (imposte di registro or VAT (IVA) under the “prima casa” (first home) rules.
The Importance of Applying for Residence in Appropriate Circumstances
There are many reasons that might motivate people to declare that they are resident in premises which may not represent their real “habitual abode” – i.e.. the place where they live on permanent and stable basis.
Examples include:
- obtaining the benefit of reduced purchase tax when they acquire real estate,
- exemption or reduction in property ownership taxes,
- accessing a special tax regime
The saving of the local property and purchase taxes may not outweigh the extra tax due as a tax resident of Italy or the costs of rebutting the presumption that you are not Italian tax resident for any relevant tax year, e.g. by reference to an applicable tax treaty.
The Italian Tax Authorities when checking why, although someone is registered as resident with the Anagrafe, no tax returns have been filed, will start from the simple concept that having made a formal declaration of residence before the Anagrafe Official, that that is the end of matter and you are hence tax resident in Italy for any relevant tax year. In order to rebut the presumption you will need to rely on what can be a quite technical analysis of the DTA, establishing that you are tax resident in a treaty partner country and meet the rigorous requirements in the particular treaty for access to it, in addition to providing documentation that your “home” is in fact somewhere else outside Italy. See this post for more details.
Other Consequences of Being Registered as Resident
Once you are registered resident, as a non Italian citizen you commence entitlement generally to Italy’s public services, health care, schooling etc.
Registration as resident may trigger the deadline for e.g. conversion of a foreign driving licence, where permitted.
What is the AIRE?
AIRE (Anagrafe degli Italiani Residenti all’Estero) is Italy’s registry of her citizens living abroad. It is managed by the Ministry of the Interior.
Legislation
Presidential Decree No. 223/1989: Establishes the structure and function of the Anagrafe
Legislative Decree No. 286/1998: Immigration law requiring foreign nationals to register if residing long-term
Law No. 1228/1954: General law on population registry
EU Directive 2004/38/EC: Governs registration of EU citizens residing in other member state
Law No. 470/1988: Establishes AIRE and its obligations
Presidential Decree No. 223/1989: Implements registry procedures
Legislative Decree No. 71/2011: Defines consular roles in AIRE updates