Italy Checklist

Guides

Step-by-step walkthroughs of the main Italian paperwork, with the question to ask at each step.

How to get a Codice FiscaleWhat a Codice Fiscale is, where Americans usually request it, what to bring and what to ask. A step-by-step guide that avoids fees and deadlines that may be out of date.Documents before you moveThe documents Americans commonly gather before moving to Italy, what an apostille and a sworn translation are for, and the questions to ask so you don't do the same step twice.First 30 days in ItalyA calm, ordered plan for your first month in Italy: what to do each week, which documents come first and what to ask each office.Registering residency in ItalyWhat residenza is, why it matters, what you usually need first, and how the registration process normally works. Without fees or deadlines that may be out of date.Permesso di soggiornoWhat the permesso di soggiorno is, who usually needs one, and how the process normally works from the post-office kit to the Questura. Without fees or deadlines that may be out of date.Healthcare in ItalyHow Italian public healthcare is organised, what the ASL and tessera sanitaria are, and the questions to ask. A practical guide that avoids eligibility rules and costs that may be out of date.SPID and CIEWhat SPID and the CIE are, which one to get first, what you need and how the process normally works. Without fees or eligibility rules that may be out of date.Opening a bank accountWhat Italian banks commonly ask for, the types of provider, the extra questions Americans can face, and what to ask before you open an account.Apostille and sworn translationWhat an apostille and a sworn translation are, who issues them for US documents, and the order to do things so you don't pay twice.Renting in Italy: paperworkWhy the lease matters for the rest of your paperwork, what to ask your landlord, how utilities and the move-in inspection work, and what to keep.Italian phrases for officesPractical Italian phrases, with English meanings, for asking what you need, saying you don't understand, and getting things in writing.Setting up utilitiesHow utility contracts usually work in Italy, the words you will meet (voltura, subentro, contatore, bolletta) and the questions to ask before you sign. No prices, no promises.Understanding an Italian leaseThe terms you will meet in an Italian rental contract (canone, deposito cauzionale, spese condominiali, registrazione, disdetta) and the questions to ask before you sign. Not legal advice.US taxes and Italy: what to organiseA practical way to prepare for tax questions when you move from the US to Italy: documents to keep, the questions to bring to an Italian accountant and a US tax professional. Not tax advice.Booking appointments at Italian officesHow appointments, counters and walk-in hours usually work at Italian offices, how to prepare and what to ask so you only go once. General guide, no fixed rules.Receiving mail and PEC in ItalyHow Italian addresses, mailbox names, registered mail notices and PEC certified email work, and how to avoid missing an official letter. A practical guide for newcomers.Organise your Italy paperworkA simple, tested way to keep Italian documents, receipts and deadlines in order: folder structure, naming, scans, copies and a log of every office visit. No special software needed.Words you hear at Italian officesPlain-English meanings for the Italian bureaucracy words newcomers hear most: sportello, pratica, protocollo, ricevuta, delega, istanza and others, with the question to ask for each.