Receiving mail in Italy: addresses, notices and PEC explained

Writing an Italian address

An address usually runs: street name and number, then any building details, then the postal code and city, followed by the province in brackets. A typical pattern looks like this:

• Via / Viale / Piazza: street / avenue / square
• Civico: the building number
• Scala / Interno: the staircase and apartment number in larger buildings
• CAP: the postal code
• Provincia: the province, usually in two letters

If you are in a large building, include the staircase and apartment number. Without them, mail may not reach you.

Put your name where the postman can see it

Italian postal workers deliver by the name on the mailbox and the doorbell. If your name is missing, mail may go back to the sender. Ask your landlord how to add your name, and use the exact spelling that appears on your documents.

When a notice replaces the letter

If a registered letter or parcel cannot be delivered, you may find a notice in your mailbox (an avviso di giacenza). It tells you where to collect the item and for how long it is kept. Bring the notice and your passport or other ID. If someone else collects for you, ask the post office what authorisation they need (usually a written delega and copies of both IDs).

Do not ignore these notices. Some are routine, and some come from public offices. Photograph the notice on the day you find it and note the deadline printed on it.

What PEC is

PEC (posta elettronica certificata) is a certified email service that gives the sender proof of sending and receipt. Public offices, companies and professionals use it, and some procedures require it. You may be asked for a PEC address, or asked to send something by PEC. Ask the office whether a normal email is enough or whether you need a PEC address, and how to get one.

Step by step

1. Write your address in Italian format and save it in your notes.
2. Add your name to the mailbox and doorbell.
3. Tell the offices that need to reach you your address, and your email.
4. Check your mailbox regularly, including the first weeks.
5. If a notice arrives, photograph it and collect the item promptly with ID.
6. Ask each office whether you need a PEC address.

Common mistakes

• No name on the mailbox.
• Missing staircase or apartment number.
• Ignoring a collection notice because it looks like advertising.
• Using a normal email where a PEC is required.

Questions to ask

• Is the right address on my contract and on all my documents?
• How do I add my name to the mailbox and the doorbell?
• Where do I collect notices, and what should I bring?
• Do I need a PEC address for this procedure?

What comes next

Your address matters for your residenza registration and for many other offices. See how to register residency and the first 30 days.