Moving to Italy – an Overview

Moving to Italy and starting a new life is an exciting but daunting prospect. You can’t control the emotions you will experience and the unexpected things you will encounter, but in best Boy Scout style it helps to ‘be prepared’.

Assuming you have sold or rented out your house and have a property to live in once you reach Italy, then the next thing to think about is shipping over your goods and the paperwork you will need to have in order at the beginning.

Moving to Italy checklist:

• Get funds organized using a currency exchange company, it’s cheaper than using the bank to send over euros. Open an Italian bank account.
• Get quotes and book your international removal company. Choose one that has experience of transporting to Italy and that is an accredited customs clearing agent. It may be possible to transport goods a partial load if you are not taking everything with you. Make several copies of the inventory.
• Citizens of countries outside the EU may need a visa. Check with your embassy.
• Organize pet passports and vaccinations for animals. Pets should be micro chipped and have a valid rabies vaccination. They should also have a pet passport.
• Make sure you have a codice fiscale (Italian tax number) and a permesso di soggiorno (stay permit) and if you have children a stato di famiglia (Family book/status of family document) which you get from your local town hall (comune.)
• Take with you several copies of wedding certificate, passport and driving licence and if you have children: birth certificates, vaccination certificates and passport size photos.
• Get an international driving licence
• While waiting to get an Italian medical card, it’s a good idea to get a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
• Take adequate supply of prescription medicine and if possible have medical notes from your doctor translated into Italian for your new Italian GP.
• Get your eyes tested and keep the prescription. Take spare pairs of glasses.
• Contact the local education authority to find out about schools. If under 18 your child has the right to be educated in an Italian school even without the right paperwork, although that has to be provided later. Get a translated copy of your child’s current curriculum to give the new school. You will need to provide: photos, stato di famiglia, birth certificate (translated), codice fiscale of parent/guardian. There are also international schools in many big cities.
• Arrange for Telecom Italia to install ADSL internet connection and phone lines if your property does not have those.
• Change utility bills to your name. Open new accounts with relevant paperwork.
• Get a commercialista (accountant) if you are planning to open a business or to be self employed. They can also handle any local taxes that need to be paid, for example the twice-yearly community charge (ICI) which at the time of writing is payable on new builds but not on main residences. It may be worth employing an accountant who works in both languages and is used to dealing with non-Italians.

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