In a previous article that you can find here, we discussed what the A.I.R.E. is and outlined how you can register. Today we will provide a recap, and inform you of an important update regarding A.I.R.E. requirements that affect Italian citizens who plan to live outside Italy for a period longer than 12 months.
What is A.I.R.E?
A.I.R.E. stands for Anagrafe degli Italiani Residenti all’Estero (Registry of Italian [Citizens] Residing Abroad). It came into effect in 1988, and it holds the personal information of Italian citizens who live abroad. It is a system that allows the Italian government to keep records of Italian citizens who reside outside of Italy, for the purpose of ensuring they have access to services they are entitled to as Italian citizens.
Why is it important to register?
It is also important to register because the A.I.R.E. gives Italian citizens access to important services that are provided by the Italian consulate in the area where they reside, such as applying or renewing a passport, registering vital records (i.e., marriage and divorce certificates, children’s birth certificates), and ballot papers for Italian municipal and national elections. If you live in the European Union, you can also participate in EU elections.
Who needs to register?
It is the responsibility of Italian citizens to register with the A.I.R.E. and to update their details/vital records as and when necessary.
If you are an Italian citizen, and you plan to live outside of Italy for more than 12 months, or if you have acquired Italian citizenship jure sanguinis in the U.S. or foreign country via a consulate, and your place of residence is not in Italy, you are required to register with the A.I.R.E. within 90 days from the relocation or citizenship recognition date.
Individuals who had their residence in Italy and then moved abroad will be registered with the municipality (comune) where they lived before relocating. Alternatively, individuals who had their Italian citizenship recognized through jure sanguinis, will be registered with the municipality where their Italian ancestor was born.
All Italian citizens who are moving abroad (and who are not exempt for the reasons we will outline below), or who have already been living abroad, must register their new residence when they move if they are going to be living abroad for more than 12 months. This must be done at the consulate that has jurisdiction in the area where they reside within 90 days from the date of arrival. Even if you change address within the same locality (under the same jurisdiction), you will need to update your personal details.
Who is not required to register with the A.I.R.E.?
There are some exemptions to who needs to register: those who do not plan to live outside of Italy for more than 12 months (for example if you plan to live/work abroad temporarily, but their main residence will be in Italy). Also exempt are Italian government employees who have been stationed abroad, and Italian military personnel who have been stationed at a NATO post abroad.
How do you register?
Registering with the A.I.R.E. is without cost. If you have become an Italian citizen by descent by applying via a consulate, and have been, or will be recognized as Italian citizens through Jure Sanguinis or Jure Matrimonii abroad, then your registration with the A.I.R.E. tends to be done automatically as part of this process.
In order to register with the A.I.R.E., you will need to complete, sign, and return an application form to the consulate that has jurisdiction where you reside. The form should be available on the consulate’s website and also via the online system “Fast It”. A forum that simplifies the process of registering. It also gives Italian citizens who live abroad access to other online services, such as updating personal data and information.
Please be reminded that if you relocate to a different county or state within the United States, you will need to update your address via the Italian consulate that covers the jurisdiction where you live.
When you apply for Italian citizenship by descent, and have completed the process, and are officially recognized as an Italian citizen, some consulates may ask you to fill out a form to register with the A.I.R.E. Furthermore, once you are an Italian citizen your vital records will be registered at the Italian municipality where your Italian ancestor, through whom you claimed citizenship, was born.
In the event that you relocate to Italy, your A.I.R.E. file will be closed once you are registered as a resident in the Italian municipality where you plan to live.
What documents do you need in order to register/update details?
Specific document requirements may vary slightly depending on which consulate you apply through, so be advised to check the consulate relevant to you, but, in general, the following documents are needed:
- A signed A.I.R.E. registration/update form;
- A copy of your Italian passport or ID;
- Proof of address;
- Documentation that shows legal proof to remain in country of residence (passport, work visa).
UPDATE IN RULE- New penalties for failure to register with A.I.R.E.
It is the right and duty (Law No. 470/1988, Article 6) of Italian citizens who reside abroad to be registered with the A.I.R.E. Previously, there were no financial penalties if you failed to register with the A.I.R.E. However, from January 1, 2024, a new law (Law No. 213, Article 1, paragraph 242) came into effect that introduced a maximum penalty of €1,000.00 each year for failure to register with the A.I.R.E., which extends to a period of 5 years, for Italian citizens (including minors) who reside abroad.
Registering with A.I.R.E. has long been a requirement for Italian citizens who live abroad, but this new law imposes financial penalties for those who fail to do so. The new provisions, however, do not operate retroactively. It is important to note that registration with A.I.R.E. also applies to those with dual citizenship, so if you obtained Italian citizenship more recently, and live outside of Italy, you must also remember to register.
This segment has been written to provide you with the important recent announcement and update regarding new financial penalties imposed for not registering with the A.I.R.E.
If you would like further clarification on this, or have other questions about Italian Citizenship Assistance (ICA), you can contact us directly and one of our friendly experts will be in touch to answer your query.
