This article will discuss what identification and government-issued documents you are eligible for as an Italian citizen. Individuals who have acquired Italian citizenship by descent are entitled to an Italian passport, identity card (carte d’identità), codice fiscale (tax code), and a tessera sanitaria (health card).
Italian passport
Italian law stipulates that you must carry a form of identification with you at all times (i.e., passport or ID card); however, holding an Italian passport is not a legal requirement, you can be an Italian citizen and choose not to apply for an Italian passport. The Italian passport, as well as being proof of Italian citizenship status, is a legal document that an Italian citizen can apply for that serves for international travel. The advantages of holding an Italian passport are many: it is placed highly in world rankings on the basis of its visa-free travel to 134 countries. Furthermore, Italy permits dual citizenship, which means that you can hold both an Italian passport and the passport of another country at the same time. In addition to this, Italian citizenship means EU citizenship, and therefore an Italin passport also grants the right to live, study, and work in any of the other 27 European Union member states, without visa or time limitations.
An Italian passport also gives Fast Track access through EU border control, as well as affording the use of biometric scanners, which guarantees a quicker passage through immigration/passport control checks and EU/EEC lines.
If you do obtain an Italian passport, it will need to be renewed every 10 years, either via the Questura (local police station), if you reside in Italy, or, for those living outside of Italy, at the Italian consulate that has jurisdiction where you reside.
It should also be noted that your citizenship status is not subject to the expiration date of your Italian passport.
Italian passports are embedded with a biometric chip that makes it virtually impossible to replicate, and each page of an Italian passport has imprinted in it a unique passport number.
The Italian passport itself has an individual European passport identifying number at the bottom of the page, and also contains the citizen’s personal information and the residency details of the citizen. These features ensure security and make it feasible to pass through border controls faster.
For more information about the Italian passport see our related article here.
Codice Fiscale (Fiscal Code)
The codice fiscale is an Italian identification number, a tax or fiscal code, which is similar to the U.S. Social Security Number. Citizens born in Italy receive a tax code at birth, which is assigned by the comune (municipality) where the birth is registered. For individuals who obtain become Italian citizens by descent, in order to obtain a codice fiscale an application must be made at the Italian tax office (agenzia delle entrate), if residing in Italy, or via the Italian consulate if residing broad. There are many websites that can calculate the tax code; however the only valid tax code is the one issued by an agenzia delle entrate.
The codice fiscale is an essential requirement for many daily imperatives: opening a bank account in Italy; signing an employment contract- whether for a company or as a freelance emplyee; filing and paying tax returns; utility contracts; accessing the Italian healthcare system; getting a mortgage and the purchasing of a property contract; buying vehicles, and inheriting, purchasing, selling and renting properties in Italy.
The codice fiscale is a unique number which contain 16 alphanumerical characters. It is calculated using the citizen’s information, such as name, date and place of birth.
It is also useful to note that having an Italian tax code does not necessarily imply tax duty, you may have to pay Italian tax duties only if you are a resident in Italy, own eligible assets in Italy, or if you earn a taxable income in Italy.
It is free to apply for your Italian codice fiscale, and is a relatively straightforward process if you do not reside in Italy, as you can request it at the Italian embassy or consular office that covers jurisdiction where you reside.
In order to apply for an Italian codice fiscale, you will need a form of identification (passport or identity card), and you may also be asked for proof of address (i.e. utility bill).
Tessera Sanitaria
If you are an Italian citizen who lives in Italy you can register for the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN) at the local health care office (Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL) that covers the area where you reside. It is free to register, and once you have registered a general practitioner is allocated and an Italian health card (tessera sanitaria) issued. The tessera sanitaria is the Italian health insurance card. If you plan live in Italy and intend to utilize the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN) or Italian National Health Services you will need this card, as it must be presented each time you attend a doctor’s appointment, a hospital visit, or the pharmacy (if you are getting a prescription). If you have private medical/health insurance or have a private doctor it is not necessary that you have a health insurance card; however, for access to the public health care system, it is mandatory. Every Italian citizen born in Italy receives a tessera sanitaria (which is free) at birth. For those born outside of Italy, you have to apply a tessera sanitaria at your local agenzia sanitaria locale (ASL). In order obtain one, you will need to present a copy of your passport, codice fiscale (if you have one, otherwise this is one way to get one), that has been issued by the revenue agency (agenzia delle entrate) in the local municipality (comune) where you live, proof of current address, and the name of the doctor you want to be your assigned physician (you can find a list of doctors via the ASL website). The tessera sanitaria is sent to you via mail (although you may get it on the same day if you apply in person), and can take up to three to four weeks, depending on the ASL through whom you apply. Once you have the tessera sanitaria you are officially a part of the Italian public health care system and can access and utilize its services and provisions.The tessera sanitaria lasts for six years, after which time a replacement card will be sent to you without having to apply for it.
For Italian citizens who intend to live in another EU member state, you may want to consider applying for a European Health Insurance Card, issued by the local health authority in Italy, which will provide health and medical cover while in any EU member state, as well as any medical expenses that may be incurred.
For more information in the health card and to register with the Italian healthcare system, see our related article here.
Carta d’Identità (ID card)
All Italian citizens, who are registered as resident in Italy, can apply and get an Italian carta d’identità (identity card). The ID card allows you secure login to public administration websites and platforms, and also serves as official photo identification document valid to travel throughout the European Union.
The carta d’identitá also gives you access to online programs via SPID, which is a Public Digital Identity System enabling access to various online services of the public administration.
A carta d’identità can be applied for at your local ufficio anagrafe (vital record office) in the comune where you reside. The carta d’identità is issued by the comune (local municipality) where you live, and is valid for 10 years.
In order to apply for an ID card it is first necessary to have a codice fiscale. You will also need to provide personal information (such as name, birthdate and address, a recent passport-sized photo and passport). Fees can vary depending on the comune through which you apply.
The carta d’identitá is issued in the form of a plastic card and contains information such as your name, birthdate, address, codice fiscale, nationality, height, gender and a recent photo of you.
It is also useful to state that the carta d’identità is a valid form of identification when traveling between EU member states by plane or train.
This segment has been written to provide details about what documents you are entitled to, as well as their purpose, as an Italian citizen.
If you would like further information on applying for citizenship, or would like to talk to one of our team, you can visit our homepage, or contact us directly and one of our friendly experts will be in touch to respond to your queries.
