What is the AIRE?
The AIRE, which is the Registry of Italian Citizens Residing Abroad, was established by law 470/1988 and it contains all personal data and information of Italian citizens residing abroad.
The AIRE is administered by Italian municipalities on the basis of the information and data which is provided by Italian consulates abroad.
In particular, you need to register with the AIRE if you decide to reside abroad for more than 12 months or if you acquire Italian citizenship jure sanguinis and your permanent residency is outside of Italy.
Individuals who resided in Italy and relocate abroad will be registered with the municipality where they lived prior to moving abroad. On the other hand, individuals who became Italian citizens jure sanguinis, will normally be registered with the municipality where their Italian ancestor was born.
It is citizens’ responsibility to register with the AIRE and to keep their details up to date such as their address, and to register their children’s births or other important vital records such as marriage, divorce and death certificates.
Registering with the AIRE allows citizens to access several services which are provided by the Italian consulate that covers the jurisdiction where you reside. Among some of the services offered are:
- Applying for a passport or renewing one;
- Registering one’s vital records (i.e., marriage and divorce certificates, and children’s birth certificates);
- Receiving ballots papers from the consulate via mail.
How do you register with the AIRE?
Registering with the AIRE entails mailing a signed application form to the consulate that covers the jurisdiction where you reside. Generally, the form can be found on the consulate’s website. However, in recent years, Italian consulates have also launched an online system which is called Fast It and which is aimed at simplifying AIRE registrations; the platform also offers Italian citizens abroad online services such as updating one’s address or personal information.
Please note that if you register with the AIRE and you move to different county or state within the United States, or if you relocate to a different country, you will need to update your address.
if you relocate abroad from Italy you will need to update your address with the AIRE via the Italian consulate that covers the jurisdiction into which you relocate.
If you apply for Italian citizenship by descent, the registration with the AIRE is generally carried out automatically by the Italian consulate to which you apply for the recognition of Italian citizenship.
Note: when you apply for Italian citizenship by descent some consulates may ask you to fill out a form to register with the AIRE upon completion of the dual citizenship process. Furthermore, as soon as you are officially recognized as an Italian citizen your vital records (birth, marriage and divorce records, if applicable) will be registered at the Italian municipality where the Italian ancestor through whom you are claiming citizenship was born. The time needed to register your vital records depends on the specific municipality where you need to register.
Registering with the AIRE is free of charge.
What happens if you want to relocate to Italy?
If you decide to relocate to Italy your AIRE file will be closed as soon as you register as a resident in the Italian municipality where you intend to reside.
For more information please visit: https://italiancitizenshipassistance.com/what-is-the-aire/
