In this article, we will try to answer many frequently asked questions about the AIRE such as:
what it is, what it is for, who needs to register, when it is necessary to register and what is required.
Firstly, we would like to address what the AIRE is.
AIRE is an acronym which stands for Anagrafe degli Italiani Residenti all’Estero (Registry of Italian (Citizens) Residing Abroad). Launched in 1988, the AIRE is an extension of the record keeping system which helps the Italian government keep track of the vital records of Italian citizens.
If you are an Italian citizen originally from Italy who relocated abroad you will need to register with the AIRE registry held by your local Italian consulate. Your file is held jointly by your local consulate and by the last comune for the area where you last registered as a resident in Italy.
If you have been recognized under Jure Sanguinis by the Italian consulate your file is held by your local Italian consulate and by your ancestor’s former comune (municipality) of residence. The registration with the AIRE is normally done automatically by the consulate upon recognition of Italian citizenship under jure sanguinis.
Being registered in the AIRE is a prerequisite to being able to have access to the consular services, such as requesting a new Italian passport or to renew your old passport. Another added benefit is that you will be able to vote in Italian municipal and national elections while abroad with the option to still vote directly in Italy. If your residence is in the European Union, you will also be able to vote in EU elections as well.
Who is NOT required/exempted from registering with the AIRE
- People who do not remain outside of Italy for more than 12 months.
(for example: a seasonal worker who lives abroad temporarily is not required to register if their main residence is in Italy. This could be a person who has a limited term position which requires them to live abroad for less than 12 months) - Employees of the Italian Government who have been stationed abroad
- Members of the Italian Armed Service who have been stationed at a NATO post outside of Italy
Who is required to register in the AIRE?
– Italian Citizens who have decided to reside abroad for more than 12 months
– Italian citizens who have acquired Italian citizenship by birth (i.e. via Jure Sanguinis – for more info see below)
– Italian citizens who have acquired Italian citizenship abroad
For those of you who have been recognized or will gain recognition as Italian citizens through Jure Sanguinis or Jure Matrimonii outside of Italy, your transcription into the AIRE will automatically take place upon completion of your petitioning/application process.
Instead, in accordance with Law no. 470/1988, all Italian citizens who are moving abroad (and who are not exempt for the above reasons) 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 registration must be made through the presiding consulate for the jurisdiction where you live within 90 days from the date of your arrival.
Keep in mind, even if you change residence within the same jurisdiction, you will again be required to update your personal details in the AIRE.
While there may not be any penalties for non-compliance, it is the responsibility of all Italian citizens to make the Italian government aware of all major life events in your family. This includes births, deaths, marriages and divorces. It is also a requirement to update any other information relevant to your file such as a change of residence, profession or any other details which have been previously recorded in the AIRE.
In regard to vital records which must be submitted to your consulate for changes in status of life events such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child or if there is the death of an Italian citizen in your family, you will need to inform the appropriate consulate of what event(s) have occurred. Documents showing these events must include an Apostille seal. The document and the seal will require translations into Italian.
Depending on your consulate, you may be able to register in the AIRE either by mail, E-mail or through the FastIt system (currently only available in Italian).
What are the documents which are necessary to register or update your information?
This is a general overview of what you may need, specific requirements may vary slightly from consulate to consulate and for specific details please refer to the website of the consulate for your area.
Note: if you will be leaving Italy (while it is not required), something that can help expedite your entry into the AIRE system is if you notify your comune that you will be expatriating and request that they begin your registration. Once you have made your residence abroad, it is required to notify the consulate for your area and inform them of where you will be living. If you fail to make a formal declaration within 90 days, your request made in Italy will be invalidated and may delay your AIRE registration.
– A signed AIRE registration/update form (this can be acquired through your consulate)
– A copy of your Italian passport or ID
– Valid Proof of legal stay in your country of residence (for example: if you are in the USA this can be a valid American passport, visa, residency permit, work authorization card or permanent resident card )
– Proof of residence (drivers license, utility bill(electric, gas, phone, internet or cable/satellite) or a copy of your rental contract)
Some other important side notes are that if you’ve lived in Italy and have also been covered by the Italian National Healthcare, you will immediately lose access to the service both in Italy and abroad. However, Italian citizens registered in the AIRE are entitled up to 90 days of emergency medical services per year for free. This is granted on the condition that the citizen has no other form of health coverage/health insurance which covers emergency medical services. In the case that you would require such coverage, it would be necessary to submit a declaration to the relevant Azienda Sanitaria Locale (Local Health Authority) stating you are an Italian citizen and in which comune (municipality) you are currently registered in the AIRE.
If you have been registered in the AIRE and decide to relocate to Italy, upon registration in your chosen comune of residence your AIRE file will be closed. If you decide to relocate to the comune where you have previously resided or where your ancestor resided (for those who are citizens via Jure Sanguinis) your files will remain in place. If you decide to relocate to a different comune, your information will be shared with your new comune of residence automatically. Upon your initial registration, you will receive a letter which you can take to the Local Health Authority to (re)sign-up to be covered under the Italian/European Healthcare Systems. Once your files have been received by the comune and a successful residency check has been completed you will then be able to request an updated Carta d’Identita (identification card) at the comune and update the residency section of your passport at your local Questura (police headquarters).
For more information about the AIRE CLICK HERE. If you have any questions about anything covered in this article or any other questions, feel free to get in contact with ICA HERE and we’ll do our best to help and we may even base an upcoming article on your question. We hope this article has been helpful to you. If you know anyone else who might find this information of interest be sure to share the link to this article with them or on your social media.
