Foreign citizens with a valid Italian permit of stay (permesso di soggiorno) who live in Italy long-term or permanently must register with the Anagrafe (Italian Registry Office) of their municipality (Comune).
This process is known as iscrizione anagrafica.
“Iscrizione anagrafica” is the administrative procedure to select an address as your “residenza” (which is the residency or “usual living” place, similar to domicile in other countries).
Proof of residence status is provided through a “certificato di residenza” (residency certificate) and, potentially, an Italian Identity card (carta d’identità). Being a “residente” allows you to access various services and rights, including opening a bank account, accessing public housing (if eligible), accessing bonuses (if eligible), accessing social services, purchasing a car (typically requiring a carta d’identità), and applying for an Italian driving license.
Note: Residenza is important if you intend to apply for Italian citizenship. Registering at the Anagrafe is necessary to demonstrate that you have been living regularly in Italy for the required period to qualify for citizenship. The count for the citizenship application begins from the date of obtaining residency.
The application is submitted to the Anagrafe of your municipality, and the required documents include the permesso di soggiorno, passport, codice fiscale, lease agreement or deed of ownership, and a declaration of residence form. After submission, the Anagrafe verifies the applicant’s residence by visiting the declared address.
The registration can be rejected if documents are invalid or the applicant doesn’t meet the requirements. Residenza remains valid unless cancelled due to death, change of residency, being untraceable, or failure to renew the declaration of renewal of usual living.
Residenza does not have an expiration date, but one can be cancelled from the Registry Office of the comune in the following cases: death, change of residency to another municipality or abroad, being untraceable (“irreperibile”) after repeated checks by the Anagrafe, or failure to renew the “declaration of renewal of usual living” (Dichiarazione di rinnovo della dimora abituale – each time your permesso di soggiorno is renewed, you must file the “declaration of renewal of usual living” with the Anagrafe of your municipality within 60 days).
To maintain residenza, it is not enough to show the intention of residing in a particular place but it shall be taken into account also the physical presence at the chosen address (even though the law does not indicate a minimum number of days a person must live in).
Giuditta Petreni has over 10 years of experience in assisting companies and business investors with relocation of managers and staff to Italy. Giuditta has extensive experience advising corporate and private clients on a full range of Italian immigration categories. She is fluent in Italian and English.
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