Getting your Codice Fiscale

Hi everyone! Today I wanted to continue the Moving to Italy series of articles. Once you move to Italy, one of the first things you will need is a codice fiscale, which literally means your fiscal code.

I also have made a YouTube video about this, which you can watch here:

Your codice fiscale is a 16-character code of letters and numbers, and its basically your personal identification number in Italy. You will need to use it for almost anything you do here in Italy.

One interesting thing about the codice fiscale is that it follows a specific code, so for example it always begins with the first three consonants of your last name, then the first three consonants of your first name, the last two digits of the year you were born, and it goes on. You can even look up how your own codice fiscale will be formed by looking at how they create them online. However, your codice fiscale is not official until it has been issued by the Agenzia Entrate, the tax agency of Italy.

 This is one of the first things you will need to take care of when you move to Italy. If you’re already an Italian citizen residing abroad, you can reach out to your consulate, who will request the Agenzia Entrate to issue the codice for you. If you are coming to Italy to study or work, the website of the Agenzia Entrate has a page in English explaining where you could request the tax number. I would reach out the Agenzia Entrate in the comune, or municipality where you will be living, and they will be able to give you some more information. I would also reach out to the Italian consulate through which you are applying for your visa, because it’s possible they may be able to request it for you as well.  

Now this is not a service you have to pay for, it is totally free to get and once you have it you have it forever.

I hope this article was useful for you, and stay tuned for the next article in the Moving to Italy Series!

Note: The header image shows the Ponte Vecchio in Florence.