Anagrafe registration for EU citizens

Citizens of EU countries who want to settle in Italy can do so, without having to apply for a residence permit! This is due to the principle of freedom of movement of persons, one of the main principles of the EU, on the basis of which it is possible for these people to freely settle in another Member State.

What are the requirements, for an EU citizen, to register with the Anagrafe?

EU citizens who wish to settle in Italy must register with the Anagrafe, and to do so they must present:

• the title under which they occupy the dwelling in Italy

• copy of an identity document valid for expatriation

• documentation regarding their status: in fact, different documentation is required in case the EU citizen is (i) a worker (employed or self-employed), (ii) a non-worker, (iii) a student, (iv) an EU citizen's EU family member mentioned in the previous points

The procedure in a nutshell

To register with the Anagrafe, it is necessary to:

1. fill out the form provided by each Municipality, indicating the housing data and attaching the required documentation
   

2. within 48 hours the Municipality issues a receipt of the start of the procedure: from that moment the Municipality has 45 days to carry out its checks
   

3. the Municipality's checks are carried out, on the documents, by the Anagrafe office, while agents of the local Police may carry out an on-site inspection to check the actual presence of the applicant at the address indicated in the form: putting one's name on the intercom and mailbox and alerting, if present, the doorman is important!
   

4. at the end of the process, the EU citizen will be a resident, as of the date of the request

NOTE: many times Municipalities, particularly the biggest ones, can take much longer than the expected time to complete the process. In any case, enrollment will start from the date of submission of the application.

Benefits of the Anagrafe registration

Registration with the Anagrafe allows EU citizens to reside in Italy, and thus to stay beyond the 90 days out of every 180 allowed based on European legislation. In addition, enrollment allows access to the National Health Service, in the case of a worker or his or her family.

Finally, registering with the Anagrafe starts the counting of the period of residence required to apply for Italian citizenship, which for EU citizens is 4 years.

Your Way to Italy: our assistance

Our team is available to provide support and assistance throughout the process! Contact us to book your first consultation with us and to start the process to register with the Anagrafe! #YourWaytoItaly

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

Article written by Alessia Ajelli, Managing Associate of LCA Studio Legale, Italian lawyer specialized on Italian immigration and citizenship law.