What is A.I.R.E. and who must register?

A.I.R.E. – Register of Italians Residing Abroad – is a registry established in 1990 by Law 470/1988, containing the data of Italian citizens who reside permanently abroad. Registration is mandatory for all Italian citizens who:
• move abroad for a period longer than 12 months
• were born abroad and have acquired Italian citizenship by descent, or through marriage or adoption

Registration must be completed at the Italian Consulate responsible for the place of residence within 90 days of arrival in the new country.

Who is exempt from registration?

Registration with A.I.R.E. is not required if:

• the stay abroad is less than 12 months
• you work abroad seasonally
• you are an employee of the Italian state working abroad (e.g., diplomatic or consular staff)
• you are an Italian military member assigned to a NATO base abroad

Why is it important to register with A.I.R.E.?

Registration allows you to:

• access consular services such as issuing or renewing a passport, document authentication, or managing civil status documents
• communicate and record important events such as births, marriages, deaths, or divorces with your Italian Municipality
• exercise your right to vote from abroad in political, administrative elections, and referendums
• keep your personal data updated, including changes of address

How to register with A.I.R.E.?

Currently, most registrations are handled online through the platform FAST.it, the portal for consular services.

Here’s how it works:

1. access the "Consular Registry and AIRE" section and select "AIRE Registration Request"
2. upload the required documents: Italian passport, proof of residence (e.g., local passport, residence permit, naturalization certificate, utility bills, bank statements, etc.)
3. fill out the form with the required data, sign it (digitally or by hand), and submit it via the portal

The Consulate will assess the request and forward it to the appropriate Italian Municipality (either the last place of residence or place of origin). While awaiting confirmation, the citizen is still considered registered at the consular level.

Legal update: be aware of penalties

A legal amendment (Law No. 213 of December 23, 2023) introduced fines of up to €1,000 per year, for a maximum of five years, for those who fail to comply with the registration requirement.

What happens if you return to live in Italy?

In the case of permanent return, the A.I.R.E. registration is automatically canceled once the new residence is registered in an Italian Municipality.

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The content of this article aims to provide a general guide on the topic. It is necessary to seek specialist advice regarding your specific situation.