Anyone moving to Italy has to deal with authorities in two countries. The good news: as an EU citizen, neither a visa nor a residence permit is required. The less good news: the order of steps determines whether getting settled in Italy takes weeks or months. This article walks through the most important stages, and all points can also be checked off interactively in our relocation checklist in the service section .
Still in Germany: Codice Fiscale and Documents
The most important tip upfront: apply for the codice fiscale, the Italian tax code, before the move. Without it, practically nothing in Italy is possible, no rental agreement, no bank account, no registration in the healthcare system, not even a mobile phone contract. German nationals can apply for the codice fiscale free of charge at the Italian consulate responsible for their place of residence, bringing only a national ID card or passport. Anyone who misses this step can obtain the number later using form AA4/8 at any office of the Agenzia delle Entrate in Italy.
Also worth handling before departure: obtaining international or multilingual birth and marriage certificates from the civil registry office. Thanks to EU Regulation 2016/1191, these eliminate the need for translations and apostilles in Italy. Anyone who still holds an old paper driving license should exchange it now for the EU card-format license, since after deregistering from Germany, the German licensing authority is no longer responsible.
Deregistering in Germany: Mind the Deadline, Secure the Certificate
Anyone who does not keep a residence in Germany must deregister at the local residents' registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt). The Federal Registration Act (Bundesmeldegesetz) permits this no earlier than one week before and no later than two weeks after moving out; missing the deadline can result in fines of up to 1,000 euros. A practical tip: actively request the deregistration certificate. Banks, authorities, and the tax office will ask for it later, and obtaining it from Italy is cumbersome.
It is also advisable to inform the tax office about the move. Caution is warranted for shareholdings in corporations of one percent or more: the exit taxation rules under Section 6 of the Foreign Tax Act (AStG) may apply, and this should be reviewed with a tax advisor before relocating.
Residenza: Registration with the Comune
Once in Italy, the clock starts ticking: EU citizens must register with their municipality (dichiarazione di residenza) after three months of residence. Non-economically active residents must demonstrate sufficient financial means and health insurance coverage. After registration, a vigile, the local police officer, will actually visit the stated address to verify that the applicant lives there. The municipality has 45 days to complete this check. Only entry in the Anagrafe opens the door to everything else: the healthcare system, an ID card, and digital identity.
Health Insurance: Three Paths into the SSN
The Italian national health service, the SSN, offers German nationals three routes to enrollment. Employees and the self-employed are enrolled automatically and free of charge. Retirees receiving a German statutory pension should request the S1 form from their health insurer before departing; this form enables free enrollment with the ASL, with costs continuing to be covered by the German insurer. The order matters: first the residenza, then the ASL. Non-economically active residents without an S1 either need private health insurance or can opt for voluntary enrollment (iscrizione volontaria). Since Law 213/2023, this has become significantly more expensive: at least 2,000 euros per year, calculated per calendar year, and the amount cannot be prorated. Anyone who enrolls in November still pays the full annual contribution.
Driving License and Car: The Strictest Deadline of All
For driving licenses, the German Federal Foreign Office notes an obligation to exchange the license within two years of establishing residency, primarily affecting licenses issued without an expiration date under Directive 2006/126/EC. Time-limited EU card-format licenses remain valid until their expiration date, after which renewal follows Italian rules, including a medical examination (visita medica).
The deadline for vehicles is considerably stricter: Article 93-bis of the Codice della Strada requires that a vehicle bearing a foreign license plate be registered in Italy no later than three months after the residenza entry, through the Motorizzazione Civile and the vehicle register PRA. Continuing to drive with German plates risks significant penalties, up to and including immobilization of the vehicle.
Money, Pension, and Taxes
It is advisable to keep the German bank account at first. So-called IBAN discrimination, such as an employer insisting on payment only to an Italian account, is prohibited under Article 9 of the SEPA Regulation 260/2012. It does still occur in practice, but legally a German IBAN remains usable throughout the EU.
Retirees can rest easy: the Deutsche Rentenversicherung pays the full pension to all EU countries, and on request directly to an Italian account. An annual proof-of-life certificate is not required for Italy, as the data is reconciled automatically. The liaison office for Italy is DRV Schwaben.
For tax purposes, following Italy's 2024 reform: anyone registered in the Anagrafe for at least 183 days per year, or whose domicile or place of residence is in Italy, or who is physically present there, is considered tax resident in Italy. Even fractions of days count toward this total. The double taxation agreement of 1989 prevents income from being taxed twice. For statutory DRV pensions, Germany retains taxation rights following the 2022 Federal Fiscal Court (BFH) ruling, with the Finanzamt Neubrandenburg being the responsible authority. The bilingual certificate regarding the tax-exempt pension portion for the Italian tax return is issued automatically.
Getting Digital: SPID, PEC, and the AIRE Misconception
Without the digital identity system SPID, much of Italy remains inaccessible, from the tax portal to health records. For German nationals, the practical path runs through three stages: first the residenza, then the electronic identity card (Carta d'identità elettronica) from the Comune, and then SPID. A certified email address (PEC) is voluntary for private individuals but recommended; it can be registered as a digital domicile in the INAD register. PEC is mandatory only for business owners and freelancers.
A common misconception to close with: the expatriate register AIRE applies exclusively to Italian citizens. German nationals should instead register with the ELEFAND crisis preparedness list maintained by the German Federal Foreign Office.
Moving to Italy with Pets
Dogs, cats, and ferrets require a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination, and an EU pet passport. The order is critical: the chip first, then the vaccination, and the vaccination must have been administered at least 21 days before entry. After arriving in Italy, dogs must additionally be registered in the regional Anagrafe degli Animali d'Affezione, for which a deadline of 30 days typically applies.
The Complete Checklist to Check Off and Download as PDF
This article covers the most important stages, but many additional details are involved: from mail forwarding to the registered rental agreement to the correct sequence for setting up accounts and contracts. All steps, including deadlines and responsible authorities, are available in our interactive relocation checklist. There, every item can be checked off individually and the complete checklist can be downloaded as a PDF, free of charge upon signing up for the newsletter. That way, all deadlines are accessible offline as well, from the first appointment with German authorities all the way to final entry in the Anagrafe.
