Until the end of 2020, a British citizen could move to Italy with a suitcase and a plan. Since 1 January 2021 the same move involves a visa or permit, a different route for health and driving, and a few small differences in banking and property. Many guides still describe the old rules. This one sticks to the current official information, so you know what to ask before moving to Italy from the UK.
What does Brexit change when moving to Italy from the UK?
You are now a "third-country national" in EU law. The free-movement route that lets EU citizens register as residents with only a short list of conditions no longer applies to you. The rights guaranteed by the Withdrawal Agreement apply only to people who had moved to Italy before 1 January 2021 and have lived there legally since; GOV.UK stresses that those who arrive later do not qualify.
In practice you need, in this order:
- an entry route that fits your purpose (employment, study, family reunion or another category). The visa options depend on your plan, so ask the Italian embassy in London or the consulates, and check the official visa pages;
- a permesso di soggiorno (residence permit) from the Questura (police headquarters). GOV.UK says to apply within eight days of arriving;
- registration of your residence at the Comune once you stay more than three months. For British citizens the permit comes first and the Comune registration follows; GOV.UK points to the same sequence.
Dual British-Italian nationals must register as Italians. After five years of continuous legal residence, you may qualify for the EU long-term residence permit, says GOV.UK.
Which documents do you need for a codice fiscale?
Because you are a non-EU national, the tax agency asks for a valid passport with a visa if required, or a residence permit, or a consular identity certificate with a photo, and proof that you are entitled to stay in Italy, even temporarily. The office depends on your case: the single immigration desk (Sportello Unico per l'Immigrazione) if you come for work or family, the Questura if you apply for a permit, an Agenzia delle Entrate office otherwise. First-time applications are in person, by appointment. See codice fiscale in Italy.
The hard bit for most British movers is the start: which visa fits your plan, which office handles your permit, and whether any of the shortcuts for those resident before 2021 apply to you. Describe your situation to Moovy, Hello Expat's AI assistant, and it will show you which official pages apply and prepare a question list for the consulate or the Questura. It cannot apply for a visa or permit on your behalf.
How does health cover work for British citizens?
With a regular permit, you enrol in the national health service at the ASL of your Comune (or of the address on your permit if you are not yet resident). Enrolment is compulsory or voluntary depending on the reason for your stay. Voluntary enrolment is paid, with a minimum of €2,000 a year according to local health authorities, and is not possible with a permit issued for medical treatment, the Rome Prefecture says. Holders of a UK State Pension can request an S1 from the NHS Overseas Healthcare Services and register it at the ASL, with a right to reside. Our guide to healthcare in Italy explains the steps.
What about driving, banking and property?
Driving. If you registered as a resident on or after 1 January 2023, you may drive on your UK licence for 12 months, then you must exchange it, without a test, within six years of registration. You cannot renew a UK licence while living in Italy. A car with British plates must be re-registered within three months of residence; GOV.UK says 90 days. The licence rules are covered in driving licence in Italy; for the car, check the formalities with the Motorizzazione civile before you move. Importing a car from the UK means customs formalities and VAT.
Banking. Your right to a basic account depends on legal stay, and the protection against IBAN discrimination covers EU accounts only. An Italian utility can refuse to debit a UK account. Open an Italian account for rent and bills (bank account in Italy).
Property. British citizens who do not live in Italy are subject to a reciprocity check country by country. The Foreign Ministry's page describes British citizens as treated like Italians under the Withdrawal Agreement but has not been updated since the transition period ended, so ask your notary to verify before you sign a preliminary contract. GOV.UK advises contacting an English-speaking lawyer before buying. See buying property in Italy.
Can British citizens work in Italy?
You may need a work permit or visa, with exceptions for those covered by the Withdrawal Agreement. Employers sometimes ask for a UK police certificate and an Italian criminal-record certificate, and foreign professional qualifications may need recognition. Details are in working in Italy.
What small rules do British residents forget?
- Carry photo ID at all times, as GOV.UK reminds.
- Hosting a guest from outside the EU? The person who houses or lends a property to a non-EU national must notify the local police in writing within 48 hours. In a rental, that duty falls on the landlord, so ask them to confirm.
- Schengen limits. Time on a residence permit or long-stay visa does not count towards the 90-day visa-free allowance, but carry your passport and permit when you cross borders.
- Tax. After 183 days in Italy you are a tax resident on your worldwide income, wherever your passport comes from; the Agenzia delle Entrate explains the residence test.
Who is still covered by the Withdrawal Agreement?
Only people who moved to Italy before 1 January 2021 and have lived there legally since. For them, GOV.UK says the Withdrawal Agreement protects their residence rights, and certain exemptions apply: the driving licence exchange has no time limit for those resident by 31 December 2020, and a work permit is not required. If you are in this group, keep proof of your pre-2021 residence (registration at the Comune, tenancy, payslips), because officials sometimes ask for it years later.
For everyone else, moving to Italy from the UK today means treating yourself as a non-EU national from the first day. That is not a hardship, just a different sequence of steps. Italy recognises dual UK-Italian citizenship, so if you have Italian ancestry or have qualified for Italian citizenship, check that route with the consulate first: an Italian citizen is registered as an Italian, not as a foreigner.
What is a sensible order of steps for moving to Italy from the UK?
- Decide the purpose. Work, study, family or another reason decides the visa and the permit. The Italian embassy or consulate explains what applies to you.
- Apply for the visa, if one is needed for your purpose, before you travel.
- On arrival, apply for the permesso di soggiorno within eight days, per GOV.UK, and book your codice fiscale appointment (guide).
- Rent or buy and register the contract (renting in Italy), then register your residence at the Comune.
- Health: ASL enrolment with your permit; S1 if you are a UK State Pension holder.
- Money and car: an Italian account for the fixed bills, a clock for the licence (12 months) and for the car plates (three months).
- Tax: note the 183-day threshold and the Italy-UK tax treaty.
None of this requires an agent, but the sequence is less forgiving than for EU citizens, because each step depends on the permit. Keep photocopies of every document, and carry your passport and permit together.
Does a UK citizen pay Italian tax as a resident?
Yes, after 183 days of presence in a year, or when your residence or domicile is in Italy: the rule is the same for every nationality. Italy and the UK have a double-taxation treaty, and Italy's tax authority has issued rulings on how it treats British pensions in particular cases. The Agenzia delle Entrate and a tax adviser can explain how the treaty applies to you. If you move to work, ask the Agenzia delle Entrate about the impatriati regime, which is open whatever your nationality.