Moving to Italy from UK: Basic Info You Need to Know

Moving from the UK to Italy has become more complex since Brexit. British citizens now face different rules for staying in Italy, compared to when the UK was in the EU. This guide breaks down the basic stay options – from short tourist visits to long-term moves for study, work, or family – and highlights the key differences between Italy and the UK. 

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Tourist Visits and Short Stays

For short visits, neither Italy nor the UK require advance visas for each other’s citizens, but the allowed duration and requirements differ:

Italy for UK visitors

British passport holders can enter Italy (and other Schengen countries) without a visa for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. This visa-free allowance is for tourism, family visits, business meetings, or other non-work purposes. If you plan to stay longer than 90 days (or to work), you must obtain an appropriate long-stay visa. Make sure your passport is valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from Italy (and was issued within the past 10 years). Starting from late 2026, the EU will introduce ETIAS, an electronic travel authorization that UK visitors must apply for online before short trips (similar to the US ESTA). This is not a visa but will be a required security clearance. For now, UK travelers can continue to enter Italy with just a valid passport and a return ticket.

Healthcare during tourist visits

It’s important to have health coverage during short stays. UK travellers to Italy should carry a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) (or a still-valid EHIC) to access any necessary emergency medical treatment on the same terms as locals. The GHIC/EHIC lets you use Italy’s public healthcare for urgent needs, though comprehensive travel insurance is still recommended to cover anything not included. Italian visitors to the UK can use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for any medically necessary treatment during their stay. The UK will provide urgent treatment through the NHS and handle billing later if applicable. However, Italy’s national health service and the UK’s NHS are not completely free for visitors – an EHIC/GHIC only covers essential state-provided care. Travel insurance is advised for all travellers to cover additional costs like repatriation or private care.

Below is a comparison of short stay rules in Italy and the UK:

Aspect	Italy (Schengen)	United Kingdom
Visa required for tourism?	No – UK citizens can visit Italy visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.	No – EU citizens (including Italians) can visit the UK visa-free for up to 6 months.
Maximum stay without visa	90 days (within a 180-day window) in Schengen.	180 days (6 months continuous).
Passport validity rule	Must be valid ≥3 months beyond trip end (and issued ≤10 years ago).	Must be valid for the stay (ID cards not accepted post-2021).
Electronic travel pre-authorisation	ETIAS required from 2026 (online application, 3-year validity).	ETA required from 2025 (online registration, valid 2 years).
Allowed activities	Tourism, visits, business meetings, short study (<90 days); no paid work without a permit.	Tourism, visits, short study (<6 months), business events; no work or long study without visa.
Access to healthcare	GHIC/EHIC covers emergency public healthcare during visit ; travel insurance recommended.	EHIC accepted for necessary NHS treatment ; visitors may be billed 150% NHS costs if no EHIC/coverage.

Note: The above applies to standard tourists. If you intend to stay longer or work/study, you must transition to a long-term residence status. Next, we cover those scenarios.

Moving for Study (Student Visas)

Studying in Italy: If you’re a Brit planning to study in Italy for longer than 90 days (e.g. an exchange semester, university degree, or language course over 3 months), you will need a study visa (national long-stay visa) before you move. You should apply via the Italian consulate in the UK, providing proof of enrollment from an Italian educational institution, evidence of sufficient finances to support yourself, accommodation plans, and health insurance coverage. Once you arrive in Italy, a crucial step is to apply for a permesso di soggiorno (residence permit) for study within 8 working days. The residence permit, issued by the local immigration office (Questura), formalises your legal stay for the duration of your studies. International students in Italy are allowed to work part-time up to 20 hours per week during the term (max 1,040 hours per year). This means you can take on internships or student jobs.

In terms of health care, student visa holders must have private health insurance or can voluntarily register with the Italian national health service (SSN) by paying a student rate (often around €150 per year). Upon obtaining your residence permit and codice fiscale (tax code), you can enroll in the SSN and receive a health card (tessera sanitaria), granting access to public healthcare similar to residents (more on the health card below).

Moving for Work (Employment Visas)

Working in Italy (for UK citizens)

Post-Brexit, Brits no longer have the automatic right to live and work in Italy – you will need a work visa and residence permit, just like other non-EU nationals. Italy has several types of work permits, and the process typically involves two steps: first, your Italian employer must obtain a nulla osta (work authorization clearance) through the Italian immigration authorities (Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione); second, with that clearance, you apply for a work visa at the Italian consulate. Importantly, Italy operates an annual quota system (the “decreto flussi”) which limits work permits for non-EU citizens in certain categories. 

Some categories of skilled workers (e.g. intracompany transfers, highly specialized workers, researchers, EU Blue Card holders) may be exempt from quotas but still require the employer’s sponsorship and a work permit process. In summary, to move to Italy for a job, you generally must have a job offer in advance and your prospective employer’s cooperation to handle paperwork. You cannot legally move to Italy first and job-hunt indefinitely on a tourist status – you’d need to leave and apply for the proper visa once you have an offer. There are emerging exceptions: Italy recently created a Digital Nomad visa aimed at remote workers and the self-employed with high qualifications, allowing non-EU citizens (including Brits) to live in Italy while working remotely for foreign companies. This visa, however, has specific requirements (such as proof of sufficient income and health insurance) and is intended for individuals who won’t be employed locally in Italy.

Once you obtain your visa and arrive in Italy, you’ll apply for a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) for work. This permit is typically valid for 1-2 years and is renewable as long as you maintain the job or meet the criteria. With a work permit/residence card, you’ll enjoy similar rights to Italian workers: you can register for public healthcare (SSN), enroll your kids in school, etc. Note that language can be a barrier – most jobs (outside certain international companies or English-teaching roles) will require Italian proficiency. Also, Italy’s bureaucracy can be slow; starting the work visa process well in advance is crucial. In terms of family, after you’ve obtained your permesso, you can usually sponsor family members for reunification (more below on family visas).

Moving for Family Reunification

Family ties can make a move easier, as both Italy and the UK have provisions for family reunification, though the requirements reflect each country’s immigration rules.

Joining Family in Italy: If you are a UK citizen with immediate family who are Italian citizens or residents, you may be eligible for a family visa or permit to live in Italy. The rules differ slightly depending on whether your relative is an Italian/EU citizen or a non-EU legal resident:

• If your spouse or registered partner is an Italian citizen (or an EU citizen living in Italy), you qualify as a family member of an EU national. You can enter Italy and then apply for a Residence Card for foreign family members of EU citizens. You will need to show a marriage certificate (apostilled and officially translated) and proof of your Italian spouse’s residence in Italy. The good news is that for EU citizen family, Italy does not impose income requirements or quotas – this right is protected by EU law. The residence card (carta di soggiorno per familiare di cittadino UE) is typically granted for 5 years and allows you to work in Italy.
  
• If your family member in Italy is a non-EU national (or you are not officially married/partnered): Then the process is under Italy’s family reunification (ricongiungimento familiare) rules. For example, if you moved to Italy for work and later want your spouse or minor children (who are UK citizens) to join you, you must apply for a nulla osta for family reunion through the Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione. You (the sponsor) will need to prove you have adequate income to support the family (at least the Italian welfare income level plus a percentage per family member) and suitable housing that meets a minimum size/hygiene standard. Once the nulla osta is issued, your family can apply for a family visa at the Italian consulate in the UK. An Italian citizen bringing a foreign spouse may also go through a similar process via the consulate if they prefer, but generally Italian citizens can directly register the foreign spouse with the local municipality and questura after entry. In all cases, children under 18 can join their parent in Italy fairly easily, and dependent elderly parents can be sponsored too (with stricter criteria). Family reunification visas are exempt from quota limits, so you don’t have to worry about the annual cap – any eligible application is processed on its merits year-round.
  

The Italian approach to family migration is generous in duration: a spouse or child who gets a family residence permit usually receives a permit with the same expiry as the sponsor’s permit (or a five-year card if the sponsor is an Italian/EU citizen). Family members on these permits can work without restrictions in Italy. After 5 years, they can apply for long-term residence, and after 2 years of marriage in Italy, a non-EU spouse of an Italian can even apply for Italian citizenship by marriage (subject to a B1 language test and other formalities).

As seen, the Italian system for family reunion is generally more lenient on income and more automatic if your spouse is an Italian/EU citizen, whereas the UK system has a high financial bar and multiple steps. Planning ahead and ensuring all documents are correct is vital in both cases.

Italian Tax Code (Codice Fiscale) – Why You Need It

One of the first things anyone moving to Italy will encounter is the codice fiscale, or Italian Tax Code. Despite the name, this code is not just about taxes – it’s a fundamental identification number in Italy, analogous to a National Insurance Number in the UK or Social Security Number in the US. The codice fiscale is a unique 16-character alphanumeric code generated from your name, date and place of birth. Every Italian citizen has one, and foreigners need one too for practically any bureaucratic or legal process.

Why is the tax code important? In Italy, you’ll be asked for your codice fiscale to do all sorts of everyday things, such as:

• Signing a rental contract for an apartment
  
• Opening a bank account
  
• Getting internet or a mobile phone SIM plan
  
• Enrolling in school or university
  
• Starting any employment contract (your employer needs it for payroll)
  
• Buying a car or even some high-value purchases
  
• Accessing the national healthcare system (SSN) or applying for a health card
  
• Many other interactions with public agencies or private service providers
  

In other words, your codice fiscale is the key that lets Italian authorities and systems recognise you. It’s used as a reference number in databases for health, taxes, social services, and more. Having a codice fiscale does not mean you automatically start paying taxes in Italy – it’s just an ID code. (Tax liability depends on your residency and income, not merely having the number.) Think of it as equivalent to an important ID document; you’ll often present it alongside your passport or ID card when completing formalities.

How to get a Codice Fiscale: If you’re moving to Italy, it’s wise to obtain your codice fiscale as early as possible, even before you move if you can. There are a few ways to apply:

• Through an Italian consulate: Some Italian consulates abroad (including in the UK) issue codice fiscale numbers upon request. You typically fill out a form and provide a copy of your passport. However, note: procedures have changed recently. It’s worth checking with the Italian consulate in London or Edinburgh if they currently process tax code applications for foreigners.
  
• Upon arrival in Italy: You can apply at a local office of the Agenzia delle Entrate (Italian Revenue Agency) in any city. You bring your passport (and visa if applicable) and fill out form AA4/8. After the line, the staff will issue you a certificate with your new codice fiscale. There is no fee; it’s a free government service.
  
• Using an assistance service: If you prefer convenience, there are services that will obtain a codice fiscale on your behalf. For instance, fiscalcodeitaly.it offers to handle the application remotely. Such services typically charge a fee to navigate the bureaucracy for you and can be useful if you’re not in Italy yet or don’t speak Italian.
  

However you obtain it, you will get a code in format like “RSSMRA85E01Z330K” (just an example). This code stays with you for life – it never changes (even if you marry and change your surname, the code itself remains the same, though you’d update the records).

Tip: Memorise or keep this number handy once you have it. You will be asked for it a lot. For convenience, many foreigners carry the codice fiscale certificate or card in their wallet. Eventually, when you get the health insurance card (which we discuss next), that card will display your codice fiscale on it, so that becomes a handy way to show your number.

Italian Health Card (Tessera Sanitaria)

When you move to Italy and become a resident, you will likely want to access Italy’s public healthcare system, the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN). Italy has a universal healthcare system, meaning most residents (including foreign residents) are entitled to register with the SSN and receive a health insurance card, called the tessera sanitaria. Here’s how it works and why it’s important:

What is the tessera sanitaria? It’s a blue plastic card with a chip, similar in size to a credit card, issued in your name. This card serves two key purposes:

1. It is your National Health Service card, proving that you are enrolled in the Italian health system and entitled to medical care at public hospitals and clinics (largely either free or very low cost).
   
2. It doubles as your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). In fact, the Italian tessera sanitaria has the EU flag and “EHIC” on the reverse side, and it can be used when you travel to other EU countries to get emergency healthcare. So, for EU citizens and now even for UK citizens who become Italian residents, the tessera sanitaria functions as an EHIC abroad.
   

Crucially, the tessera sanitaria contains your codice fiscale on it as well. It effectively replaces the old paper tax code certificate – when you have the health card, you typically use it to show your tax code number for identification in many situations.

Who gets a health card? Anyone residing in Italy who is entitled to healthcare coverage. This includes Italian citizens of course, but also foreign nationals who have a residence permit for work, family, asylum, or study (if the study permit holder opts to enroll). Once you complete the registration, the card is automatically generated and mailed to your address on file (the one you gave when registering your residence or with the tax office). For example, when a work permit holder gets their first permesso di soggiorno, they go to the local health authority (ASL) with their documents to register for a doctor, and soon after a card is mailed out. Newborn babies in Italy are issued a codice fiscale and health card automatically right after birth.

How to obtain and use the health card: To get your tessera sanitaria, you must register with the SSN at the local health agency (usually called ASL or ATS depending on the region). You will need to show:

• Your passport or ID
  
• Your codice fiscale (tax code)
  
• Your residence permit (or a receipt that you have applied for one)
  
• Proof of residence/address (sometimes)
  
• For non-employed residents: proof of eligibility (e.g., enrollment in university for students, or an S1 form for retirees, etc.) or proof of payment if you have to pay an annual fee.
  

If you are employed in Italy (or self-employed and paying social contributions), registration is straightforward – you contribute via payroll taxes, so you and your dependents are covered. You’ll choose a family doctor (medico di base) and the ASL will issue your health card. If you are a student or otherwise not automatically covered, you may either buy private insurance or voluntarily enroll in the SSN. Voluntary enrollment involves paying a yearly fee (for students, this is roughly €149/year; for others without work, it can be around €400/year) at the post office and taking the receipt to the ASL. After that, you get the same tessera sanitaria and access to care.

The tessera sanitaria typically has an expiration date aligned with your residence permit. For example, if you have a 2-year work permit, your health card might expire in 2 years, and then it’s renewed when you show your permit renewal. Always keep it current – doctors and pharmacies will often ask to see the card. If it expires or is about to, you can renew it by updating your status at the ASL. If you lose the card, you can request a duplicate from the Agenzia delle Entrate or ASL.

Using the health card

When you go to any public hospital, clinic, or pharmacy in Italy, you bring your tessera sanitaria. For a doctor’s appointment, the card confirms your registration and the doctor can look you up in the system. At a pharmacy, if you’re buying medicine with a prescription, the pharmacist will often swipe your card – this links to any regional ticket (co-pay) system and your exemption status. On the card’s microchip, and in the barcode, is your codice fiscale, which ties into your health records. Essentially, the card simplifies accessing services – it’s proof you’re in the system.

Another benefit: as mentioned, the tessera’s back side is an EHIC. So if you travel to another EU country (or a country that recognises EHIC, like Switzerland), and you suddenly need emergency treatment, you can use the Italian card to get care under reciprocal arrangements. For UK citizens who become Italian residents, this is interesting because the UK’s GHIC is the British replacement for EHIC – but once you have an Italian health card, you’d use that when in Europe instead, since you’d be considered an Italian resident for healthcare.

Healthcare coverage differences – UK vs Italy

It’s worth noting for comparison that Italy’s system is generally residence-based and mostly free at point of use (with some co-pays for specialists or medicines). The UK’s NHS is also residence-based and free, but the UK imposes the IHS fee on foreign visa applicants to fund their access. In Italy, there’s no equivalent charge for most visa holders; even if you’re a foreigner working in Italy, you don’t pay any separate fee beyond regular taxes.

Students and certain others pay modest amounts, as described. And Italy’s coverage is quite comprehensive, including family doctors, specialists, hospitalizations, and maternity care. For example, pregnancy and childbirth care are provided free of charge in Italy to those enrolled in SSN. Like the NHS, the SSN does have wait times and bureaucratic quirks, but it ranks highly in global healthcare comparisons.

Moving to our end, relocating to Italy from the UK means navigating a new landscape. Be clear on your purpose (travel, study, work, or joining family) and follow the specific process for that route.

Life in Italy comes with fantastic benefits – from the rich culture and cuisine to the access to European travel. By handling the “boring” paperwork early (permits, registrations, etc.), you set yourself up to fully enjoy “la dolce vita” once you arrive.

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