With a Brexit agreement only just reached, the finer issues are likely
to be defined further down the line, but many of the fundamental aspects
regarding reciprocal rights of Italian nationals in the UK and UK nationals in
Italy were established back in February 2020. The UK government website at
www.gov.uk is exhaustively informative. Should you have
any queries about pensions, wills, succession etc…CI’s advice is to check out its
website. There seem to be answers to
every possible question!
Here are 5 of the most salient points which regard us UK nationals
resident in Italy:
No. 1 – New electronic residency
Permits
As of January 1st 2021, the Italian government is issuing a NEW
residency document - in electronic format - for UK nationals resident in
Italy. It applies to both temporary and
permanent residents.
·
If you
were legally resident in Italy before 1 January 2021, your rights will be
protected by the Withdrawal Agreement
·
You should
check that you are correctly registered and should get a new residence document
to evidence your rights.
·
If you
have been legally resident in Italy for:
·
over 5
years, you will be eligible for permanent residency and a 10-year renewable
residency document
·
less than
5 years, you will be eligible for a document with 5 years validity
·
To request
the document you need to book an appointment on line at your local police
headquarters (questura). Make sure
you read the Italian government’s guidance on what supporting documentation you
will need to provide.
o
According to CI’s research the necessary
supporting documentation is the following:
§ a valid identity document
§ a certificate of personal registration
(attestazione di iscrizione anagrafica), issued by the municipality (comune) of residence, which proves
registration by 31st December 2020
or
§ self-certification of being registered with the
anagrafe by 31st December
2020
§ receipt of payment of € 30,46 made by postal
order to:
·
Account no. 67422402 (account
holder “MEF DIP.TO DEL TESORO VERS: DOVUTO RILASCIO CARTA DI SOGGIORNO”
·
Reason for payment: “Importo per
il rilascio della carta di soggiorno - Accordo di recesso UE/ UK
§ 4 passport-sized photographs.
No.2 - Passports
Your current passport will be valid as long as:
·
It is less
than 10 years old
·
And has six
months left before it runs out
·
If you
need a new passport - which will be a different colour - the UK government advises
you apply for a new one in plenty of time (even 6 months).
No.3 - Passport control
Remember that we are no longer able to use the EU fast-track passport
control and customs lanes.
(Hopefully, the new electronic residency permit, will however, speed our
way through border control for non-EU members.)
No. 4 - Driving in Italy
·
From the
day of obtaining your residency, you have a 12 month period in which you can
drive with your UK licence as long as it is accompanied by an international driving
licence.
·
After this
12 month period you will either be required to take the Italian driving test,
or – once/if a reciprocal agreement is reached between the UK and Italy – you
may be able to exchange your UK licence for an Italian one (fingers crossed!)
·
You can
import a UK car, but it will require Italian number plates. This can take up to
6 months and in the meantime, you are not allowed to drive the car.
No. 5 - Pet passports issued in Great Britain will not be valid for
travel to Italy from 1 January 2021.
From that date, pets travelling from Great Britain to Italy will need to
have an animal health certificate (AHC). (An EU pet passport remains valid
for entering the UK).
·
AHCs are
issued by a vet, are valid for four months (or until the anti-rabies
vaccination expires, whichever lapses first) and must be obtained no more than
10 days before travel.
·
AHCs will
be valid for a single trip into the EU, onward travel within the EU and
re-entry to Great Britain.
·
In order
to travel to Italy (and through Europe if driving) your pet will need to have
• been
micro-chipped or have a clearly readable tattoo if applied before 3 July 2011
• been
vaccinated against rabies
• had
treatment against the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis,
In addition, you should also complete and attach a written declaration
to your pets EU animal health certificate stating that its relocation is for
non-commercial reasons. This declaration is also required if your pet is
travelling under the responsibility of a person authorised by you. In this
case, your pet must be reunited with you within 5 days of your relocation.
All of this information has been
carefully sourced from official government websites, but please double check
that nothing has changed since the date of this post before taking any action.
