Documents for the tax code: what Italian citizens need
The list of documents for the tax code is short for an Italian citizen, and that surprises people. In most cases there is nothing to do at all. The codice fiscale (Italian tax code) is assigned automatically at birth, the moment the birth is registered with the local Registry Office (Anagrafe), so a person born in Italy already has one without ever asking. You only deal with paperwork when something goes wrong — a lost card, a code that was never issued, or a duplicate request. And honestly, those cases are quick.
If you need a first issue or a duplicate
- ✅ A valid ID document — Italian ID card or passport
- ✅ The AA4/8 form, completed (handed out free at any Revenue Agency desk, or downloaded in advance)
Issuance is immediate and free. No fee, no stamp duty, no appointment in most offices for this specific request.
Good to know
Lost the physical card but still know your code? You can request a duplicate health card online through the Italian Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate)portal, or simply check that a tax code is formally valid before you go anywhere.
Documents for EU citizens
Citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland get the simplest route open to non-Italians. Freedom of movement does most of the work for you.
- ✅ A valid national ID card or passport
- ✅ The completed AA4/8 form
No residence permit needed
EU, EEA and Swiss nationals do not present a residence permit to obtain a tax code. That single difference is what makes their file lighter than a non-EU applicant's.
Where an EU citizen can apply
- At any Revenue Agency office across Italy
- At an Italian consulate abroad, before moving — handy if you've lined up a job or a lease in advance
One practical note from people who've done it: bring the document you'll actually live in Italy with. If you arrive on a passport but later register residence with your national ID, keep the spelling identical across both. Mismatched names cause more delays than missing forms.
Documents for non-EU citizens
This is where the file gets thicker. Non-EU nationals need to prove not just identity but a lawful basis for being in Italy, so the documentation is more layered.
Always required
- ✅ A valid passport, with an entry visa where your nationality requires one
- ✅ A residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) — or the application receipt
- ✅ The completed AA4/8 form
You don't have to wait for the permit
A common myth. You can request a tax code with the receipt of your residence permit application — the postal slip from the questura counts. The code is what lets you sign a contract, open a bank account, or start a job in the first place, so the system is built to issue it early.
Extra documents in specific situations
- 📄 Workers: an employment contract, or the employer's hiring declaration
- 📄 Students: the university admission or enrolment letter
- 📄 Family reunification: the sponsoring relative's documents and proof of the tie
- 📄 Asylum seekers: the asylum application receipt
- 📄 International protection holders: the protection certificate
Foreign-language papers
Documents not in Italian may need a sworn translation plus an apostille (or consular legalisation, depending on the country). Sort this out before you travel — it's far slower to fix from inside Italy.
For the full step-by-step on this case, see our guide on the tax code for foreigners.
Documents for newborns
Here's the reassuring part for new parents. You rarely chase anything. When a birth is registered, the tax code is generated and assigned to the child automatically — usually before you've left the hospital paperwork behind.
That said, the registration itself draws on a few documents:
- ✅ The hospital's birth attestation (attestazione di nascita)
- ✅ Both parents' ID documents
- ✅ Both parents' tax codes
- ✅ A marriage certificate, if the parents are married
Born abroad to Italian parents?
The route shifts to the Italian consulate, which forwards the birth record to the home municipality. The code is still assigned — it just travels a longer path. We cover the details in the tax code for newborns.
A small thing worth checking once the card arrives: the code encodes the child's name, sex, and date and place of birth. If any of those was logged wrong at registration, the code will be wrong too — and it's much easier to catch on day one.
Where to submit your documents
So you've gathered the right papers. Where do they actually go? It depends on who you are and where you are — four channels cover almost everyone.
Revenue Agency offices
The default. Walk into any Agenzia delle Entrateoffice in Italy with your documents and the AA4/8 form. The code is issued on the spot, usually in minutes.
Italian consulates abroad
If you're still in your home country, the embassy or consulate handles the request. This is the sensible move when you need the code before arriving — to sign a job contract, enrol at a university, or buy property.
Single Immigration Desk (Sportello Unico)
For non-EU nationals arriving under certain work or reunification flows, the Sportello Unico per l'Immigrazione often issues the tax code as part of the wider permit process. One stop, fewer queues.
Your municipality (for newborns)
For a baby, the code is handled at the Comune at the same time as the birth declaration. You don't file a separate request.
Online? Only partly.
A handful of requests can go through the Revenue Agency portal, but you'll generally need Italian digital credentials (SPID, CIE or CNS). Most first-time applicants still go in person. What you can do online from anywhere is look up the personal data behind an existing code to confirm it matches your documents.
Common errors to avoid
Most rejected applications fail on small, avoidable things — not on missing some exotic certificate. These are the four that trip people up most.
- Expired documents. Every document must be valid on the day you apply. An ID that lapsed last week is an instant stop.
- Name spelled differently. The name on the form has to match the ID exactly — accents, hyphens, second surnames and all. This is the single biggest cause of mismatches.
- No translation for foreign papers. Documents not in Italian may be refused without a sworn translation.
- An incomplete AA4/8. A blank field — place of birth, document number — and the desk hands it back. Fill in everything.
One more, because we see it constantly: a code that exists but was transcribed wrong onto a contract or a payslip. A single swapped letter and tax filings bounce. Before you trust a code on paper, run it through our tax code validity checker — it takes seconds and saves a trip back to the office.
Frequently asked questions
What documents for the tax code do I actually need as a foreigner?
At minimum, a valid passport and the completed AA4/8 form. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens stop there. Non-EU nationals also bring a residence permit or its application receipt, plus any case-specific paper (work contract, enrolment letter, family documents).
Is the tax code free, or is there a fee?
It's free. There is no charge to obtain a codice fiscale, no stamp duty, and no cost for a duplicate. If anyone asks you to pay for the code itself, something is off.
Can I get a tax code before I arrive in Italy?
Yes. Apply at an Italian consulate in your home country. People who've pre-arranged a job, a lease, or a university place do this regularly so the code is ready when they land.
Do I really need to wait for my residence permit first?
No — and this trips up a lot of people. The receipt of your permit application is enough to request the tax code. In fact you'll often need the code before the permit is even printed.
My foreign documents aren't in Italian. Is that a problem?
It can be. Civil-status documents in another language may require a sworn translation and an apostille (or consular legalisation). Arrange it before you travel; doing it from inside Italy is slower.
The code I was issued looks wrong. What do I do?
Check it first, then fix it. Compare it against your details — date and place of birth are the usual culprits — and if it's genuinely wrong, return to a Revenue Agency office with your ID to have it corrected. You can confirm the discrepancy quickly with our reverse lookup tool.
How long until the health card arrives after I get the code?
Usually two to four weeks, posted to your Italian address. The health card (tessera sanitaria) carries your tax code in barcode form and doubles as the European Health Insurance Card. You can read more on our health card page.
Sort your documents for the tax code in minutes
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