Your first 90 days in Italy: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · July 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
The 8-working-day permesso deadline lands in week one — and questura backlogs then mean months in 'ricevuta limbo', during which Schengen travel outside Italy is technically off-limits.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Permesso di soggiorno (residence permit) — the postal 'kit' filed at a Poste Italiane counter
Within 8 working days of arrival
The post office receipt (ricevuta) proves legal stay; the questura fingerprint appointment it books commonly lands months out and varies wildly by province.
Get your Codice fiscale
Required for a lease, bank account, utilities, SIM contracts and healthcare registration.
Issued free at Agenzia delle Entrate offices; visa applicants can often obtain one via an Italian consulate before arrival.
Open a bank account
Banks want a codice fiscale, passport and usually the permesso or its receipt; some turn away US persons over FATCA reporting, so Wise/Revolut plus an Italian-IBAN fintech is a common first setup.
Enrol in healthcare
SSN registration happens at the local ASL office; workers enrol by right, while elective-residence and nomad arrivals typically pay the voluntary contribution (minimum €2,000/year since 2024) or keep private cover.
Sort your driver's license
No US reciprocity: a US licence (with IDP or sworn translation) covers only the first 12 months of residency, then the full Italian exam applies — theory offered in Italian, French or German, not English.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Italy: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Italy?
Permesso di soggiorno (residence permit) — the postal 'kit' filed at a Poste Italiane counter — Within 8 working days of arrival. The post office receipt (ricevuta) proves legal stay; the questura fingerprint appointment it books commonly lands months out and varies wildly by province. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the Codice fiscale and do I need one?
Codice fiscale is Italy's personal tax/ID number. Required for a lease, bank account, utilities, SIM contracts and healthcare registration. Issued free at Agenzia delle Entrate offices; visa applicants can often obtain one via an Italian consulate before arrival.
Can I drive in Italy on a US license?
No US reciprocity: a US licence (with IDP or sworn translation) covers only the first 12 months of residency, then the full Italian exam applies — theory offered in Italian, French or German, not English. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Italy?
SSN registration happens at the local ASL office; workers enrol by right, while elective-residence and nomad arrivals typically pay the voluntary contribution (minimum €2,000/year since 2024) or keep private cover. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Italy's system treats foreign residents.