How to Get an Italian Codice Fiscale from Abroad (2026 Guide)

If you live outside Italy and need to buy a house there, open an Italian bank account or deal with an inheritance, sooner or later someone will ask you for your codice fiscale. This guide explains what it is, who needs one, the official ways to get it from abroad, which documents you typically need, and how a private assistance service like Fiscalino's codice fiscale service compares with going through the consulate.

What is the codice fiscale?

The codice fiscale is the Italian tax code: a personal, 16-character alphanumeric code that identifies you in your dealings with the Italian administration and with many private companies. It is built from your surname, first name, date and place of birth and sex, and it is issued by the Agenzia delle Entrate, the Italian tax agency.

Despite the name, you don't need to pay taxes in Italy to need one. It is commonly required for:

• buying property in Italy;
• opening an Italian bank account;
• signing contracts and setting up utilities such as electricity, gas, internet or a phone plan;
• inheritance procedures;
• citizenship paperwork;
• studying or working in Italy.

Who needs one from abroad?

Plenty of people who don't live in Italy still need a codice fiscale. Typical cases are people buying a holiday home or other property, heirs dealing with an estate in Italy, descendants of Italians working through citizenship paperwork, students who have been admitted to an Italian university, and people preparing to work in Italy or with an Italian company.

In all of these situations you usually need the code before you arrive, or without ever travelling, which is why it helps to know the routes available from abroad.

The official routes

There are three main official ways to get a codice fiscale.

a) Through the Italian consulate

You can apply to the Italian consulate competent for your place of residence. You submit the application form together with a copy of your ID document and the reason for the request. Timing varies by consulate, often from a few days to a few weeks, and appointments can be hard to get, depending on where you live.

b) Through a delegate with a special power of attorney

A delegate holding a special power of attorney can file the form on your behalf at an Agenzia delle Entrate office in Italy. This means you don't need to be physically present in Italy or book a consulate appointment.

c) In person at an Agenzia delle Entrate office in Italy

Once you are in Italy, you can go to an Agenzia delle Entrate office yourself. EU citizens use form AA4/8 and bring their passport or ID card.

Note that non-EU citizens coming to live or work in Italy usually get their codice fiscale through the Sportello Unico per l'Immigrazione or the Questura as part of the residence permit process. Also, foreign documents may sometimes need to be legalized.

Where Fiscalino fits in

The codice fiscale itself is issued free of charge by the Italian state. Fiscalino is a private assistance service, not a public authority: we handle the request for you, so you don't have to deal with consulate appointments or Italian forms. Here's how it works:

1. Fill in a 5-minute online form and upload your passport.
2. Pay securely online.
3. Sign the request and delegation form we send you.
4. We file it at the tax office and email you the official certificate (PDF) within 15 working days.

You can see the full details on the Italian codice fiscale from abroad page.

Documents you typically need

Whichever route you choose, you will typically need:

• A valid passport or ID card, used to identify you and to fill in the application correctly.
• The reason for the request, for example buying property, opening a bank account or studying.
• Your personal details: full name, date and place of birth, sex and your current address abroad.

Check that the names and dates you give match your passport exactly, since the code is generated from them. For a full list, see our documents checklist for non-residents.

Consulate vs. Fiscalino

If you can easily get a consulate appointment and are comfortable with Italian forms, applying yourself is free. For a more detailed comparison of all four routes, read Consulate vs. online service. If you need the code for a specific goal, see our guides on buying a house, opening a bank account and citizenship by descent. If you'd rather skip appointments and paperwork, let Fiscalino handle it for you.

Frequently asked questions