You Made It to Italy - Now What?

The Ultimate ERV Landing Checklist: Permesso, Tessera Sanitaria, Banking, and Beyond

You got the visa. You’re here. You’ve landed in Italy on an Elective Residency Visa. Now the real process begins — the Italian bureaucracy obstacle course that turns expats into endurance athletes.

Here’s the definitive roadmap: what to do, when to do it, where to go, and what to bring.

Step 1: Arrival Week — Get Your House in Order

Within your first few days in Italy:

• Buy a SIM card with a solid data plan. Providers like Iliad, TIM, or Vodafone are widely available. This will be essential for banking apps, receiving SMS confirmations from the government, and navigating your new city.

• Make copies of everything: Passport bio page, visa page, Codice Fiscale, proof of housing (registered lease or hospitality declaration), proof of insurance, financial statements, and every official document you brought.

• Note your exact entry date. This starts the clock on your 8-working-day deadline to apply for the Permesso di Soggiorno.

Step 2: Within 8 Working Days — Apply for the Permesso di Soggiorno

You’ll need to submit your application to the Questura (immigration police), but first, you apply through the post office.

Step-by-step:

1. Go to your local post office with a “Sportello Amico” window.

2. Ask for a “Kit Giallo” (yellow-striped envelope).

3. Complete the forms included in the kit:

   • Form 1 (personal data and ERV details)

   • Form 2 (only if you have accompanying family members)

4. Include the following documents in the envelope (photocopies only — originals stay with you):

   • ERV visa page in your passport

   • Passport bio page

   • Codice Fiscale

   • Registered lease agreement or a dichiarazione di ospitalità if staying with someone

   • Proof of private health insurance (valid for at least one year)

   • Proof of sufficient financial means (bank statements, pension letters, investment accounts)

   • Two recent passport photos

5. Pay at the counter:

   • €30.46 for the application

   • €16 for a marca da bollo (tax stamp — you can buy this at a nearby tabacchi)

   • €70.46 for the Permesso card issuance (subject to change)

6. You will receive:

   • A receipt with a barcode — keep this safe. It acts as your temporary legal stay document.

   • Your appointment date for fingerprinting at the Questura.

   
   

Important tip: Processing times vary widely by province. Some Questura appointments happen within 2 weeks; others take up to 3 months. This is normal. Welcome to Italy!

Step 3: Set Up a PEC Email — Italy’s Certified Communication Tool

PEC (Posta Elettronica Certificata) is a legally recognized email system used for sending certified communications. Think of it like tracked mail, but digital. You’ll need it for dealing with the government, taxes, real estate transactions, and sometimes for residency or permesso follow-up.

Step-by-step setup:

1. Choose a provider. Top options include:

   • Aruba PEC — Widely used, low cost, easy to register

   • PosteCert PEC — Through Poste Italiane

   • Legalmail — More professional features, often used by lawyers

2. Prepare your documents:

   • Valid passport

   • Codice Fiscale (many providers now require this)

   • An Italian phone number (they will verify it)

3. Go through online registration:

   • Create your PEC address (e.g., caesar.sedek@pec.it)

   • Upload scanned ID documents

   • Some providers may require a video selfie or a live ID verification call

4. Choose your plan:

   • Basic plans usually cost €5 to €15 per year

   • Storage capacity and features vary — you don’t need advanced tools

5. Activate your account:

   • You’ll receive login credentials by email or SMS

   • Log in through the provider’s portal or app

   • Send a test email to confirm functionality

   
   

Keep your credentials secure — this is the account you’ll use to send legal notices, receive tax communications, and interact with the Italian government or financial institutions.

Step 4: Open a Bank Account (Or Use an Interim Option)

If you need an account right away:

• Wise or Revolut offer multi-currency accounts and debit cards with EUR IBANs. These are fine for basic expenses, rent, and daily use.

• PostePay Evolution (from Poste Italiane) offers a physical Italian IBAN and can be used like a regular checking account, even without full residency status.

If you need a full Italian account:

You will likely be required to have:

• A valid passport

• Codice Fiscale

• A registered lease or utility bill with your name and Italian address

• In some cases, proof of Permesso application or residency registration

Walk into the bank (BNL, Intesa Sanpaolo, Crédit Agricole are expat-friendly), take a number, and be prepared to wait and sign paperwork. Don’t expect an online-only process.

Step 5: Register Your Residency (Residenza)

Residency (residenza anagrafica) is not automatic — you must apply at the Comune where you’re living.

Who can apply:

• Some comuni allow registration with just the receipt from your Permesso application

• Others require the actual Permesso di Soggiorno card

Where to go: The Ufficio Anagrafe of your Comune.

What to bring:

• Passport with ERV visa

• Codice Fiscale

• Receipt or card for your Permesso

• Registered lease with your name, or a notarized hospitality declaration

• Proof of occupancy (utility bill, or landlord’s attestation)

What happens:

• The comune inputs your request

• They notify the local vigile urbano (municipal police)

• The vigile comes to verify that you actually live there

• Once verified, you receive a Certificato di Residenza

This can take 1 to 8 weeks depending on where you live.

Step 6: Apply for the Tessera Sanitaria (Italian Health Card)

Once you have either:

• Your Permesso di Soggiorno card in hand

• Or a combo of the receipt and residency certificate

You can enroll in the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN).

Where to go:

Your local ASL (Azienda Sanitaria Locale) office

What to bring:

• Passport

• Codice Fiscale

• Permesso card or receipt + Certificato di Residenza

• Rental contract

• Proof of payment for the healthcare contribution (see below)

Enrollment types:

1. Voluntary enrollment (Iscrizione volontaria):

   • Fixed annual contribution of around €387

   • Or income-based contribution using worldwide income (good for those with pensions, annuities)

   
   

2. Emergency coverage only:

   • Free but limited. Doesn’t give access to assigned general practitioner or full medical services. Not recommended for long stays.

   
   

How to pay:

You must go to a post office and use a F24 form to pay the healthcare contribution.

Once paid, return to the ASL with the receipt to complete your registration.

You’ll receive your Tessera Sanitaria on the spot or by mail shortly after. It will be valid for the duration of your Permesso.

Step 7: Ongoing Obligations and Reminders

Even once you’re settled, don’t go on autopilot.

• Renew your Permesso about 60 days before expiration

• Maintain insurance coverage if not yet fully enrolled in SSN

• Track your days in Italy — you must spend at least 183 days per year in-country to preserve ERV status and potentially meet tax residency rules

• Maintain financial documentation in case of renewal reviews

• File any necessary tax declarations — even if you owe nothing, filing can be required

Additional things to consider:

• Set up your SPID digital ID — needed to access health records, tax portal, and INPS services

• Apply for your Carta d’Identità once residency is registered

• Don’t register with AIRE unless switching from ERV to Italian citizenship or spending most of your time abroad again

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