What the codice fiscale is
The codice fiscale is a 16-character alphanumeric code that identifies each person to the Italian state. It's generated from your first name, last name, date and place of birth, and sex. Think of it as a mix of a Brazilian CPF and a Social Security Number, only used in many more everyday situations.
Newcomers are often surprised by how often they're asked for it. Without a codice fiscale, it's hard to:
- sign a lease and register it;
- open a bank account and get a phone line;
- enroll in the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN) and choose a family doctor;
- enroll your kids in school;
- get hired, issue invoices or open a partita IVA.
characters, letters and numbers
main options: consulate, power of attorney or the Agenzia delle Entrate in Italy
there's no fee to be assigned a code through official channels [to confirm]
Before you arrive: options from abroad
Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI) lists two options for foreigners who don't live in the country yet.
Through the Italian consulate for your area
You apply to the consulate with jurisdiction over where you live (in Brazil or the US). You'll usually need to fill out the consulate's form, send a copy of an ID document and explain why you're applying. Each consulate has its own rules and timelines, so check yours before sending anything. [confirm timeline and submission method at each client's consulate]
By power of attorney, at the Agenzia delle Entrate
You appoint someone you trust in Italy with a procura speciale. They submit the request at an Agenzia delle Entrate office on your behalf. This helps when you need the code urgently, for example to close on a rental before you move.
Having the code before you arrive makes house hunting and opening accounts easier. Many landlords and agencies ask for the codice fiscale as early as the offer.
After you arrive: at the Agenzia delle Entrate or during the permesso process
In Italy, the route depends on your situation:
- EU citizens (including Brazilians with Italian or other EU citizenship): apply at the Agenzia delle Entrate with form AA4/8 and a valid passport or ID card.
- Non-EU citizens with a work or family reunification visa: the code is usually assigned by the Sportello Unico per l'Immigrazione, at the Prefettura.
- Other long-stay visas (such as digital nomad or elective residence): the Questura assigns the code during the permesso di soggiorno process, if you don't have one yet.
Form AA4/8 can be handed in person at any Agenzia delle Entrate office or sent by PEC (certified email) to any office. If the form is digitally signed, you don't need to attach a copy of your ID; otherwise, attach it.
Before or after: which makes more sense
| Situation | Best time | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Renting a home right when you arrive | Before | Landlords ask for the code in the offer and the lease |
| Work visa with an Italian employer | After (or during the process) | The Sportello Unico usually assigns the code |
| Family with school-age kids | Before | Speeds up school enrollment, pediatrician and SSN registration |
| EU citizen arriving with no rush | After | It's usually quick at the Agenzia delle Entrate |
Certificate, card and tessera sanitaria
When it assigns the code, the Agenzia delle Entrate gives you a paper certificate. Later, when you enroll in the SSN, you receive the tessera sanitaria, a plastic card that also serves as proof of your codice fiscale.
If you need a new copy of the certificate, anyone with SPID, CIE or CNS can issue it online in the Agenzia delle Entrate's private area in a few minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Can I generate my codice fiscale on a calculator website?
Those sites show how the code is built, but the number is only valid once it's officially assigned by the Agenzia delle Entrate (directly or through a consulate, Prefettura or Questura). Always use the official code.
Do my kids need one too?
Yes. Everyone in the family has their own codice fiscale, babies included. It's used for the pediatrician, school and benefits.
Does having a codice fiscale make me an Italian tax resident?
No. The code is just an identifier. Tax residence depends on other criteria, such as registration in the anagrafe and length of stay. For that, talk to one of our partner commercialisti.
What if I already have recognized Italian citizenship?
If you went through citizenship recognition, you probably already received a codice fiscale, which appears in the comune or AIRE records. Look for that number before requesting a new one. If you can't find it, the Agenzia delle Entrate can tell you the code already assigned.
How much does it cost?
It's assigned free of charge through official channels [to confirm]. There may be costs for a power of attorney, translations or a professional who applies for you.
Planning your move? See also the moving checklist and the Italian bureaucracy glossary.
Sources: MAECI, Codice fiscale (accessed Oct 2026); Consolato d'Italia a Córdoba, Codice fiscale fact sheet (Feb 2026); Agenzia delle Entrate, Il codice fiscale brochure (accessed Oct 2026); PMI.it, Codice fiscale per stranieri in Italia (updated Oct 2026).