What Is a Codice Fiscale and Why Do You Need One in Italy?

If you've spent any time dealing with Italian bureaucracy, you've probably been asked for a codice fiscale—sometimes even before you've officially moved to Italy. But what exactly is it, and why does everyone from your landlord to the pharmacy want to see it?

What Is a Codice Fiscale?

Codice fiscale (pronounced KO-dee-cheh fee-SKAH-leh) literally means “fiscal code” in Italian. The plural form is codici fiscali. It’s Italy’s version of a tax identification number, similar in concept to a Social Security Number in the U.S. or a National Insurance Number in the UK.

It’s issued by the Italian Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate) and assigned to both Italian citizens and foreign nationals who live, study, work, or do business in Italy.

Whether a certificate or card, both are valid forms of a codice fiscale.

Do You Need One?

Yes—if you plan to do almost anything official in Italy. You’ll need a codice fiscale to:

• Sign a rental contract

• Open a bank account

• Register with the national health service

• Enroll in school or university

• Get a SIM card or utility service

• Receive a paycheck or pay taxes

• Apply for residency or citizenship

Even some online shopping platforms and pharmacies will ask for it.

At Ready Set Italia, we ask for your codice fiscale if you’re a resident in Italy and a student with us. As an Italian-based business, we are required to collect this information to stay compliant with local regulations.

How Is It Made?

The codice fiscale is not randomly assigned. It’s generated using a standard formula based on your:

• Last and first name

• Date of birth

• Gender

• Place of birth (Italian town or foreign country code)

The result is a 16-character alphanumeric code. Since it’s formula-based, it’s not as secure as a Social Security Number—someone who knows your full name, birthdate, and birthplace can usually guess it.

If two people would end up with the same code (this happens more than you’d think), the system issues a modified version to keep each one unique. These modified versions are called omocodie.

Why Does Everyone Ask for It?

Because it connects you to virtually every system in Italy. Whether you’re signing a lease, opening a bank account, or applying for public services, your codice fiscale is how institutions verify your identity and link your data across databases.

Businesses and public offices use it to track financial activity, issue receipts or contracts, and comply with legal requirements.

What Does the Government Do With It?

The Italian government uses the codice fiscale as a central identifier to:

• Monitor tax payments and income

• Validate access to healthcare and education

• Link documents, records, and services

• Prevent fraud and identity mix-ups

It’s a foundational piece of the country’s administrative infrastructure.

How Do You Get One?

If you're in Italy, it’s a fairly straightforward process. Visit your local Agenzia delle Entrate with valid identification and a completed request form. Most offices require an appointment, so be sure to check in advance.

When you apply, you might be asked whether you want just a paper version or a plastic card. The paper version (certificato) is all you need—the card takes longer to produce and is completely unnecessary.

If you move to Italy and register with the national health system or obtain a residence permit, your codice fiscale will automatically appear on your tessera sanitaria (health card) and your carta d’identità (identity card). Because of this, no one in Italy carries a separate card just for their codice fiscale. The paper certificate is perfectly valid and widely used.

If you’re abroad, you may be able to request one through your local Italian consulate. However, some consulates have recently stopped issuing codici fiscali.

Is that the case at your consulate? Leave a comment and let us know where. Or if you were recently able to get yours through a consulate, share that too—it helps others in the same situation.