Codice Fiscale

[ianiro]

I want to set up a bank account in Italy, but I know I have to get my codice fiscale first. Has anyone gotten theirs? Can I request my codice fiscale from my consulate (Houston) or do I have to request it from the Italian Embassy in Washington?

[johnnyonthespot]

Your consulate's web site will have an application form. At New York's site, for example, it is under the "Social Services" section on this page: http://www.consnewyork.esteri.it/Consol ... dulistica/

Complete the application and mail it to the consulate. I mailed my request (NYC consulate) January 8, 2009, received an email on January 29 with my number and other information, and the actual card at the end of March. The card is not a strict necessity; knowing the number is what is important.

There are many sites on the web which will allow you to calculate your codice fiscale number, however you cannot be certain that the number will be correct. I can tell you that this site (http://www.codicefiscale.com/codicefiscale/codfisc.php) calculates my number correctly: place your surname in the cognome box, given name in the nome box, enter your birthdate, and "STATI UNITI D'AMERICA" in the Comune di Nascita (Place of birth) box. Click Calcola.

By the way, my wife did not request her CF until July, 2010, and received a "Certificato di Attribuzone del Codice Fiscale" in the mail a few weeks later. She did not receive a card; in fact, I believe I have read that CF cards are no longer issued but I may be incorrect on that point.

[scottshay]

They do still issue cards, though for some reason, they won't send them in the mail (even though the numbers are not quite "secure" since it is derived). I sent an application to the DC Embassy (which has jurisdiction over where I live). They called me and said they can just email me the number, and if I wanted to the card, they would get it from Rome, and I'd have to personally come in to pick it up. I can also verify the number they gave me is the same as the one calculated via the above site.

[jennabet]

San Francisco mails the plastic card out six weeks after emailing the number.

[petey]

Picked up my Codice Fiscale in Italy a couple of weeks ago.I was given a certificate.
I was told that I would not receive a card as it is now included with the Carta Sanitaria.
Hope this helps.

[jennabet]

The Tessa Sanitaria card is only issued if you have established legal residence in Italy. And yes, it does carry the codice fiscale number on the card. For everyone else, citizens and non-citizens, who apply for a codice fiscale through a consulate, you will be issued the number first and then the plastic card. You will not get a Tessa Sanitaria card.

[johnnyonthespot]

I can only say that it is going on a full year since my wife received the "Certificato di Attribuzone del Codice Fiscale" in the mail and she still has not received the green card (or any other card).

As noted above, I applied for a codice fiscale some time before she did; I received an email from the consulate with my number on January 29, 2009 and received the card directly from Agenzia Entrate in Roma in early April, 2009.

[jennabet]

Carmine, my boyfriend (not yet recognized) received his plastic card mailed to him by the consulate about six weeks after he applied for it. Is it possible that your wife's application is associated with your own and that maybe your codice fiscale is for the family and she won't be getting her own? I really don't know how they handle this for married couples as I'm still single (libero) but you might want to check out the family angle.

[johnnyonthespot]

No, the number assigned to my wife is quite different from my own.

I was under the impression that cards are no longer issued, although I can see the possibility that this is different for those actually living in Italy (and thus having a tessera sanitaria card) vs, those not living in Italy.

[jennabet]

Despite the fact that hers is a different number, it could still be associated with yours and only one card is issued to the head of the family. Even though married women retain their maiden names in Italy, they are never considered free and independent of their husbands. A married women in Italy would never be allowed to make a major financial decision without the permission of her husband. For example, she might own property that has been passed down through her own family but she could never buy something new outright without her husband's codice fiscale.

[kontessa]

FWIW, I never received a plastic card after filing for a codice fiscale either, and I applied for it in Italy. Then again, I never bothered following up with obtaining a health card (had other insurance), so maybe that's why.

Off topic, but I have several female friends (Italian) that have no problems buying property and/or making financial decisions without the guidance or permission of their husbands. I also purchased property without my husband's codice fiscale. Perhaps the idea that it isn't possible for women to carry out these activities is more a regional difference?

[jennabet]

The Codice Fiscale is separate from the Tessa Sanitaria (national health card). But when they decided to replace the paper health card with a plastic one (about five years ago), it also carried the codice fiscale number. As a result, new applicants for a codice fiscale who live in Italy will not receive a plastic card because they will receive a plastic health card instead.

All legal residents (citizens and non citizens) have the responsibility to register for national health insurance. They are NOT required to have any type of additional insurance.

Tourists and students who have a valid student visa cannot apply for health insurance but they CAN apply for a codice fiscale through a consulate or in Italy (in order to use a cell phone). The fact that you had other health insurance and didn't receive a plastic codice fiscale card in the mail tells me that you did not have a legal address because you were not an Italian citizen or a even a legal resident but rather a tourist or a student.

In Italy, the husband of a married woman is the head of the family. He makes the financial decisions. And it's NOT regional.

[mler]

In Italy, the husband of a married woman is the head of the family. He makes the financial decisions. And it's NOT regional.

I know quite a few Italian women who would most strongly disagree. Probably not regional at all. Every family is different, but I think it's likely that important decisions affecting the family are made jointly especially today when women are as likely to be earning an income as their husbands.

[kontessa]

The fact that you had other health insurance and didn't receive a plastic codice fiscale card in the mail tells me that you did not have a legal address because you were not an Italian citizen or a even a legal resident but rather a tourist or a student.

Um, I was living legally in Italy with a legal, registered address for almost 10 years, several as an Italian citizen. Not as a student, nor as a tourist. Again, I probably didn't receive the plastic card when I obtained my codice fiscale because I did not use the national health service, but my private insurance instead. By choice.

Just want to clarify that there ARE legal residents in Italy that ARE required to have their own health insurance in Italy - I believe that individuals from other EU countries that move to Italy must show proof of some health insurance coverage as do Americans that move to Italy with an elective residency visa. This proof of coverage may only be necessary for the first year of residency, but I am not sure. Also, this discussion belongs in a different thread, so I apologize to the OP and others for straying off the codice fiscale topic.

[jennabet]

......Um, I was living legally in Italy with a legal, registered address for almost 10 years, several as an Italian citizen. Not as a student, nor as a tourist. Again, I probably didn't receive the plastic card when I obtained my codice fiscale because I did not use the national health service, but my private insurance instead. By choice.....

I'm sorry, but your information is NOT correct. Again, the plastic codice fiscale card has nothing to do with the national health service! As an Italian citizen who still has residence in Italy, it's my responsibility to state what is accurate.

If you were living legally in Italy for 10 years before 2005, your residency permit would have required you to register for national health insurance and you would have received a PAPER health insurance card and a PLASTIC codice fiscale card. If you wanted additional insurance (with an American company, for example), its your prerogative but ALL legal residents must be signed up with the national health service.

If you were living there NOW as a legal resident, you would receive a PLASTIC health insurance card which also carries your codice fiscale number and you would not be issued another plastic card for the codice fiscale.