Italian Tax Identification Number (Codice Fiscale)
The codice fiscale is a personal identification code issued by the Agenzia delle Entrate. It is used to identify individuals in their dealings with Italian public authorities, universities, banks and private organisations. As an international student, you may need it for activities such as renting accommodation, opening a bank account, signing certain contracts or completing administrative procedures. If you are coming to Italy for Erasmus, having a codice fiscale can be useful, especially if you plan to rent accommodation or carry out other administrative procedures.
How can you get a Codice Fiscale?
EU students who need a codice fiscale can request one directly from an Agenzia delle Entrate office by submitting the appropriate application form (AA4/8) and a valid identity document. The request is free of charge.
If you are a non-EU student staying in Italy for more than 90 days, your codice fiscale is generally assigned as part of the residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) procedure, through the relevant immigration authorities/Questura. If you are staying for less than 90 days, you can request it directly from an Agenzia delle Entrate office.
In some circumstances, foreign citizens can request a codice fiscale through the Italian consulate responsible for their place of residence. However, procedures vary between consulates, so check the website of your local Italian embassy or consulate before applying.
You may find websites that calculate a codice fiscale based on your personal information. These can be useful to see what your code should look like, but a calculated code is not an official codice fiscale and is not registered with the Italian Revenue Agency. For contracts or official procedures, always use the codice fiscale officially assigned to you by the Italian authorities.
Official information: Agenzia delle Entrate – Tax Identification Number for Foreign Citizens