Moving to Italy from the USA: the checklist

Before you flyGather your document pack

• Passport. Check it stays valid well beyond your arrival date; some offices and banks are wary of passports close to expiry. Carry the original and a clear copy.
• Visa paperwork. Keep the approval, proof of the reason for your stay, and a copy of everything you submitted to the consulate.Which of these will I be asked to show again in Italy? (Consulate)
• Civil certificates. Bring originals of birth, marriage, divorce and, where relevant, death certificates, plus copies. Even if you don't need them on day one, you'll need them fast when you do.Which need an Apostille and an official translation, and should I do that before leaving or in Italy?
• Proof of income. Employment or freelance contracts, pension statements, bank statements, or a sponsor statement. Italy often asks how you will support yourself, and asks again at renewals.What form of proof does my visa or residenza application expect? (Consulate)
• Private health insurance. Policy documents, coverage dates and confirmation that the policy is valid in Italy.
• Police clearance. Some visa, permit and citizenship procedures ask for a criminal-record certificate. Routine, not alarming.Will I be asked for one, and how recent must it be?
• Proof of address. A registered lease, a property deed, or a host's declaration (Dichiarazione di ospitalità) if you're staying with someone.
• Make copies. Several clear copies of every key document, on paper and digital, kept apart from the originals.

Days 1–7Land and get oriented

• Scan every document you carried over (passport, visa, certificates, lease, insurance). Keep digital copies in cloud storage and a paper set separate from the originals.Which documents were stamped or issued at entry, and do I need to keep them?
• Write down your arrival date and the date on your entry paperwork. You will be asked for them repeatedly.What is the first deadline that applies to my visa type? (Consulate or immigration contact)
• Confirm your address in writing. Keep a copy of the lease or host declaration; most later steps depend on it.Is the contract registered, and can I register my residence at this address? (Landlord)
• Get a local SIM or phone plan. Offices and banks often want an Italian number.
• Save emergency and key numbers in your phone, and note the nearest pharmacy and hospital.

Days 8–14Tax code and identity basics

• Get your Codice Fiscale (Italian tax code) if you don't have one yet. Nearly everything else needs it.Where do I apply from my situation, and what do I bring?
• Check whether you need a Permesso di soggiorno (residence permit) and how to start. If you are given a receipt while it is processed, keep it very carefully: it is your proof.Do I need one, what is the process, and where do I book appointments? (Questura or post office kit counter)
• Start a paper-trail folder. Keep every receipt, stamped form and confirmation. Photograph each one the same day.

Days 15–30Residency, health and money

• Register your residence (Residenza) at the Comune, if it applies to you.Do I qualify, what documents do you need, and how long until it's confirmed?
• Ask about healthcare access. Find out what coverage you have now and what the local health authority (ASL) offers for your status.What can I register for, with which documents, and what do I use until then?
• Ask a bank what they need to open an account for someone in your situation.Do I need a Codice Fiscale, residence, or a permit first?
• Find out about digital identity (SPID or CIE), which unlocks online access to many public services.Am I eligible, and which provider or office do I use?
• Set up utilities and internet at your address, and keep the contracts.
• Book a one-off consult with an Italian accountant (commercialista) and a US tax professional if you have income, accounts or filings to sort out.

By day 30Lock in your system

• List every appointment and deadline you were given, with dates, in one calendar.
• Make a master list of your documents: what you have, where it is, and when it expires.
• Set reminders for permit, passport and insurance renewals, with a generous margin.

If it applies to youFamily, health, pets and car

• Birth certificates and proof of parentage. Commonly asked for at residency, school enrolment and health registration. Add proof of parental authority if parents have different surnames or one parent travels alone.
• School records. Recent reports, letters from previous schools and a note on the curriculum followed, to help place your child.What do you need to place my child in the right year? (School)
• Vaccination and medical records. Needed for school enrolment and health registration.

• Medical summary. A short summary for chronic conditions, plus records of major treatments and key test results or scans.
• Dental records. Recent X-rays and details of ongoing treatment. Consider a check-up before you leave; dentistry is often private in Italy.
• Prescriptions. Bring copies, the generic (active-ingredient) names, a short letter from your doctor and a few months' supply.Is my medication available in Italy under the same name? (Pharmacist)

• Travel paperwork. Pet passport or veterinary certificate, vaccination proof (especially rabies), microchip and transport documentation.Do the airline's and Italy's requirements for my pet match? (Vet and airline)
• Register your dog after arrival. Dogs are registered in the local canine registry, which sits with the ASL. Cats vary by region.By when, and with which documents, do I register my dog? (ASL)

• Think twice before shipping. Large appliances (voltage, plugs, sizes), bulky furniture and cars often cost more than they are worth.
• Driving licence. Rules for converting a US licence are strict, and some people must retake the Italian test.Can my US licence be converted, within what time window, or must I retake the test? (Motorizzazione or consulate)