Italian bureaucratic procedures are known for being lengthy and complex affairs, usually involving requests for several official certificates and documents.
A request that is less common – but still happens in some cases – is the request for a certificato di esistenza in vita (literally, ‘certificate of life’), which basically serves as official proof that you’re still alive.
When might you need one?
According to Italy’s social security institute INPS, people receiving an Italian pension but living outside of the country need to complete and file the certificate annually.
This is to ensure pensions and benefits are paid correctly - and not paid in cases where they're no longer required
Pensioners resident in countries whose social security institutions have bilateral agreements for the exchange of death certificates with INPS, including, for instance, Germany, France and Switzerland, are generally excluded from this arrangement.
But even pensioners in Italy can occasionally be asked to provide a certificato di vita if INPS happens to hold conflicting information about your personal status, or if you’d like to authorise someone else to collect your pension on your behalf.
Finally, the certificate may also be required by some insurance providers when taking out life insurance.
What do I need to do?
Every year, pensioners living in countries that don’t have information exchange agreements with Italy are sent a package containing a personalised form which they need to fill out and return to a given address.
The package also includes instructions for completing the form and a list of required supporting documentation.
If they're unable to complete the form, alternative methods can be arranged by contacting Citibank, which manages the verification process on behalf of INPS.
Importantly, the form must be signed by a 'reliable witness' (testimone accettabile) such as an Italian embassy or consulate official or an authorised local authority.
Pensioners have 120 days from the date they received the package to return it.
If, after the 120-day window, the certificate has not been sent, the next pension instalment will be made available for collection at a local bank.
If the pensioner collects it personally, the verification process will be considered completed. If that's not the case, pension payments will be suspended as a precautionary measure.
For assistance with the procedure, pensioners can see this webpage or send an email to inps.pensionati@citi.com.
What about people in Italy?
The procedure is generally easier for people living in Italy.
The certificate can be requested online on the Anagrafe (registry office) website. You’ll need SPID or electronic ID credentials to access the service.
Alternatively, you can go to the Anagrafe office of your town hall with a valid identity document and request a form to fill out, specifying the purpose for which the certificate is being requested.
A 'certificate of life' is valid for six months from the date it's issued.
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