Interacting with Italy’s bureaucracy can be daunting, even for hardy foreign nationals who have been living in the country for years.
Besides piles of complex paperwork (often only available in Italian), even seemingly simple tasks can involve long queues at one or more Italian public administration offices, with official matters generally taking up a big chunk of residents’ time.
But there have been some slight improvements in recent years, as a number of services have moved online under national digitalisation efforts promoted by the Agenzia per l’Italia Digitale (AGID).
Here are five essential digital resources you can take advantage of to make Italian bureaucracy easier.
CIE card
Besides serving as proof of identity for Italian citizens and foreign nationals with legal residency, Italy’s electronic identity card (Carta d’Identità Elettronica, or CIE) is something of a one-stop shop for public administration services.
The CIE can be used for things such as filing taxes, accessing social security and pension services, booking medical appointments, signing official documents online, and claiming government incentives and bonuses.
You can find a list of all the certified service providers in Italy who offer access to their websites via CIE credentials here.
READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: How to get an Italian identity card
Please note: you’ll need to download the CieID mobile app in order to use your CIE for online services. The app is free and available for both Android and iOS devices.
All legal residents of Italy are entitled to apply for a CIE card at their local city hall office. Italian nationals living abroad can apply at their nearest consulate.
SPID
There’s a bit of overlap between the CIE and the SPID (Sistema Pubblico di Identità Digitale), but the biggest difference is that the CIE is a physical ID card that can also be used for online services, whereas the SPID is an online-only system.
The SPID network offers a single, secure digital identity that gives you access to everything from public healthcare and public education services to government portals like social security agency INPS and tax office Agenzia delle Entrate.
In some cases, you may even be able to use it to access the online services of some private companies, including banks.
Any person above the age of 18 living in Italy can request a SPID, even if they are not Italian citizens.
READ ALSO: Codice fiscale: How to get your Italian tax code (and why you need one)
However, you’ll need to have a valid Italian identification document and tax code (codice fiscale) to apply.
For detailed information on how to create your SPID digital identity, see our guide.
PEC registered email
If you're looking to save time, paper and postage costs, you can swap registered mail for registered email by creating a PEC (Posta Elettronica Certificata) account.
This is essentially an email account that gives you proof that your message was delivered.
Emails sent between PEC accounts are certified with a date and time stamp to show when you sent them and when they were received, with a record of receipt automatically emailed to you as an attachment.
Getting a PEC will allow you to get more Italian admin done online – from sending important documents or official requests to changing your registered address and registering a contract.
READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: What is Italy's PEC email and how do you get one?
Anyone over 18 who lives in Italy can get a PEC, as well as Italian nationals who live abroad. Businesses registered in Italy are legally required to have a PEC account.
You can find further details on getting a PEC in our guide.
IO app
The IO app is a digital hub that offers a way to interact with various government agencies, allowing users to take care of daily admin without queueing for hours at a public office.
Not only does it give you access to a number of admin services, but it also has a handy notification system that notifies of upcoming deadlines for tasks such as renewing documents or paying taxes.
The app comes with a digital wallet feature, so you can pay fines, fees and charges directly from your phone.
Downloading the app is free of charge, but in order to use it, you’ll need a SPID account or CIE credentials.
Bonus X platform
Italy offers residents a number of tax incentives and benefits known as ‘bonuses’.
Home renovation ‘bonuses’ are among the most popular incentives, but there are others related to childcare, schooling and the purchase of low-emission vehicles.
The Bonus X app gives you the most up-to-date information about all available ‘bonuses’, including their eligibility criteria and how to claim them.
READ ALSO: BonusX: How a new app is taking on Italian bureaucracy
The BonusX team includes legal experts who can claim bonuses on your behalf. These services however come at a cost, with fees generally ranging from €5 to €40.
Anyone with residency in Italy and an Italian tax code can use the BonusX platform.
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