AIRE REGISTRATION
Do you need help with your AIRE application?
Please call us on 020 8133 0010
What else can we help you?
- AIRE REGISTRATION
- REGISTRATION OF ITALIAN’S PARTNER / MARRIAGE REGISTRATION
- REGISTRATION WITH YOUR CHILDBIRTH
- REGISTRATION WITH CHANGE OF NAMES
- REGISTRATION OF DIVORCE
We are here to clarify any uncertainties and answer any questions you have along the way and if you feel you need some help, please do not hesitate to contact us, we are open Monday to Saturday 09:00am to 18:00pm, just call us on 0208 133 0010.
WHAT IS AIRE - REGISTRY OF ITALIAN CITIZENS RESIDING ABROAD
A.I.R.E. is managed by the italian COMUNI (municipalities) based on data they receive from the Consulates abroad.
What is AIRE?
AIRE is also known as Anagrafe degli Italiani Residenti all’Estero, which translates to the Registry of Italian Citizens Residing Abroad. It was first introduced in 1988 as a way for the Italian government to maintain track of all of its citizens’ records, including those who aren’t currently living in Italy for a period longer than 12 months.
Registering in AIRE is mandatory, and it is a duty, as well as a right, of each Italian citizen
WHO NEEDS TO REGISTER
all Italian citizens who transfer their residency abroad for a period of at least 12 months;
all Italian citizens who already live abroad, either because they were born there, or because they became Italian citizens later in life, regardless of how their citizenship was acquired.
Who DOES NOT need to register
HOW TO REGISTER IN THE AIRE?
It is required that any Italian citizen who is originally from Italy but is currently living abroad, register in the AIRE. This can be done at the AIRE registry, which is located within every Italian consulate. Those who register will have their files held together by the local consulate and the last place they registered when they were living in Italy.
This also applies to you if you are recognized under Jure Sanguinis. Your file will be held jointly between your local Italian consulate and the former municipality in Italy where you or your ancestors lived.
Requests for AIRE registration must be submitted to the Consulate within 90 days of arrival in the Consular jurisdiction. Registration in AIRE results in automatic cancellation from the Italian Comune’s A.P.R (Anagrafe della Popolazione Residente), meaning they will no longer be registered in the municipality in Italy.
WHO MAKES THE A.I.R.E. REGISTRATION?
If your Italian citizenship has been recognized by this Consulate General, the request for you to be registered with the A.I.R.E has already been forwarded, ex officio, with the documentation regarding the recognition of your citizenship, to the competent Italian municipality.
WHY DO YOU NEED AIRE?
You must be registered in the AIRE in order to access any consular services or rights that you would have as a citizen of Italy. For example, you can vote in the national and municipal elections of Italy, even while you are living abroad. You can also vote directly in Italy if you choose to travel there during election time.
Updates related to the CIVIL STATUS situation (marriage, birth of minor children, divorce, death of spouse/relative/family member) must be communicated in accordance with the provisions indicated in the CIVIL REGISTRATION section (and DO NOT Anagraph).
Side note: If you are an Italian citizen living abroad in the EU, you can also simultaneously vote for EU elections.
Being registered in the AIRE also allows you to do things like renew your Italian passport or get a new passport altogether.
WHO IS REQUIRED TO REGISTER IN THE AIRE?
There are few categories of Italian citizens who are required to register as a part of this process. Those who are natural-born Italian citizens and have decided to live in another country for more than 12 months must register. Also, someone who acquired Italian citizenship by birth, but does not live there (Jure Sanguinis) must be registered as well.
There are some Italian citizens who acquired their citizenship while abroad, and these people must also register in the AIRE. If you are one of these people, or if you are in the process of gaining recognition as an Italian citizen, then most likely your AIRE registration will happen automatically, as soon as your application process is completed depending on which path you used to acquire Italian citizenship.
Although this process happens automatically for most, there are still some steps you need to take on your own. For example, Law 470/1988 requires that Italian citizens who are moving abroad or who have lived abroad must still register their new residence with the Italian government, especially if they are going to be living there for more than 12 months. This also needs to be registered under the local jurisdiction where the new address of residency will be.
Who is Exempt from Registering with AIRE?
There are a few exceptions for registering with the AIRE, and these include:
Reporting marriages, births, deaths, and changes in residencies is important so the government can validate these events. Without validated documents and certified records of these events, you may not be able to make use of certain important rights and privileges as an Italian citizen.
A.I.R.E. is the acronym for Anagrafe degli Italiani Residenti all’Estero, meaning the Registry of Italians Residing Abroad, and it was established on October 27, 1988 (law 470/1988). It is a list of all the Italian citizens who live abroad
Registering in AIRE is mandatory, and it is a duty, as well as a right, of each Italian citizen. It allows access to several consular services and is a prerequisite to be able to exercise important rights such as:
- voting by mail in Italian general elections, as well as in a referendum, and voting to elect Italian members of the European Parliament;
- to apply for a new passport or other travel documents, and some certificates;
to renew a driver’s license.
NOTE: FAILURE TO UPDATE information, especially information relating to change of address, will cause delays in any application for your PASSPORT or Italian naturalization of your foreign spouse.
If you are moving to a different home, but you will still be living under the same jurisdiction, you still need to update your change of address and any other personal updates with the AIRE. It is your responsibility to keep updated information with the AIRE registry.
People who have not living outside of Italy for more than 12 months, such as seasonal employees or people with short-term jobs
Italian Armed Service members who are stationed at any NATO post located outside of Italy
Employees of the Italian government with posts that take them out of the country
In most cases, as an Italian citizen living abroad, you will need to register for the AIRE, if it isn’t done automatically for you.
WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES FOR NOT REGISTERING WITH THE AIRE?
There are no real penalties or consequences for non-compliance. However, the Italian government urges every Italian citizen to do their part and register so they can be informed of all of their major life events. This also gives you the right to have your documents certified and validated in whatever country you now reside in.