How to Get an Italian Codice Fiscale (Sept 2026 Guide)
The tax code is the first gate in every Italian administrative process — residence permit, phone plan, transit pass all need it. Here is the full run of applying for a Codice Fiscale in Milan: why you need a VPN first, every screen of the online booking flow, the documents to bring, and what the appointment actually looks like.
The first thing to sort out after landing in Italy is the tax code (Codice Fiscale). Almost everything downstream needs it: residence permit, phone contract, transit pass, and so on.
My advice is to book it the moment you land — and to set up an Italian VPN before you leave, so you can reserve a slot in advance.
Why you need a VPN first
Italian government sites usually block foreign IPs, so opening the booking page from home often gets you nowhere. With a VPN ready you can lock in an appointment before departure instead of burning days once you arrive.
I bought a month of Proton VPN for this. Sign up through this link if you need one (US$20 in credit for you, a small referral bonus for me).
Booking online
The booking site: Prenota un appuntamento — Agenzia delle Entrate
Do not switch the site to English. The flow seems to break when you do; keeping everything in Italian is the safer path.
1. Pick the service
Under "Di cosa hai bisogno?" choose Assistenza fiscale (tax matters). Under "Per quale argomento?" choose Identificativi fiscali, abilitazioni, consegna documenti e istanze (tax identification).
2. Book an upcoming slot
Take the left option, Appuntamento per i prossimi giorni. The Webticket on the right is a same-day queue ticket, which is not what you want here.
3. For yourself, first application
Choose per te stesso (for yourself), tick the first-time application option, leave the tax code field empty, and accept the privacy notice.
4. Fill in your details
Cognome is your surname, Nome your given name. At least one contact field is required — use email, since the confirmation lands there.
5. Enter your starting city
Type the city you are travelling from and the system suggests nearby offices.
6. Choose an office and date
You get a list of nearby Ufficio Territoriale branches with their earliest available dates. Pick one that works on both date and travel time.
7. Choose a time
Green days on the calendar are available. Take the earliest slot of the day — you are less likely to be held up by the queue ahead of you.
8. State your reason
In Motivo di richiesta appuntamento, explain why you need the appointment, for example:
Richiesta di prima attribuzione del codice fiscale per motivi di studio / soggiorno in Italia.
(First application for an Italian tax code for study / residence in Italy.)
Once submitted you get a confirmation email like this one. From there it is just document prep — turn up on time on the day.
What to bring
- Passport (original)
- Passport copy
- Copy of your visa page
- Photos: two passport photos (mine were not needed, but bring them anyway)
- Your address in Italy: I used my dorm address
- A pen: something may need correcting on the spot
- Form AA4/8: pick it up at the office, or print the form and fill it in beforehand
A filled-in example:
On the day
I arrived early, and checking in at the front desk before my slot was fine. They hand you a number, you wait for it to be called, and that is it — the whole thing went smoothly.
A few things worth knowing at the counter:
- Staff English is usually limited. Have every document ready, or bring a translation device, so nothing stalls on communication.
- Photograph the document they hand you and keep the original safe. You will need it again for the residence permit, phone contract and transit pass.
- Taiwanese applicants: check the code ends in
Z217, the country code for Taiwan.Z220is China — do not let them get mixed up.
What you walk out with is this Certificato di attribuzione del codice fiscale:
