What the codice fiscale is
The codice fiscale is a 16-character code that identifies every person in Italy’s tax and administrative systems. It is built from your surname, first name, date and place of birth and sex, followed by a check letter. Italians receive one at birth; foreigners receive one when they first need it.
You need it to:
- open a bank account, including a Postepay Evolution card;
- sign a rental contract or buy property;
- get an Italian phone contract;
- start a job, enrol at university or register with the health service;
- pay many bills and taxes, including through pagoPA.
How it is built
Each part of the code is derived from your details. The checker above decodes a code and checks its control letter:
| Characters | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1–3 | Consonants of your surname |
| 4–6 | Consonants of your first name |
| 7–8 | Last two digits of your year of birth |
| 9 | Month of birth, as a letter (A = January … T = December) |
| 10–11 | Day of birth; for women 40 is added |
| 12–15 | Place of birth: an Italian town code, or Z plus a country code if born abroad |
| 16 | Control letter |
Because the code is calculated, online generators can produce a code that looks right. Only a code issued by the Agenzia delle Entrate is valid, and in rare cases of two identical codes (omocodia) the agency changes some digits to letters.
Applying in Italy
- Download form AA4/8 from the Agenzia delle Entrate website, or ask for it at the office.
- Book an appointment at any Agenzia delle Entrate office (many accept walk-ins in the morning, but appointments are safer).
- Bring your passport (non-EU citizens) or EU identity card, and a copy.
- Non-EU citizens may be asked for a valid visa or permesso di soggiorno.
- You receive a printed certificate with your code, usually the same day.
You can also authorise someone in Italy, such as a lawyer, accountant or estate agent, to apply on your behalf with a signed delegation and a copy of your ID.
Applying from abroad
Italian consulates issue the codice fiscale to foreigners living in their area only in specific cases, for example when you need the code for an online procedure and cannot appoint a representative in Italy. Applications go through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Fast It portal and can take several weeks. Check your consulate’s website first.
After you get it
Keep the certificate safe and save the code in your phone; you will be asked for it constantly. If you later register with the Italian health service, the tessera sanitaria card that arrives by post carries your codice fiscale and is accepted as proof of it.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a codice fiscale?
At an Agenzia delle Entrate office the code is usually issued the same day, on a printed certificate. Through a consulate abroad it can take several weeks; the Manchester consulate, for example, quotes around 45 days.
Does a codice fiscale cost anything?
No. The codice fiscale is free from the Agenzia delle Entrate and from consulates. Agencies that charge a fee are only filling in the form for you.
Can I get a codice fiscale online?
Some consulates accept applications online through the Fast It portal, but only in limited cases, such as when the code is needed for an online procedure and you cannot appoint a representative in Italy. Most foreigners apply in person in Italy.
Is the codice fiscale the same as a tax residency?
No. Having a codice fiscale does not make you an Italian tax resident or create any tax obligation. It is simply an identification number used in dealings with Italian authorities and businesses.
What is the tessera sanitaria?
The tessera sanitaria is the health insurance card issued to people registered with the Italian health service. It shows your codice fiscale on the front and replaces the paper certificate for most purposes.
Sources and fact-checking
Checked on 2 November 2026 by Ionut Popea following our editorial policy. Fees, codes and rules change; confirm anything important with the bank or authority before acting.