Registry of Italians Resident Abroad (A.I.R.E.)
The Registry of Italians Resident Abroad (A.I.R.E.) was established by Law no. 470/1988 and contains all the personal data of Italians resident abroad for a period of more than 12 months. It is administered by Italian municipalities on the basis of the data and information supplied by the foreign missions.
A.I.R.E. enrolment is a citizen’s right/duty (art. 6 Law no. 470/1988) and provides access to a series of services from foreign missions, as well as the exercise of some important rights, such as:
- the right to absentee voting in political elections and referendums and for the election of Italian representatives to the European Parliament in the seats set up by the diplomatic-consular network in EU member countries;
- the right to the issuance or renewal of identification and travel documents and to certifications;
- the right to renew a drivers license (only in non-UE countries; for details consult the Automobiles – Drivers License section).
A.I.R.E. enrolment is obligatory for:
- citizens who take up residence in a foreign country for more than 12 months;
- citizens residing abroad either as a result of being born there or having obtained Italian citizenship for any reason whatsoever.
Not required to enrol in the A.I.R.E.:
- citizens who go abroad for a period of less than 12 months;
- seasonal workers;
- government employees posted abroad, who are notified in pursuance of the Vienna Conventions on diplomatic relations and consular relations respectively of 1961 and 1963;
- Italian military servicemen/women working under the auspices of NATO abroad.
Enrolment in the A.I.R.E. is done by means of a declaration (special form available) made to the locally competent consular office within 90 days of transfer abroad.
This involves the simultaneous cancellation from the Civil Registry (APR) of the municipality of residence in Italy.
In order to facilitate and accelerate A.I.R.E. enrolment it is necessary (but not obligatory) that the enrolee display a document proving residence in the chosen foreign municipality (e.g. certificate of residence issued by the foreign authority, residence permit, identity card, utility bills, copy of the employment contract etc.).
Enrolment can also take place on the basis of information of which consular office is made aware.
A.I.R.E. enrolment is FREE OF CHARGE.
For enrolment modalities (mail, fax, etc.) please contact the consular office concerned and visit the related website where all related legislation and bilingual forms are available.
Updating of the A.I.R.E. is the citizen’s responsibility.
The person concerned must communicate the following information in a timely manner:
- change of address;
- change in civil status, for eventual registration in Italy (marriage, birth, divorce, death, etc.);
- definitive return to Italy;
- loss of Italian citizenship.
Failure to update information, particularly in regard to changes of address, impedes contact with citizens and their receipt of voting materials.
It is important that all Italian nationals communicate their addresses correctly and completely in pursuance of the postal laws of their countries of residence.
A.I.R.E. enrolment is rendered void by:
- enrolment in the Civil Registry (A.P.R.) of an Italian municipality following transfer or repatriation from abroad;
- death, including legally declared presumed death;
- presumed inability to contact, barring proof to the contrary, at 100 years from date of birth or after two successive attempts, or once the address reported abroad no longer results valid and a new one is not available;
- loss of Italian citizenship;
- transfer from the A.I.R.E. of another Italian municipality.
