Moving to Friuli: becoming a resident, for EU citizens and others

An EU citizen may stay beyond 3 months if employed or self-employed, or with sufficient resources for the family and health insurance covering all risks. After 3 months they apply to the town hall's population register (anagrafe), proving one or the other, and get a certificate on the spot. Resources are measured against the Italian social allowance plus half per family member; the town hall has this year's figure.

After 5 years of lawful, continuous residence the right is permanent; absences of up to 6 months a year do not break it, and the permanent-residence certificate is issued within 30 days of asking.

For short stays the European Health Insurance Card handles necessary care. As a resident, enrolment in the national health service becomes mandatory for workers, for holders of permanent residence and for anyone with the S1 certificate, the form that also serves EU pensioners whose pension is paid by another member state. The district health office enrols you once you show the codice fiscale and your registration receipt; the GP you pick costs nothing. Everyone else keeps private insurance or enrols voluntarily. Hospitals and travel times: emergency departments and hospitals.

• Becoming resident in the municipality within 18 months of completion is what unlocks the reduced registration tax.
• The home you live in and are registered at pays no ILIA, except villas, high-end flats and castles (A/1, A/8, A/9): ILIA.
• The regional first-home grant requires 5 years' residence in the region within the last 8; for a couple, one partner is enough.
• Every family member has their own tax code; a parent applies for a minor.

• Foreign plates: you have 3 months from residence to register the car in Italy. Then: a fine of €400 to €1,600, logbook withdrawn, car impounded, and confiscation if 30 days after the check it has neither Italian plates nor left the country. For vehicles from another EU state a December 2025 decree of the Motorizzazione applies; the authority lists the documents.
• EU licences count as Italian; one with no expiry date, like many old German and Austrian licences, is exchanged after 2 years' residence.
• Non-EU licences last 1 year from residence, then are exchanged where an agreement exists, otherwise you sit the Italian test. British and Swiss licences can be exchanged, US ones cannot.

You need a visa before you travel. The elective-residence visa, for people living on their own income without working in Italy, requires stable income and a home bought or rented here; the consulate in New York quotes roughly €31,000 a year per person, a figure from that one consulate only. Then come the residence permit and town-hall registration, and for healthcare private cover or voluntary enrolment at €2,000 a year or more. The purchase itself: the buying process.