Blog · October 11, 2026
Do you have to live in Italy to buy a house?
Ask the Scout · Episode 1
The short answer
No. You don't need Italian residency to buy a home in Italy, but you do need an Italian tax code, the codice fiscale.
In plain English
Italy does not ask you to live there before you buy a home. Many owners of houses in Piedmont live abroad and only come for holidays.
What you do need is a codice fiscale, the Italian tax code. It identifies you to the Italian authorities, whether you are Italian or not, and you need it to sign contracts, including the purchase deed at the notary.
If you live abroad, you can ask for one through the Italian consulate in your country. If you are in Italy, you can get it at an office of the Agenzia delle Entrate, the Italian tax agency.
If you are not an EU citizen, there is one more check. Article 16 of the preliminary provisions of the Italian Civil Code gives foreigners the same civil rights as Italians on condition of reciprocity: an Italian must be able to do the same in your country. The notary checks this for your country before the purchase, so mention your citizenship early.
Owning a house in Italy does not by itself give you the right to live there. If you want to move, that is a separate visa or residence question.
- Get a codice fiscale
Through the Italian consulate in your country, or at an Agenzia delle Entrate office if you are in Italy.
- Not an EU citizen? Say so early
The notary checks reciprocity for your country before the purchase.
- Sign the deed at the notary
You need the codice fiscale to sign contracts, including the purchase deed.
You need
- A codice fiscale, the Italian tax code
- For non-EU buyers: the reciprocity check by the notary
You don't need
- Italian residency
- To live in Italy before you buy
Owning a house in Italy does not by itself give you the right to live there. That is a separate visa or residence question.
Transcript
Buyer: I love that house. But I'd have to live in Italy first.
Scout: Not at all. Plenty of owners here live abroad.
Buyer: Really? So what do I actually need?
Scout: An Italian tax code. It's called the codice fiscale.
Scout: You get it at the tax office, or through an Italian consulate.
Buyer: So I need the code, not the address!
Scout: Exactly. From outside the EU? The notary checks your country first.
Made with AI: the characters are animated and the voices are AI-generated.
Sources
- Italian Foreign Ministry (esteri.it), Codice fiscale
- Italian Civil Code, preliminary provisions, art. 16 (Normattiva)
- Agenzia delle Entrate, Il Codice Fiscale
Facts checked: 11 October 2026. General info, not legal or tax advice. Check your own case with a notary or commercialista.
More from Ask the Scout
- Is the purchase tax on the price I pay? (episode 10)
- Can I pay for an Italian house in cash? (episode 8)
- What if I back out after paying the deposit? (episode 6)
Related guides
- Is it safe to buy Italian property online?
- Buying a second home in Piedmont: where to start
- How Piedmont Scout works
Looking at a house in Piedmont?
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