Do dual citizens living in the U.S. have to register in AIRE?

Yes. Any Italian citizen who lives abroad for more than 12 months must register, including people recognized by descent who have always lived in the U.S. Registration is free, and since 2024 failing to register can be fined.

Will the consulate register me automatically after recognition?

After a consulate case the consulate usually registers you itself; check your record on Fast It. After a court case you normally register yourself with your consulate once the comune has registered the judgment.

How much does AIRE registration cost?

Nothing. Registration and updates are free.

Do I need AIRE registration to get an Italian passport?

Yes. Consulates check AIRE before issuing a passport. New York, for example, requires AIRE registration with an up-to-date address in its district.

Does registering in AIRE mean I owe Italian tax?

Not by itself. Italy generally taxes non-residents only on income from Italian sources. If you spend long periods in Italy or earn income there, ask a tax professional.

AIRE Registration for Italian Citizens in the U.S. (2026)

Short answer (as of November 2026)

AIRE (Anagrafe degli Italiani Residenti all'Estero) is Italy's register of citizens who live abroad. If you are an Italian citizen living in the U.S. for more than 12 months, registering is a legal obligation. It is free and done online on the Fast It portal. You need it for a passport, to vote by mail and for most consular services, and since 2024 failing to register can bring a fine of €200 to €1,000 for each year.

Required for Italian citizens who live abroad for more than 12 months
Free, and done online on Fast It; creating an account alone does not register you
Needed for passports, voting by mail and most consular services
Report a move within 90 days, including a move to another consular district
Since 2024: fines of €200 to €1,000 for each year you should have been registered, for up to five years

What is AIRE?

AIRE stands for Anagrafe degli Italiani Residenti all'Estero, the register of Italians resident abroad. It records your address abroad, your family and your civil status. Your record is held by an Italian comune and managed through the consulate for the area where you live. Being in AIRE also means you are not on the register of people living in Italy.

Who has to register

Italian citizens who live abroad for more than 12 months must register with the consulate for their area, within 90 days of moving. That includes Americans recognized as Italian by descent, who in most cases have always lived in the U.S. Stays abroad of less than 12 months and seasonal work do not count.

AIRE after recognition

How you were recognized	What happens with AIRE
At a U.S. consulate	The consulate usually registers you in AIRE when it completes your case. Log in to Fast It and check that your record shows your current address.
By an Italian court (for example a 1948 case)	Once the comune has registered the judgment, register yourself with your consulate on Fast It.
In Italy, while living there	You are registered as a resident of your comune. If you then move to the U.S. for more than 12 months, register in AIRE within 90 days.

How to register on Fast It

Create an account on Fast It, the Foreign Ministry's consular portal. Creating an account does not register you in AIRE by itself.
Start the request to register your residence abroad and enter your details exactly as they appear in your Italian records or passport. Italian records often treat a middle name as part of the first name.
Upload what your consulate asks for. Boston, for example, asks for a copy of your Italian passport if you have one, proof that you live legally in the U.S. (for U.S. citizens, a U.S. passport, plus a naturalization certificate if you naturalized) and proof of address such as a driver's license or utility bill. It accepts PDFs only, not phone photos.
Submit the request. The consulate checks it and forwards it to the comune. Registration counts from the date you submit a complete request. If something is missing you will be asked for it, and an incomplete request is cancelled after 30 days.

What AIRE registration is needed for

Italian passports and other travel and identity documents from your consulate
Voting by mail in Italian general elections and referendums. Italians abroad also elect members of Parliament for the overseas constituency
Consular certificates and services, including registering marriages and births
Showing that you live abroad, for any Italian office that asks

Keep your address current. If it is out of date the consulate cannot reach you, and you may not receive your ballot.

Keeping your record up to date

What changed	What to do
You moved within the same consular district	Declare the new address on Fast It within 90 days
You moved to another consular district	Declare the move to the new consulate within 90 days. If you don't, your record can be cancelled because you cannot be found
You married, divorced or had a child	Report it to your consulate so the record can be registered in Italy
You moved to Italy	Register as a resident with your new comune; your AIRE record then closes

What happens if you don't register

Since January 1, 2024, Italy's 2024 budget law (Law 213/2023) has set fines of €200 to €1,000 for each year in which a citizen living abroad fails to register in AIRE, for up to five years. The comune where the citizen is registered decides and issues the fine. The consulate can also register you on its own initiative when it has the information it needs.

AIRE and taxes

AIRE records where you live; it does not by itself decide where you pay tax. Italy generally taxes its tax residents on their worldwide income and non-residents only on income from Italian sources, such as rent from a property in Italy. If you plan to spend long periods in Italy or earn income there, get advice from a tax professional who knows both systems.

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Sources

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and consulate practice change; check the official sources or ask us before acting.

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