Who does what
The hard part is rarely the procedure — it is working out which office is yours. This table answers that.
Comune — Ufficio Anagrafe
Municipality- Responsible for
- Residency and change of address, civil registry certificates, household certificate, electronic ID card, registration of EU citizens.
- Where to find it
- In the municipality where you live. Many certificates download free online from ANPR with SPID or CIE.
Comune — Ufficio di Stato Civile
Municipality- Responsible for
- Births, marriages and civil unions, deaths, transcription of documents issued abroad, citizenship applications by residence and by marriage.
- Where to find it
- Same building as the registry office, but a different desk: anything issued abroad goes through here.
Comune — Ufficio Tributi
Municipality- Responsible for
- TARI (waste tax), IMU on second homes, tourist tax, municipal declarations and refunds.
- Where to find it
- At the municipality. The TARI declaration is on you to file even if nobody asks: it runs from the day you occupy the property.
Comune — Servizi educativi
Municipality- Responsible for
- Municipal nurseries, school meals, school transport, before- and after-school care, ISEE-based discounts.
- Where to find it
- At the municipality, often on a portal separate from the school’s own.
Polizia Locale (Vigili Urbani)
Municipality- Responsible for
- Traffic and ZTL zones, municipal fines, accidents inside town, verification of your registered address, trade, building rules, public order.
- Where to find it
- The municipal police command. They are the ones who visit your home to verify your declared residence.
Agenzia delle Entrate
State- Responsible for
- Tax code, VAT number, registration of rental contracts, income tax return, land registry, favourable tax regimes.
- Where to find it
- Local office by appointment (online or phone). Much of it is done in the logged-in area with SPID or CIE.
Open the official site800 909 696Agenzia delle Entrate-Riscossione
State- Responsible for
- Collection notices, instalment plans, statement of outstanding debts, enforcement of unpaid taxes and fines.
- Where to find it
- Local desks and the logged-in area. It is a different body from Agenzia delle Entrate, despite the similar name.
ASL / AUSL / ATS (azienda sanitaria locale)
Region- Responsible for
- Registration with the national health service, health card, choosing or changing your family doctor or paediatrician, exemptions, vaccinations.
- Where to find it
- The local health district’s doctor-choice desk. The name varies by region: ASL, AUSL, ATS, ASST, AST.
INPS
State- Responsible for
- Pensions, the single child allowance, nursery bonus, maternity and parental leave, unemployment, contributions, ISEE.
- Where to find it
- The INPS portal with SPID or CIE. Applications can also be filed free of charge through a patronato.
Open the official site803 164Questura — Polizia di Stato
State- Responsible for
- Passports, residence permits for non-EU nationals, criminal complaints, firearms licences, public order. One office per province plus local stations.
- Where to find it
- In the provincial capital. Passports are booked via Agenda Passaporto or at participating municipalities.
Arma dei Carabinieri
State- Responsible for
- Theft and lost-document reports, emergencies, crime; present even in the smallest municipalities.
- Where to find it
- The local Carabinieri station. In many towns it is the only police presence on the ground.
Guardia di Finanza
State- Responsible for
- Tax and financial crime, evasion, smuggling, receipt and invoice checks, money laundering, fraud against public funds.
- Where to find it
- Provincial commands. Not the place for an ordinary complaint: go to Polizia or Carabinieri for that.
Prefettura — Ufficio Territoriale del Governo
State- Responsible for
- Appeals against traffic fines, citizenship by residence (case handling), suspended licences, civil protection, State–municipality relations.
- Where to find it
- One per province. An appeal to the Prefect is free, but if rejected the fine can double.
Regione
Region- Responsible for
- Healthcare, local public transport, the right to education (grants, books, meals), vocational training, public housing.
- Where to find it
- The regional portal. This is the level that sets health co-payments and which school benefits exist.
Provincia / Città metropolitana
Other- Responsible for
- Provincial roads, upper-secondary school buildings, environment and hunting, out-of-town school transport, area-wide planning.
- Where to find it
- The level you deal with least: almost everything goes through the municipality or the region.
Ufficio Scolastico Regionale e Ambito Territoriale
State- Responsible for
- The state school network, recognition of foreign qualifications for enrolment, school disputes, home education.
- Where to find it
- One office per region, with provincial branches.
Motorizzazione Civile
State- Responsible for
- Driving licences, conversion of foreign licences, vehicle registration and re-registration, roadworthiness tests, plates.
- Where to find it
- Provincial offices (UMC). Common tasks can also be handled by a paid vehicle agency.
Ambasciata o consolato del tuo paese
Other- Responsible for
- Your country’s passport and ID card, notarial acts, consular assistance, sometimes paperwork with the country you left. If you are not an EU citizen, a valid passport is also what you need to renew your residence permit.
- Where to find it
- Almost always in Rome, with consulates in some large cities. Honorary consulates usually do not issue passports. EU citizens whose country has no post nearby can turn to another EU country’s embassy.
CAF e Patronato
Other- Responsible for
- ISEE, income tax return, INPS applications, pension matters. A patronato is free of charge for social-security cases.
- Where to find it
- Union and trade-association offices in every town. A CAF may charge for the tax return.
Notaio
Other- Responsible for
- Property deeds, mortgages, inheritance, gifts, company formation. A public officer, not your own adviser.
- Where to find it
- A notary’s office. In a property purchase the buyer chooses and pays the notary.
ARERA e Sportello per il consumatore
State- Responsible for
- Rules for electricity, gas, water and waste; complaints against suppliers, conciliation, social bill support.
- Where to find it
- Online service. Complain to the supplier first, then go to conciliation.
Open the official site800 166 654112 — Numero unico di emergenza
State- Responsible for
- One number for police, ambulance and fire brigade. Free, works without credit and without a SIM.
- Where to find it
- Active nationwide. 118 (medical), 113 (police) and 115 (fire) still work in many areas.
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