Version 1, 5 October 2026.
Almost everything can be prepared remotely. The deed is signed at the Studio in Naples, in person or through a power of attorney.
These are the questions we hear most often from foreign citizens and from Italians living abroad.
1. Can a foreign citizen buy a home in Italy?
Yes, almost always. EU citizens buy exactly as Italians do. So does anyone living in Italy with a valid residence permit. For everyone else, the notary checks reciprocity: you can buy if an Italian can buy in your country. The check is done before the signing date is set.
2. Do I need an Italian tax code (codice fiscale)?
Yes, if you buy, sell or inherit. You can request it from the Italian consulate in your country or from the Italian Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate). Ask for it first.
3. Do I have to come to Italy to sign?
No, if you cannot. You sign a power of attorney (procura) where you live. Another person then signs the deed for you at the Studio. A power of attorney saves the journey, not the checks: the notary carries out the same verifications.
4. How do I give a power of attorney from abroad?
There are two routes. The first is the Italian consulate: the document is written in Italian and nothing else is needed. The second is a local notary public, followed by an apostille and an Italian translation. Either way, we send you the text to sign first.
5. What is an apostille?
A certificate that confirms the foreign notary’s signature. It works between countries that have joined the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961. Otherwise, the document must be legalised by the Italian consulate.
6. I don’t speak Italian. Can I still sign?
Yes. The deed is written in Italian. If a party does not know Italian, the law requires an interpreter chosen by the parties, who translates and signs the deed. In these cases the law also requires witnesses. We tell you the interpreter’s cost in writing, in advance.
7. Can I speak with the notary by video call, with translation?
Yes, through an Online consultation on Google Meet. Meet can translate speech for some language pairs and show translated captions. It helps you understand; it does not replace the interpreter on the day of signing. Before the call, we ask you to read our notice on the use of artificial intelligence.
8. What does the notary check?
Who owns the property and whether there are mortgages or seizures. The land registry data, the identity of each signer and the origin of the funds. The notary is impartial and protects all parties. Building and planning compliance is checked by a surveyor or architect.
9. Who chooses the notary, and what does it cost?
Usually the buyer chooses the notary and pays the fee. The cost depends on the deed and its value. We send you a preliminary written quote, with taxes, fee and expenses listed separately.
10. I live abroad. Can I get the Italian first-home tax relief?
It depends. Today it is open to people who moved abroad for work and lived or worked in Italy for at least five years. The home must be in the town where they were born, or where they lived or worked before leaving. The other legal requirements also apply. The rule changes from 1 January 2027, so we check it with you before the deed.
11. I inherited a property in Italy but live abroad. What now?
If there is property in Italy, a succession return must be filed with the Italian Revenue Agency, even when a foreign law governs the estate. The land registry and public records are then updated. All of this can be handled through a power of attorney.
12. Which law governs the inheritance?
For deaths from 17 August 2015, an EU regulation applies. As a rule, it is the law of the country where the deceased usually lived. In a will, a person can choose the law of their nationality instead.
13. What is the European Certificate of Succession?
A document that proves who the heirs are in other EU countries. In Italy it is issued by a notary. It is not used in Denmark or Ireland, nor outside the EU.
14. Can I renounce an inheritance from abroad?
Yes. The renunciation is made before a notary or the court clerk. Italian citizens abroad can also make it at the consulate, or give a power of attorney to someone in Italy. It is then entered in the court’s register.
15. I married abroad. Is the home I buy owned by both of us?
It depends on the law that governs the couple’s property. For marriages from 29 January 2019, an EU regulation applies; as a rule, it looks at the first shared home after the wedding. The deed states the regime, so tell us early and bring your marriage certificate.
What to do next
- Request your Italian tax code.
- Book an Online consultation with the notary.
- Send us the documents you have.
- If you cannot come, wait for our text before signing a power of attorney. Readers in the UK: power of attorney from the UK. Readers in the US: power of attorney from the US.
Sources, for anyone who wants to check
- Art. 16, General Provisions on the Law (reciprocity), Normattiva
- Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reciprocity country list
- Law No. 89 of 16 February 1913, art. 54 (language of the deed), Normattiva
- Law No. 89 of 16 February 1913, art. 55 (interpreter), Normattiva
- Law No. 161 of 30 October 2014, art. 32 (European Certificate of Succession), Normattiva
- Decree-Law No. 69 of 13 June 2023, art. 2 (first-home relief for people abroad), Normattiva
- Regulation (EU) No 650/2012 (succession)
- Regulation (EU) 2016/1103 (matrimonial property)
- Hague Conference, Apostille Convention status table
Contact
Studio Notarile Marco Fiorentino, Viale Antonio Gramsci 19, 80122 Naples, Italy. Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm (Italian time). Phone +39 352 273 7467 · segreteria@notaiofiorentinomarco.com · appointment calendar.
General information, the same for everyone: it does not replace a review of the documents in your case.