What is Codice fiscale?

It means fiscal or tax code - - sort of like an SSN. I have no idea what it's for, or even if you have to have a format to stick something in (right number of digits, etc.).

Ed is right, it's sort of like a SSN or tax ID number. You need it when you do certain things here like signing your kids up for school or sports, etc. You have to either be a resident or have a permesso di soggiorno to get one.

The Codice Fiscale is an alpha numeric code which is assigned to all Italians at birth - similar to a SS# in the States. It serves as a tax and health code card. In Copenhagen, we have a CPR number - does the same thing. Anyone who comes to live and work in Italy will need this code too. I have one, even though I am not Italian. You can get them unofficially... online... which is how I got mine, at first. Then, living there, I discovered I needed an official Codice fiscale. So I did what all foreigners do, I went and stood in line - for hours - at the the offices of the Agenzia Delle Entrate. Not a fun experience! Most times you see this requirement posted, it is refering to native Italians. I've not seen a tour requiring non-Italian residents to get a Codice Fiscale. That would certainly make me stop and think if I wanted to purchase those tickets or go on that tour? Most people get this (unofficially) if they need to buy an unlocked phone from some vendors! But you can get an unoffical Codice Fiscale at this website: http://www.comuni.it/servizi/codfisc/ if you like. It's in Italian so get out your Google translator. Cognome – Surname – Smith Nome – First Name (from your passport) – John Sesso=sex – select M, or F Comune/Prov.: (o Stato estero) – Birthplace – in Italian, 'Stati Uniti' = United States, etc. - Data di Nascita – Date of Birth Giorno=day – select a number, say 15
** Mese=month – select a month, Ottobre anno=year – Enter your birth year, say 1970 Then click on 'Calcola'. The next screen pops up and you'll have your unofficial Codice Fiscale... and you're ready to go! Until you go to get a job in Italy.. or need Italian Health care - then you'll need an official version!