If you’ve been living in Milan for a little while, you’ve probably realised something important: the city is beautiful, exciting, cultural… and full of paperwork.

Even once you’ve settled into your routines from your favorite café to your everyday Italian phrases, bureaucracy has a way of popping up and reminding you you’re still new here.

Trust us, we’ve been there too. Everyone at The Nest is either a local or an expat who had to figure all this out the hard way: confusing forms, different offices, appointments that disappear in seconds, and rules that change depending on who you ask.

So here’s what we wish someone had told us…

Why Italian Bureaucracy Feels So Complicated

First: it’s not you, it really is complicated.

Many official processes in Italy are still very manual. Offices have their own schedules (often short ones), online explanations are rarely clear, and everything is written in formal Italian. Add queues, stamps, tax codes, and multiple appointments… and suddenly even a simple task feels overwhelming.

But once you understand what you need and when, it gets easier. The key is knowing the essentials.

The Documents Every International Needs

Here are the big four most people in Milan handle sooner or later:

Codice Fiscale: Your Italian tax ID, you need it for almost everything: renting, banking, SIM cards, healthcare.
Permesso di Soggiorno: Your residence permit. It must be renewed before it expires, and the process includes filling out the kit, paying fees, and attending an appointment.
Residenza (Anagrafe): Registering your address with the Comune. Essential for many services and future renewals.
Tessera Sanitaria: Your access to the public health system. Often requires your residenza first.

Pro tip: keep digital copies of everything: passport, receipts, forms, appointment confirmations. You’ll thank yourself later.

How The Nest Makes It Easier:

You can definitely do all of this alone, many do. But it’s time-consuming, confusing, and often stressful, especially if you’re juggling university, work, or settling into a new life.

This is exactly why The Nest exists.

We review your documents, guide you step by step, book the right appointments, prepare everything you need, and make sure nothing important slips through the cracks.

Whether it’s your first application or a renewal you’ve been avoiding, you’re not alone in it.

If you need help sorting your paperwork before the holidays, you can reach us anytime! We’re here to make Milan feel smoother, clearer, and a little more home.