Italian bureaucratic procedures are known for being lengthy and complex affairs, usually involving requests for several official certificates and documents – from birth and marriage certificates to academic qualifications and proof of income records.

A request that is less common – but still applies in certain cases – is the request for a certificato di esistenza in vita (literally, ‘certificate of life’), which basically serves as proof that you’re still alive. 

Who needs the certificate?

You’ll only need to provide this certificate if it is officially required of you.

According to Italy’s social security institute INPS, people receiving an Italian pension but living outside of the country are required to complete and file the certificate on a yearly basis. 

This is to “ensure the regularity and accuracy of pension payments” and to “prevent the disbursement of undue benefits”. 

Pensioners residing in countries whose social security institutions have bilateral agreements for the exchange of death certificates with INPS, including, for instance, Germany, France and Switzerland, are generally excluded from this form of verification. 

But even pensioners in Italy can occasionally be asked to provide a certificato di vita if INPS happens to hold conflicting information regarding your personal status or if you’d like to authorise someone to collect your pension on your behalf.

Finally, the certificate may also be required by some insurance providers when taking out life insurance. 

What do I need to do?

Every year, pensioners living in countries that don’t have information exchange agreements with Italy are sent a package containing a personalised form which they need to fill out and return to the stated address. 

The package also includes instructions for completing the form and a list of the required supporting documentation.

In special circumstances where a person may be unable to complete the form, alternative methods can be arranged by contacting Citibank, which manages the verification process on behalf of INPS. 

Importantly, the form must be signed by a ‘reliable witness’ (testimone accettabile) such as an Italian embassy or consulate official or an authorised local authority.

Pensioners have 120 days from the date they received the package to return it.

If, after the 120-day window, the certificate has not been sent, the next pension instalment will be made available for collection at a local bank. 

If the pensioner collects it personally, the verification process will be considered completed. If that’s not the case, pension payments will be suspended as a precautionary measure. 

For assistance with the procedure, pensioners can see this webpage or send an email to inps.pensionati@citi.com.

What about people in Italy? 

The procedure is generally easier for people in Italy.

The certificate can be requested online on the Anagrafe registry’s website, though you’ll need SPID or electronic ID credentials to access the service. 

Alternatively, you can go to the Anagrafe registry office of your town hall with a valid identity document and fill out the relevant form, specifying the purpose for which the certificate is being requested. 

The certificate is valid for 6 months from the date of issuance.