How to get a CIN code in Italy: the complete guide
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If you rent a home or a room in Italy to tourists for stays of up to 30 days, you need a CIN, the Codice Identificativo Nazionale (National Identification Code). It is free, and the online request itself takes a few minutes. The steps that come before it are where most owners get stuck. This guide gives you the right order, what to prepare and the mistakes to avoid.
What the CIN is and who needs one
The CIN is an alphanumeric code that Italy's Ministry of Tourism assigns to every property used to host tourists. It was introduced by Article 13-ter of Decree-Law 145/2023, converted into Law 191/2023, and has been mandatory since 2 November 2024. Fines have applied since 2 January 2025.
You need one if:
- you rent an apartment or a room as a short let (locazione breve, up to 30 days), even as a private individual rather than a business;
- you rent for tourist purposes, even beyond 30 days;
- you run a hotel, B&B, holiday home or agriturismo.
It applies to foreign and non-resident owners too: the obligation is tied to the property, not to the owner's nationality.
Before the CIN: the regional code (CIR)
In almost every Italian region you start from a regional code, usually called the CIR (some regions use a different name). You get it after notifying the start of your rental to the Comune (the town hall) or the Region, and the procedure differs from place to place:
- Tuscany: an online notice to the SUAP (the municipal business desk) through the regional STAR portal. Florence also requires a municipal authorisation.
- Lazio (Rome): a notice to the Comune and a CIR request on the ROSS1000 platform.
- Lombardy (Milan): a notice to the Comune's SUAP; the code then appears in the regional tourism-flows portal.
- Veneto (Venice): registration of the tourist rental on the regional portal, which generates the code automatically.
In October 2026 Italy's Constitutional Court (ruling no. 163) held that regions cannot make the CIN conditional on the CIR, because the CIN falls under national law. The regional code is still mandatory wherever the region requires it, so in practice you need both, in the order your region sets.
What to prepare before applying
- Portal access. The Ministry's accommodation database (BDSR) is accessed with SPID or CIE, Italy's digital identity systems. If you don't have one, you can request dedicated credentials for foreign users; see our guide for foreign owners.
- Cadastral data for the property: foglio, particella and, where applicable, subalterno. Without them you cannot get the CIN.
- Regional code, where your region requires one.
- Safety devices. Every short-let or tourist-let property must have a working combustible gas and carbon monoxide detector (where there is a gas system) and portable fire extinguishers that meet the standard. You declare this in the CIN request, so the declaration must be true.
How to request the CIN, step by step
- Log in to the BDSR from the Ministry of Tourism website with SPID, CIE or your foreign-user credentials.
- Find your property among those linked to your Italian tax code (codice fiscale), or search for it with its regional code.
- Complete the missing data: cadastral details, declarant, number of beds.
- Confirm the safety declaration.
- Click "Ottieni CIN" ("Get CIN"). If the data is complete, the code arrives by email within minutes.
The CIN is free. If a service charges you, you are paying for its work, not for the code.
Where the CIN must be displayed
- Outside the building, for example on a small plate near the entrance, while respecting any heritage or condominium restrictions.
- In every listing, on any platform (Airbnb, Booking and the rest) and in all advertising, online and offline.
Where a regional code also exists, both must be displayed.
The other obligations owners forget
- Police guest registration (Alloggiati Web). You must send each guest's details to the police (Questura) within 24 hours of arrival, or within 6 hours for one-night stays. You request credentials from the Questura of the province where the property is.
- Guest identification. Guests' identity must actually be checked. Several cities, including Florence and Rome, have cracked down on key boxes used without any check.
- Tourist tax, where the Comune levies it, and statistical (ISTAT) reporting on the regional portals.
- SCIA. If you rent out more than two apartments, the law presumes a business activity and you must file a SCIA (certified start-of-business notice) with the Comune's SUAP. This threshold applies from 2026.
- Tax. Short-let income from Italian property is taxed in Italy even if you live abroad. Ask an Italian accountant (commercialista) about the right regime.
Fines
- Renting without a CIN: €800 to €8,000.
- CIN not displayed in listings or outside the building: €500 to €5,000.
- Missing extinguisher or gas/CO detector: €600 to €6,000.
Regional and municipal fines can be added on top, and failing to register guests with the police can have criminal consequences.
Frequently asked questions
Does the CIN replace the regional code?
No. It is added to it. Where both exist, both must be displayed.
How long does it take to get a CIN?
With complete data, the CIN arrives within minutes. The time goes into the earlier steps (municipal notice, regional code, any municipal authorisation), which can take days or weeks.
I only rent a few weeks a year. Do I still need it?
Yes. It applies to every short or tourist let, however occasional.
I own several properties. How many CINs do I need?
One for each unit you rent out.
Want us to handle it?
CINready, a service by Quality House Florence, handles the whole process anywhere in Italy: checking your Comune's rules, the regional code, the CIN, Alloggiati Web credentials, tourist tax registration and, where needed, sending someone to the town hall in person. No SPID needed, even if you live abroad. Ask for a free quote and we'll reply within 24 hours.
Reviews of Quality House Florence, the agency behind CINready
Google reviews reproduced verbatim; Google does not verify service purchase. Rating and count: Google data as of November 12, 2026. Read all reviews
“Tutte le pratiche di inserimento del mio immobile e la richiesta del CIN sono state semplici e veloci.”
Sources
This guide is for information only and is not legal or tax advice. Rules change often: we always check the current rules for your Comune before starting.