📚Guides written by people living between Italy & the UK
Community Knowledge Hub
Curated, hands-on guides for people in the UK with an Italian connection — practical steps, clear checklists, zero fluff.
New to the UK?
Start with housing, banking and document guides. Use the filters below to build your own mini handbook.
What is this hub?
A living library of community guides: updated as rules change, grounded in real cases from people living in the UK.
Showing 57 guides · 57 total
Fresh, practical and free.
Browse by journey
Jump straight into popular bundles other readers use most.
Consular & Documents
13 guides
AIRE from the UK (2025): Registration & FAST IT Guide
Registration, updates, FAST IT issues, transcriptions and realistic timelines for Italians in the UK.
Italian Passport & ID Card in the UK (2025): Complete Guide
AIRE, documents, minors, costs, timelines and booking tactics when Prenot@Mi slots disappear.
Prenot@Mi & Italian Consular Appointments UK (2025) Guide
Consulate coverage, slot-release patterns, avoiding blocked accounts and appointment-day preparation.
Italian Passport in the UK (2025): Documents, Preparation & What to Expect
A clear, up-to-date checklist to renew or apply for an Italian passport in the UK. Required documents, minor applications, fees, and booking tips—with help options.
Italian Electronic ID Card (CIE) in the UK (2025): Eligibility, Documents, Booking & Uses
Complete guide to the Italian CIE from the UK: who can apply, required documents, how to book, fingerprints, minors, fees, and how to use the CIE for digital services (SPID/CIE ID).
Italian Citizenship by Descent from the UK (2025): Documents, Lines & Timelines
Step-by-step overview of Italian citizenship jure sanguinis from the UK: who qualifies, how to build your line, documents to collect and realistic timelines.
Italian Citizenship by Marriage in the UK (2025): B1 Italian, Documents & Timelines
Eligibility, required B1 Italian, documents and application routes for Italian citizenship by marriage (art. 5/7) from the UK, plus common pitfalls.
Registering UK Birth/Marriage/Divorce in Italy (2025): Documents, Apostille & Consular Transcriptions
Read the full guide →
AIRE Updates from the UK (2025): Change Address, Marriage, Birth, Name — FAST IT Guide
Read the full guide →
AIRE Registration from the UK (2025): FAST IT Steps, Proofs & Common Errors
Read the full guide →
Do I Have Military Obligations if I Apply for Italian Citizenship?
Worried about military service as a new or dual Italian citizen? Here’s what the law says, why conscription was abolished, and what a reinstatement would mean for residents abroad.
Do You Need to Speak Italian for Citizenship by Descent? (2025)
B1 Italian isn’t required for citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis). Learn who the B1 rule applies to and why you’re exempt — plus why learning Italian still helps.
Top 7 Benefits of Having Italian Citizenship in 2025
From EU freedom of movement to healthcare, education, and multigenerational rights—discover the top 7 advantages of holding Italian citizenship in 2025.
Life in the UK
5 guides
Exchange Italian Driving Licence for a UK Licence (2025): DVLA Steps, Documents & Timelines
Read the full guide →
National Insurance Number (NIN) for Italians in the UK: Apply, Replace & Timelines (2025)
Read the full guide →
Proof of Address Without Bills (2025): 12 Accepted Docs + Copy-Paste Templates
No bills yet? Build a fast proof-of-address bundle with tenancy, employer/GP letters, bank welcome letter, C/O wording and scripts for banks/GP/DVLA.
EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) for Italians (2025): Share Codes, Update Passport, Travel & Fixes
Easy 2025 guide for Italians: create the right share code, update a new passport in your EUSS record, fix sign-in issues and understand travel checks.
UK Mobile for Newcomers (2025): Best SIM & eSIM, PAYG vs Monthly, EU Roaming
Simple guide to UK mobile: SIM vs eSIM, PAYG vs monthly, no-credit-check options, porting and troubleshooting with copy-paste scripts.
Housing
6 guides
Move-In Day: Cleaning & Fix-It Kit for UK Rentals
Apartment-friendly cleaning and small fixes: microfibre set, mop, command hooks, WD-40, and moisture control.
Plugs, Adapters & Power: Italy ↔ UK Without the Sparks
Grounded EU→UK and UK→EU adapters, multi-port chargers, and safe surge-protected extensions for renters.
Finding Affordable Housing in London (2025): Guide for New Arrivals
Practical advice for finding safe, affordable housing in London: where to search, referencing, deposit protection, avoiding scams and emergency help.
UK Renting for Italians (2025): Right to Rent, Referencing, Deposits & Templates
Step-by-step renting guide in easy English: Right to Rent (EU), passing referencing without UK credit history, deposits and protection, viewing checklists, and scam warnings.
Council Tax for Italians (2025): Bands, Discounts & Moving-In Steps
What Council Tax is, how to find your band, set discounts (single-person/student), moving-in checklist and payment setup.
Utilities Setup (2025): Energy, Water, Council Tax & Broadband — Day-1 Checklist
Move-in playbook: find your energy/water suppliers, submit opening readings, register Council Tax, pick broadband, and handle previous-tenant debt letters.
Banking
4 guides
Open a Revolut Account in the UK (2025) — Quick Guide
Step-by-step guide to opening a Revolut account in the UK for migrants: verification, proof-of-address, payroll, fees and troubleshooting (2025).
Open a Monzo Account in the UK (2025) — Guide for Migrants
How to sign up for Monzo from the UK: ID & liveness checks, receiving your debit card, proof-of-address options and common signup issues.
Open a Starling Account in the UK (2025) — Guide for Migrants
Starling Bank walkthrough for migrants: setup, FSCS protection, card delivery, business options and troubleshooting (2025).
Rejected by UK Banks? Open an Account Without Credit History (Italians, 2025)
Pass KYC without a UK credit file: documents that work, C/O wording, branch scripts, and which banks to try first.
Work & Money
4 guides
UK Tax Code for Italians (2025): Fix Emergency Tax (1257L, BR, 0T, W1/M1) + Templates
Decode UK tax codes and fix common issues fast: 1257L, BR, 0T, W1/M1, starter forms, HMRC contact routes, and payroll templates.
First Payslip Explained (UK, 2025): Tax Code, NI Letter, YTD and Templates
Understand your first UK payslip: tax code meanings, NI letter, gross→net, YTD, and how to fix common problems with templates.
National Insurance Number (NIN) for Italians (2025): Apply, Replace & Timelines
Exactly how to apply or recover a UK NIN in 2025: documents, online steps, phone script, timelines and follow-ups.
Start a Business in the UK: Legal Forms, Business Bank Accounts, Visas & Taxes
Sole trader vs LTD, opening a business account, visas for non-UK nationals and baseline taxes (Income Tax, Corporation Tax, VAT).
Health
3 guides
Home Pharmacy Basics (UK): Be Ready, Spend Less
Simple, non-prescription items many households keep on hand in the UK: thermometer, plasters, electrolytes and more.
Navigating NHS Healthcare as an Italian in the UK (2025)
How Italians and EU nationals can register with a GP, get an NHS number, access interpreters, urgent care, prescriptions and GHIC guidance.
Private Healthcare in the UK: Insurance, Dental & Preventive Care
How to navigate private healthcare in the UK: choosing a policy, typical costs, international add-ons, dental plans and preventive check-ups.
Family & Parenting
2 guides
Raising Bilingual Kids: Italian at Home Starter Pack
Games, books and tools to keep Italian alive in the UK: picture dictionaries, story time, labels and music.
Welfare & Benefits in the UK: Universal Credit, Child Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Housing Support
Clear overview of UK benefits: who can claim, how to apply, and official links — with key differences vs Italy and where to get help.
Travel
3 guides
Quick Trip to Italy: Light Travel Kit from the UK
EU carry-on bag sizes, packing cubes, UK→EU adapters, document wallets and security tips for quick trips home.
Oyster vs Contactless vs Travelcards (2025): Caps, Zones & Which to Use
Definitive London transport explainer: daily/weekly caps, zones, Hopper fare and the best option by use-case—plus setup and tips.
Importing a Car from Italy to the UK: DVLA, VED, Insurance, Plates & Technical Requirements
Step-by-step process to import a car from Italy to the UK: HMRC/NOVA, DVLA registration, VED, MOT, insurance, plates and common adjustments.
Lifestyle
14 guides
Tiny UK Kitchen, Big Italian Flavour: Starter Kit
Compact tools and pantry picks for Italian cooking in a shared flat or studio. One pan, one pot, airtight storage and pantry heroes.
Save Money: Bulk Italian Pantry Buys in the UK
Cut weekly costs by buying Italian staples in bulk: pasta, tomatoes, olive oil, beans and coffee — what to bulk, what not to.
Stay Warm, Spend Less: Energy-Saving Comfort Picks
Simple buys that cut drafts and keep you warm in UK rentals: door seals, thermal curtains, hot-water bottles and low-watt heaters.
Work & Study: Compact UK Desk Setup That Feels Pro
Laptop stand, keyboard, lighting and cable basics that turn a rented room into a focused workspace.
Save Money in the UK: Buy Italian Staples in Bulk (Smart Storage, Real Prices, Zero Waste Tips)
A practical guide to bulk-buying Italian pantry essentials in the UK—what to buy, how to store it in small flats, and how to split costs with friends. Includes price targets, shelf life, and storage solutions.
New in the UK? 12 Italian Cupboard Essentials (No Fridge Needed)
Essential Italian pantry staples for UK living — shelf-stable ingredients, no fridge required. Perfect for shared kitchens, temporary accommodation or small flats.
Italian Pantry Essentials in the UK (2025): What to Stock First
Shelf-stable Italian staples for UK life: pasta, passata, oil, tuna, beans and herbs that survive shared kitchens and small cupboards.
Italian Snacks & Biscuits in the UK: Taralli, Grissini & More
Where to find Italian-style biscuits, taralli, grissini and sweet spreads in the UK, plus ideas for a quick merenda or tea break.
Italian Coffee Beans in the UK: Moka & Espresso-Friendly Picks
How to pick beans and ground coffee in UK shops that work for moka and espresso-style coffee: roast level, grind size and where to buy.
Italian Olive Oil in the UK: Extra Virgin (EVOO) Explained
What “extra virgin olive oil” (EVOO) really means, how to read labels in UK supermarkets and which bottle sizes make sense in small flats.
Italian Pizza Night in a UK Kitchen: Flour, Yeast & Simple Gear
Everything you need for a basic Italian-style pizza night with a UK oven: 00 flour, yeast, trays/steels and a short toppings checklist.
Italian Pasta Brands in the UK: Everyday & Bulk Buys
How to choose Italian-style pasta in UK shops: shapes to stock, when to buy supermarket brands and when premium really matters.
Best Italian Pasta Brands in the UK (2025): Taste-Tested Picks
From supermarket shelves to Amazon multi-packs: Italian-style pasta brands that hold up al dente in a UK kitchen, with budget and upgrade options.
Aperitivo at Home in the UK: Simple Italian Board & Drinks
Turn a small UK kitchen into aperitivo hour: easy boards with crisps, olives, taralli, cured meats and simple drink ideas—plus Amazon-friendly tools.
Mental health
2 guides
Loneliness to Belonging (2025): A 30-Day Community Plan for Migrants in the UK
Read the full guide →
NHS Mental Health Support in the UK (2025): How to Access Help, Self-Referral & What to Expect
Read the full guide →