Registered office in Rome for foreign companies and shareholders

Two different cases: Italian company or branch

The first case is an Italian company (for example an S.r.l.) whose shareholders or directors are foreigners. As far as the registered office goes nothing changes: the company has a registered office in Italy, stated in the incorporation deed, like any other company.

The second case is a company already incorporated abroad that wants to operate in Italy. It can open a branch (sede secondaria) with a permanent representative, registered with the Business Register, or operate in a way that creates a permanent establishment for tax purposes. They are different structures with different corporate and tax consequences: the choice should be made with an adviser. An address in Italy is not needed for a foreign company’s VAT obligations alone, which are handled in other ways.

This page is for information only and does not replace professional advice: requirements and obligations vary with the country of origin and the activity.

What a foreign shareholder or director needs

• A valid ID document or passport.
• An Italian tax code, requested from the Revenue Agency or, from abroad, from an Italian consulate.
• A digital signature to sign Business Register filings, or the help of a notary or accountant who files on your behalf.
• A PEC email address for the company: mandatory for Italian companies and the channel for many official communications.
• A bank account for the share capital and operations: banks apply enhanced checks when shareholders do not live in Italy.

Requirements depend on nationality and role: your notary and accountant confirm the list for your case.

What the company gets with an address in Rome

With the registered office service the company has a real address in central Rome, a few minutes from Termini and Metro Line A, and a reception that receives and holds correspondence. For those living abroad what matters most is being sure to receive documents, registered letters and notifications: the registered office is where the company must be reachable.

Reception notifies you when new mail arrives and hands it to the legal representative or an identified authorised person during opening hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30-19:00). If you are not in Italy, name a trusted person in the agreement who can collect your mail, or agree forwarding in advance: arrangements and charges must be confirmed beforehand, as they are not included in the fee.

The address does not replace an operating office or any licences for the activity. If you need a place to meet clients or work when you are in Rome, you can book a meeting room or day office in the same building.

Documents to activate the service

Reception confirms the list for your application. Typically you will be asked for:

• the legal representative’s passport or ID card and Italian tax code;
• for a foreign company, an extract from the registry of the country of origin and its articles, with apostille or legalisation and translation where required;
• details to identify the beneficial owner, as required by anti-money-laundering rules on customer due diligence;
• at least one of a PEC email address and an SDI code, for existing companies;
• authorisations for collecting mail and where the accounting records are kept.

How to start from far away

1. Discuss with your adviser the best structure: an Italian company or a branch.
2. Send the address request online. If the SMS mobile check or the online form is a problem, you can ask for the form or a quote by email.
3. Sign the agreement and upload your documents: the Customer Area lets you consult the agreement and related documents.
4. Wait for written activation, then give the address to the notary or professional who incorporates the company or registers the branch.
5. Say who collects mail in Italy, or agree forwarding.