Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

BREXIT

UK and Italy sign long-term agreement on driving licences

The British Embassy in Rome announced on Friday that it had finally signed a long-term agreement with Italy over the long-running issue of exchanging driving licences.

Published: 23 December 2022 11:10 CET
Updated: 26 December 2022 09:10 CET
UK and Italy sign long-term agreement on driving licences
The British Embassy in Rome announced that the UK and Italy had signed a Driving Licences Agreement. Photo: UK embassy in Rome

The British Embassy in Rome announced the news on Twitter on Friday morning simply saying: “BREAKING NEWS, Uk and Italy sign the Driving Licences Agreement.”

But the embassy did not immediately add any more details over whether this was the long-awaited reciprocal deal for the exchanging of driving licences post Brexit, or just another agreement to extend the grace period for another year.

The government’s Living in Italy web page later confirmed that the deal was indeed the long term agreement people had been hoping for.

“On 23rd December 2022, the British and Italian governments signed a long term agreement for exchanging driving licences,” the page read.

“After its entry into force, if you are resident in Italy you will be able to exchange your UK licence for an Italian one without the need to take a test,” it added.

READ ALSO: Who needs to exchange their driving licence for an Italian one?

No date was given for when it would come into force, but the UK confirmed that a further extension of the grace period allowing drivers with UK licences to drive in Italy had also been agreed.

“In the meantime, the UK is making arrangements with the Italian authorities to ensure that current measures will continue beyond 2022 for a further 12 months, so that you can continue to use your UK licence in Italy after 31st December 2022.”

British ambassador to Rome Ed Llewellyn posted a letter on Twitter saying the long-term agreement would come into force in “early 2023.”

“The agreement would undergo ratification inthe UK and Italy before coming into effect,” he said.

“I know that this has been a period of uncertainty for many of you while the agreement has been negotiated. Thank you for your patience,” he said.

The announcement was met with relief by some of those who had been waiting nervously for the last two years.

“I’m about to cry,” said one.

Another said: “This seems like it has been a difficult process for all but thank you, it’s super news.”

Background

When Britain left the EU at the end of 2020 there was no reciprocal agreement (an arrangement allowing foreign nationals to exchange their licence for an Italian one) in place, but UK licence holders resident in Italy were granted a grace period in which they could continue to drive on their British licences. This was previously extended on Christmas Eve 2021.

A UK government spokesperson confirmed to The Local earlier in mid-December that negotiations were continuing with the Italian government on a reciprocal deal which would allow British nationals to exchange their licences without the need to sit a driving test.

Reciprocal driving licence agreements are in place between Italy and around 20 non-EU countries, including Switzerland, Brazil, the Philippines and Turkey (full list here), which allow holders of these licences to swap their permits without a test.

These rules apply to UK nationals who are resident in Italy. People visiting Italy for short periods can continue to drive on a UK licence.

Find our latest Brexit-related news updates for UK nationals in Italy here.

Find more information on the UK government website’s Living in Italy section.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

BREXIT

Will Brits in Italy face travel problems under new EES passport system?

The EU's new Entry & Exit System (EES) of enhanced passport controls is due to come into force later this year, but will this create more headaches for non-EU nationals who need to prove their Italian residency rights?

Published: 30 April 2024 16:36 CEST
Will Brits in Italy face travel problems under new EES passport system?

Currently scheduled to start in autumn 2024 (unless it’s delayed again, which is possible) the EU’s new Entry & Exit System is an enhanced passport check at external EU borders.

You can find a full explanation of the new system and what it means for travellers HERE.

Those crossing an external EU or Schengen border for the first time will be required to complete EES ‘pre-registration’ formalities, including facial scan and fingerprinting.

Several groups are exempt from EES, and one of them is non-EU nationals who have a residency permit or long-stay visa for an EU country.

A European Commission spokesman told The Local: “Non-EU citizens residing in the EU are not in the scope of the EES and will not be subject to pre-enrollment of data in the EES via self-service systems. The use of automation remains under the responsibility of the Member States and its availability in border crossing points is not mandatory.

“When crossing the borders, holders of EU residence permits should be able to present to the border authorities their valid travel documents and residence permits.”

READ ALSO: What will EES passport system mean for foreigners living in Europe?

But there have understandably been questions about how this exemption will work in practice.

Most airports, ports or terminals have two passport queues – EU and non-EU. It remains unclear whether the non-EU queue will now have a separate section for those who are exempt from EES.

It appears that exempt groups will not be able to use the automated passport scanners – since those cannot scan additional documents like residency permits – but should instead use manned passport booths.

What does this mean for travel between Italy and the UK?

It seems that nothing will therefore change for those who already have to show their Italian residency documents along with their passport when travelling to and from the UK (or another non-EU country) in order to avoid having their passport incorrectly stamped.

UK citizens who were legally resident in Italy before the end of the Brexit transition period are in a somewhat unusual position, as Italy is one of a handful of “declaratory” countries in the EU where getting a post-Brexit residency card (Italy’s is known as the ‘carta di soggiorno‘) was optional, rather than compulsory.

The British government has long recommended that British nationals who were resident in Italy before Brexit should obtain the card as it’s the easiest way to prove residency rights and avoid delays at the border.

In practice, many of Italy’s British residents have since found that the post-Brexit residency card is also necessary in order to complete various bureaucratic procedures within Italy.

READ ALSO: EES: Could the launch of Europe’s new border system be delayed again?

But will the EES system mean that the card now becomes a de facto requirement when travelling between Italy and the UK?

The British government has not issued any updated guidance on the matter in light of the introduction of EES, and the British Embassy in Rome did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Local.

Although EES does not change any rules relating to residency or travel, it seems likely that it will be more hassle to travel without a ‘carta di soggiorno’ than it is now.

As always, our advice is that getting the card, if you haven’t already, will probably save you a considerable amount of time and trouble, both within Italy and when travelling.

You can find our full Q&A on EES HERE.

SHOW COMMENTS