Pricey British Residents,
I needed to be in contact to replace you on our actions right here on the Embassy since my final publication in July – and to let you already know the place issues stand on various points, together with driver’s licenses.
For the reason that final time I wrote to you, we’ve all lived by a really unhappy and memorable time, with the passing of Her Majesty the Queen on September eighth. All of us bear in mind the place we had been after we heard the information of the Queen’s loss of life – a second we are going to bear in mind for the remainder of our lives.
The queen’s loss of life has deeply affected Italy. I used to be on a flight again from London to Rome when the information broke – and upon touchdown I used to be greeted with so many type messages of sympathy from Italians. It was a rustic the late Queen knew effectively and cherished – having first visited Rome as Princess Elizabeth in 1951, when she celebrated her twenty fifth birthday at Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli. As queen, she returned for 4 state visits, the newest in 2013. So many Italians have fond recollections of these visits. I misplaced rely of the variety of Italians who advised me that the Queen was not simply our Queen – she was the Queen, and she or he was deeply cherished right here, at dwelling, for her 70 years of obligation and on obligation.
Through the interval of mourning, we opened condolence books on the Embassy and Residence in Rome, in addition to at our Consulate in Milan. On the embassy, some 2,000 folks got here to signal as of late, coming from close to and much. A pair I spoke to had traveled from Venice and we additionally hosted teams of college kids. President Mattarella was touring overseas when information of the Queen’s loss of life broke. Upon his return on Friday night, he got here straight from the airport to my residence to signal the e-book of condolences – adopted by Prime Minister Draghi and members of the Italian authorities and others within the following days.
It was a deeply touching time, culminating within the funeral of Her Majesty the Queen, which we confirmed open air on the Embassy. Many Italian and British pals got here to observe it collectively.
These ten days have reminded us, I feel, of the deep ties that unite Italy and the UK, ties that the Queen embodied and that the King, who is aware of Italy so effectively and has been right here many occasions, perpetuates. Certainly, one of many first Heads of State Her Majesty spoke to within the days following the Queen’s loss of life was President Mattarella.
1. Driver’s license
Since my final Publication, the Embassy has continued to work laborious on points that concern you as British residents residing right here in Italy.
On the forefront of those issues, the driving force’s license. Reaching an settlement on the appropriate to swap your UK license for an Italian license stays my high precedence – and my workforce’s high precedence. We’re very conscious that the clock is ticking in direction of thirty first December 2022 – till then, in case you moved right here earlier than 1st January 2022 the Italian authorities have agreed that you may proceed to make use of your UK licence. For those who moved to Italy after January 1, 2022, you possibly can proceed to make use of your UK license for 12 months after your residency date.
We have now labored intensively with our Italian colleagues in view of an settlement. Each week since my final put up, our Embassy and Division for Transport groups within the UK and their Italian colleagues have been in contact with one another as we negotiate the technical and authorized points concerned. I’ve additionally been in common contact with the Italian Minister of Transport. All of us share the identical objective: to succeed in an settlement shortly.
Because of all these contacts, we’ve made actual progress and, as I write, we proceed to work laborious to succeed in an settlement.
We are going to let you already know extra information as quickly as potential, each by our social media channels and thru our Residing in Italy steerage accessible at gov.uk.
2. Household and pals visiting Italy
If any of your folks or household (who reside within the UK) are planning a visit to Italy, please ask them to examine that they’ve a European Well being Insurance coverage Card (EHIC) or well being card. World Well being Insurance coverage (GHIC) legitimate earlier than travelling. Both card will permit them to entry the required well being care when visiting Italy. For extra info on the way to apply for a GHIC, go to www.nhs.uk/ghic
And do not forget that your EHIC or GHIC shouldn’t be an alternative to journey insurance coverage and it’s best to at all times journey with each. It is because the EHIC and GHIC might not cowl you for the complete value of remedy, and a few bills, equivalent to mountain rescue or medical repatriation, aren’t lined by the EHIC or GHIC.
Your loved ones and pals can discover out extra about healthcare when visiting Europe on our gov.uk web page Well being take care of UK nationals visiting Europe.
3. Residents’ rights
My workforce continues to work with our Italian colleagues to make sure that UK residents right here and their households get pleasure from their full rights beneath the UK-EU Withdrawal Settlement. We’re significantly targeted on well being care registration, working with the Italian Ministry of Well being on new instructions for native well being authorities. And we’re working intently with the House Workplace to make sure that city halls deal with UK residents accurately, together with those that change their handle or apply for an id card.
Lastly, I’m dedicated to retaining British residents knowledgeable, whether or not you could have lived right here for a few years or are a customer. I hope to proceed to fulfill lots of you throughout my travels in Italy and on the municipal occasions that we’ll arrange. Moreover, I will probably be posting my common on-line publication in addition to on-line Q&A periods. Please additionally proceed to view our Residing in Italy web page in addition to our Journey Ideas web page for the most recent info, together with your rights.
You possibly can observe me on Twitterin addition to my embassy on FbTwitter English and Italian) and instagram.
Finest needs
Ed Llewellyn
Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Italy
