With the circular n. 14744 of 12 May 2023, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport provided a series of clarifications on the rules governing the circulation in Italy of vehicles from Ukraine and following citizens of Ukraine to which it has been recognized refugee status because of the war. The content of the circular concerns both drivers who drive aUkrainian car in Italy that the police forces for the related checks.
CIRCULATION IN ITALY OF VEHICLES COMING FROM ABROAD
First of all it is necessary to remember the general rules concerning the circulation in Italy of vehicles from foreign countries:
- for the non-resident foreign citizensarticle 132 paragraph 1 of the Highway Code allows free circulation with foreign license plate within the maximum time limit of 1 year;
- for the resident foreign citizenson the other hand, article 93-bis of the Security Code provides, alternatively, depending on whether the vehicle is owned or otherwise available:
– L’obligation to nationalize the vehicle within 3 months of acquiring residency in Italy (the vehicle must comply with current Community regulations);
– or the obligation to register the vehicle in the Register of Foreign Vehicles (REVE), held by the PRA, if the availability of the vehicle itself exceeds a period of 30 days, even non-continuous, in the solar arc.
Therefore, theoretically, the expiry of the 1-year time limit set by art. 132 CdS or the impossibility of proceeding with the nationalization of the vehicle, if it does not meet the technical requirements in force, effectively inhibits the possibility that the vehicle coming from Ukraine can circulate in Italyas there are no derogating provisions.
AUTO UKRAINE IN ITALY: THE NEW 2023 PROVISIONS FOR REFUGEE CITIZENS
However, to meet the needs of citizens of Ukraine in Italyin consideration of their particular condition as refugees, the Directorate General of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport has identified a temporary solutionhaving heard the favorable opinion of the Viminale and of the Customs and Monopolies Agency, without prejudice to theobligation to register in REVE vehicles with Ukrainian license plates owned by Ukrainian citizens residing in Italy, other than ownership. The solution, which applies as of 22 May 2023consists in the issue, for the foreseen cases, of a special one identification plate (EE plate), as regulated by art. 134 paragraph 1 CdS.
Specifically, the EE plates can be released provided that:
- the Ukrainian citizen, resident or non-resident in Italy, is in possession of a residency permit for valid temporary protection;
- the vehicle registered in Ukraine is of property of the applicant.
Since the ownership of a residence permit for temporary protection is one of the fundamental conditions for obtaining the issue of EE plates, it follows that:
- in case of extension of the residence permit, it is to be considered tacitly the validity of the EE plates has been extended for an equal period of time;
- the residence permit must always be kept on board the vehicle with EE plate.
Every Ukrainian citizen in temporary protection can apply for and obtain the issue of EE plates in relation to only one vehicle registered in your own name for personal use and limited to the following types:
- motor vehicles And trailers with a total mass when fully loaded not exceeding 3.5 t;
- motorcycles.
No customs formalities are required.
Therefore, if the foreseen conditions are respected, the offices of the Civil Motorization are authorized to issue, at the request of the interested parties, EE plates with a duration equal to the period of validity of the residence permit for temporary protection.
EE PLATES FOR UKRAINIAN CARS IN ITALY: HOW TO ASK FOR THE RELEASE
The application for the issue of EE plates must be presented to the motor vehicle office responsible for the area and drawn up on the TT 2119 model (download here in pdf). With regard to non-resident citizens, the TT 2119 form must indicate the domicile in Italy which will be transcribed on the registration certificate.
If the application is submitted directly from the interested party at the DMV counter, the original must be shown:
- passport or other valid identification or identification document issued in Ukraine, or identity card or other identification document issued in Italy;
- the residence permit for temporary protection;
- the Ukrainian registration certificate.
The same documents must also be shown when issuing the EE license plate and the relative registration certificate.
The application for the issue of EE plates can also be submitted by one delegated person or through an auto practice agency.
In addition to the documents listed above which must be presented in the original, it is necessary to attach to the request drawn up on model TT 2119 the following documentation:
- proof of payment via PagoPA of 32.00 euros for stamp duties and 10.20 euros for motorization rights (code N003 “Application for issuing foreign hikers’ plates”);
- depending on the type of vehicle for which the request is made, proof of payment via PagoPA of 33.16 euros (purchase EE license plates for motor vehicles – code N115), or of 18.37 euros (purchase EE license plates for motorcycles – code N043), or of 19.32 euros (purchase EE license plates for trailers – code N042), or of 19.32 euros (purchase plates EE repeaters – code N042).
- copy of the registration certificate issued in Ukraine (COC is not needed);
- photocopy of the passport or identity document or identification document issued in Ukraine or photocopy of the identity card or identification document issued in Italy;
- photocopy of the tax code (if in possession of the interested party; otherwise, the scale code is reported on form TT 2119);
- photocopy of the residence permit for temporary protection and photocopy of any receipt certifying the request for renewal of the permit itself;
- any model TT 2120, if the request for the issue of EE plates is made through an agency;
- any proxy, drawn up in Italian and on unstamped paper, signed by the applicant in favor of another person delegated to submit the application and to take delivery of the EE plates and the related registration certificate.
For simplification purposes, legalized translation of the passport or other identity document is not required or identification, as well as the vehicle registration document, drawn up in the Ukrainian language. In its place, only the compilation, by the Ukrainian consular office in Italy, of a form (attached to the MIT circular) is required, in which the personal data of the applicant and the technical data of the vehicle are reported.
OBLIGATIONS FOLLOWING THE CESSATION OF REFUGEE STATUS
Once the state of temporary protection has ceased, the Ukrainian refugee citizen is required to return of the EE number plates and relative registration certificate to the Motor Authority that issued them. Even the expiry of the residence permit for temporary protection, without its renewal, invalidates the validity of the EE plates, thus inhibiting the circulation of the vehicle.
In the event that the Ukrainian citizen who has enjoyed refugee status does not have residence in Italy and does not intend to acquire it, the vehicle must be transported beyond national borders provided with a travel document and a cardboard plate issued pursuant to art. 99 CdS.
Conversely, if the Ukrainian citizen who has enjoyed refugee status is resident in Italy or intends to acquire residence, he must provide for nationalization of the vehicle within 3 months of the expiry of the residence permit for temporary protection (if already resident for more than three months) or of the acquisition of residence itself.
For further details read carefully the MIT circular published at the beginning of the article. Below, however, you will find all the information to convert a Ukrainian driving license into Italian.
