You’ve just passed the exam. You hold your Accompagnatore Turistico (Tour Escort) license. But there’s a catch: you got it in Emilia-Romagna, and you live and work in Rome. Or Naples. Or Milan. Now what?
This is the most common question in the TourLeaderPro network. The short answer: your license is already valid nationwide. You just need to communicate it to your region. And it’s simpler than you think.
The principle: your AT license is valid nationwide
- Art. 117 Italian Constitution: professional regulation is exclusively a state matter.
- D.Lgs. 59/2010 (EU Services Directive 2006/123/EC): freedom of establishment across regions.
- Constitutional Court Ruling 196/2025: regions cannot create additional barriers. (Read our full analysis.)
No region can require you to retake exams or attend additional courses. They must acknowledge your qualification and let you operate.
The SCIA: what it is and why you need it
The SCIA (Certified Start of Activity Notification) is submitted to the SUAP (One-Stop Business Shop) of the municipality where you reside or intend to operate. It’s not a request for permission — it’s a notification. You can start working the same day.
Required documents
- Copy of your AT license/certificate
- Valid ID
- Tax code (codice fiscale)
- Self-certification of requirements
- PEC (certified email) in your name
- Revenue stamp (€16 in most municipalities)
- Passport photo (some regions, for the local ID card)
Region by region: procedures and links
IMPORTANT: the procedure is NOT the same in every region. In some (like Tuscany) you file a SCIA at the municipal SUAP. In others (like Lazio and Campania) you submit an application directly to the Region. In Lombardia, you go to the Province. The first step is ALWAYS to contact the tourism professions office of the region where you want to register and ask which form to use.
LAZIO (Rome) — License from another region
Do NOT use the standard SCIA form (modulistica/814 — that’s only for Lazio license renewals). There’s a specific form for licenses from other regions.
- Correct form: “Istanza iscrizione per titolari di patentino rilasciato da altra Regione” — Download DOC form
- Submit to: Regione Lazio — Direzione Turismo directly. NOT to the municipal SUAP.
- How: via PEC with digital signature or registered mail
- Contacts: Cristina Piergentili (334 1106528, cpiergentili@regione.lazio.it), Sara Mammoli (334 1106481), Gianluca Buggè (334 1106417)
- Page: Lazio Tourism Professions
CAMPANIA (Naples) — License from another region
Campania maintains public lists that explicitly include professionals licensed in other Italian regions.
- Email for all communications: professionituristiche@regione.campania.it
- Lists page: Campania Tourism Professions Lists (updated April 8, 2026)
TUSCANY (Florence) — SCIA works for out-of-region licenses
Tuscany is the only verified region where SCIA at the municipal SUAP works for licenses from other regions. L.R. 61/2024 explicitly accepts “exam passed in another region.” No residency required.
- How: SCIA via STAR system, code 79.90.3R
- Example: Prato municipality procedure
VENETO (Venice) — Application to the Region
- Forms: Veneto Tourism Forms
- Submit to: Direzione Turismo, Regione Veneto (NOT SUAP)
- Info: Veneto Tourism Professions
LOMBARDIA (Milan) — Application to the Province
- Submit to: Province or Città Metropolitana di Milano
- Page: Lombardia Tourism Professions
- Contact: 800.318.318 (toll-free) / 02 3232 3325 (mobile)
Other regions (Liguria, Sicily, Puglia, Sardinia, Piedmont)
Contact each region’s tourism professions office directly. General references: Liguria (L.R. 32/2014), Sicily (L.R. 3/2015), Puglia (L.R. 27/2017), Sardinia (L.R. 20/2006), Piedmont (L.R. 13/2017).
EMILIA-ROMAGNA: where most licenses are issued
If your license was issued in Emilia-Romagna, the document you need is the attestato di superamento dell’esame finale (final exam certificate) from the authorized training provider. Attach it to your application in whichever region you want to register.
Q&A
Q: Is my AT license valid in all of Italy?
A: Yes. Submit SCIA to the municipality where you operate.
Q: Do I need to retake any exam?
A: No. No additional exams or courses. If asked, cite D.Lgs. 59/2010 and Ruling 196/2025.
Q: How much does it cost?
A: Minimal: €16 revenue stamp + possible SUAP fees (€0-50).
Q: Can I start working immediately?
A: Yes. SCIA takes effect the same day.
Q: What if the region refuses?
A: Cite the Constitution (Art. 117), the Bolkestein Directive, and Ruling 196/2025. Contact your professional association for legal support.
Q: Do I need a PEC and digital signature?
A: Yes. SCIA is submitted digitally.
Q: SUAP vs region?
A: SCIA goes to the municipal SUAP. Some regions also maintain voluntary AT lists (e.g. Campania).
Q: What’s the difference between AT and Tourist Guide?
A: AT = travel logistics. Guide = cultural heritage narration. Read our guide on Tour Escort rights.
It’s a notification, not a recognition
Your license is national. No region can block you. Prepare your documents, submit the SCIA, and start working. The Constitution is on your side.
Deepen your legal knowledge
The Tour Leader Guide 2026 covers Italian tourism profession law in depth: D.Lgs. 59/2010, Bolkestein Directive, Law 190/2023, the Cold Mind Method, and the full GT vs AT comparison.
References: Art. 117 Constitution • D.Lgs. 59/2010 • Ruling 196/2025 • Law 190/2023 • National SUAP Portal
For informational purposes only. Procedures vary by municipality. Always verify with local SUAP.