Italy · Application requirements

Italy ID Card (Carta d'identità) Requirements 2026

Italian citizens and legally resident foreign nationals (EU and non-EU) may apply for the Carta d'identità Elettronica (CIE) at any age. Italians resident in Italy apply at the Comune (municipality) of residence; Italians registered with AIRE (Anagrafe degli Italiani Residenti all'Estero) apply at the competent Italian consulate abroad — and, starting 1 June 2026, AIRE-registered citizens can also request the CIE while temporarily in Italy at selected Comuni. Foreign residents need a valid Permesso di Soggiorno. Minors of all ages are eligible: cards for children under 3 are valid 3 years, ages 3–18 are valid 5 years, and adults receive a 10-year card (technically 9 years plus the days to the next birthday under EU Regulation 2019/1157). For minors, both parents must give written consent if the card is to be valid for expatriation (espatrio); without dual consent the CIE is issued non-valid for travel abroad. From 3 August 2026, all paper carte d'identità — even those with later printed expiry dates — cease to be valid and must be replaced by the CIE; this replacement is treated as a first issuance, not a duplicate, so no double secretarial fee applies. A separate PNRR decree (DL 19/2026) grants citizens over 70 unlimited validity on CIEs issued from 30 July 2026 onward.

Issued by Polizia di Stato (Italian State Police) · Last verified May 28, 2026 · Official source ↗

At a glance

Application fee

CIE — first issuance / renewal at expiry: €22.21 (€16.79 + €5.42)
CIE — duplicate (lost / stolen / damaged): €27.37 (€22.21 + €5.16 duplicate)
CIE at consulate abroad: €21.95 + consular stamp
Replacement of paper ID before 3 Aug 2026: €22.21 (no duplicate surcharge)
Children of any age: Same €22.21 — no reduction

as of May 28, 2026 · details

Processing time

Home delivery after appointment (Italy): 6 working days
Delivery to Comune for in-person pickup: 6 working days
Italians abroad — consular delivery: ~15 calendar days
Earliest renewal window: 180 days before expiry
Adult CIE validity: ~10 years (to next birthday)
Minor 3–18 yrs validity: 5 years
Minor under 3 yrs validity: 3 years

details

Issuing authority

Polizia di Stato (Italian State Police)

Who needs a Italy ID Card (Carta d'identità)?

Where to apply

In Italy: at the anagrafe (registry office) of your Comune of residence, by appointment only. Appointments are booked through the national Agenda CIE platform at prenotazionicie.interno.gov.it, where you choose your Comune, an available slot, upload your photo for ICAO-compliance pre-check, and indicate the delivery address. Large Comuni (Roma, Milano, Torino, Napoli) often run additional task-force slots in the months ahead of the 3 August 2026 paper-ID deadline. Some Comuni allow application at the place of dimora (temporary domicile) instead of legal residence — check locally. Abroad: at the Italian Consulate competent for your circoscrizione consolare, provided you are already registered with AIRE and have a validated codice fiscale (the consulate can request its assignment via the Agenzia delle Entrate if missing). Information and Comune locator: cartaidentita.interno.gov.it. The card is produced centrally by IPZS in Rome and delivered to the address you specified at the appointment — home, a delegated address, or the Comune for in-person collection.

Fees

CIE — first issuance / renewal at expiry: €22.21 (€16.79 + €5.42)
CIE — duplicate (lost / stolen / damaged): €27.37 (€22.21 + €5.16 duplicate)
CIE at consulate abroad: €21.95 + consular stamp
Replacement of paper ID before 3 Aug 2026: €22.21 (no duplicate surcharge)
Children of any age: Same €22.21 — no reduction

The standard CIE fee is €22.21 — broken down as €16.79 paid to the State for production and home delivery by the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato (IPZS), plus €5.42 in diritti di segreteria (municipal administrative rights). The €5.42 share can vary slightly by Comune. For a duplicate following loss, theft or deterioration, the total rises to roughly €27.37 — the standard €22.21 plus an additional ~€5.16 duplicate surcharge. There is no reduced rate for children: minors pay the same €22.21 as adults. Replacing a still-valid paper ID with the CIE before the 3 August 2026 deadline is treated as a first issuance, not a duplicate, so the duplicate surcharge does not apply. Italians resident abroad applying at an Italian consulate pay €21.95 (set by MAECI, paid in local currency at the quarterly exchange rate) plus any applicable consular service charges. Payment at the Comune is typically by PagoPA, bancomat, contactless card or in cash; consulates use bank transfer or local card payment.

Fees as of May 28, 2026. Confirm current amounts on the official source before paying.

What to bring

Documents and items you'll need at the appointment or with your application.

Valid health insurance card or codice fiscale (tessera sanitaria) — mandatory for the digital request
Previous identity document (expired paper ID, expired CIE, passport, driving licence) — or two witnesses if no prior ID exists
One recent passport-style photo, 35×40 mm, printed on photo paper (Comuni accept paper only — no USB / digital files), backup in case on-site capture fails
Permesso di Soggiorno (valid residence permit) for non-EU foreign residents
For minors: presence of the minor + valid IDs of both parents, plus written assenso of the non-attending parent for an expatriation-valid card
Denuncia (police report from Carabinieri or Polizia di Stato) for loss or theft cases — required before applying for a duplicate
Payment by PagoPA, bancomat or cash depending on the Comune — confirm at booking
Email address and Italian mobile number — used to confirm the appointment and track the IPZS shipment via Nexive or Poste Italiane

Need the photo specs?

Exact size, head height, background, and what gets rejected.

Open photo requirements →

How long does it take?

Home delivery after appointment (Italy): 6 working days
Delivery to Comune for in-person pickup: 6 working days
Italians abroad — consular delivery: ~15 calendar days
Earliest renewal window: 180 days before expiry
Adult CIE validity: ~10 years (to next birthday)
Minor 3–18 yrs validity: 5 years
Minor under 3 yrs validity: 3 years

After the in-person appointment, the CIE is produced by IPZS in Rome and delivered by registered mail (raccomandata) to the address you specified — home, a delegated address, or the Comune — within 6 working days. The card itself is not issued on the day of the appointment. Citizens receive a paper receipt at the Comune that serves as a temporary identification document while the CIE is in transit. Tracking is available through the Agenda CIE portal (Nexive for Northern / Central Italy, Poste Italiane for Southern Italy). For Italians abroad applying at a consulate, delivery is approximately 15 calendar days after biometric capture. Renewal can be requested starting 180 days (6 months) before expiry; the new card's 10-year validity is calculated to expire on the first birthday after 9 years from issuance.

Times vary by location, season, and individual case. Always check the official source for the current backlog before you book travel.

Official source

https://www.cartaidentita.interno.gov.it/

Last verified May 28, 2026

Verify before applying. We compile this from official government sources and re-verify regularly. Fees, processing times, and rules change without notice — always confirm current information on the official site before you apply or pay any fee.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about applying for a italy id card (carta d'identità).

How much does the Italian CIE cost in 2026? +

The standard fee is €22.21 — broken down as €16.79 paid to the State for production and home delivery by IPZS, plus €5.42 in municipal administrative rights (diritti di segreteria). The €5.42 share can vary slightly by Comune. For a duplicate after loss or theft the total rises to roughly €27.37. There is no reduced fee for children. Replacing a still-valid paper ID before 3 August 2026 is treated as a first issuance, not a duplicate, so no surcharge applies.

How long does a CIE take to arrive? +

After your in-person Comune appointment, IPZS in Rome produces and ships the CIE by registered mail within 6 working days to the address you specified — home, delegated address or back to the Comune. You receive a paper receipt at the appointment that acts as a temporary ID while the card is in transit. Tracking is available through the Agenda CIE portal — Nexive carries Northern / Central Italy, Poste Italiane the South. For Italians abroad applying at a consulate, delivery takes around 15 calendar days from biometric capture.

How do I book a CIE appointment? +

Bookings go through the national Agenda CIE platform at prenotazionicie.interno.gov.it, replacing the older agendacie booking system since 2019. You log in (SPID, CIE or CNS), choose your Comune of residence, pick a time slot, upload your photo so the system can pre-check it against ICAO biometric requirements, and select the delivery address for the card. You will receive an email asking you to confirm the appointment; if you do not confirm, it is automatically cancelled.

How long is the Italian CIE valid for? +

Validity depends on age at issuance: 3 years for children under 3, 5 years for minors aged 3–18, and 10 years for adults. Under EU Regulation 2019/1157 the precise adult expiry is 9 years plus the days remaining until your next birthday — so the card always expires on a birthday. From 30 July 2026, decree DL 19/2026 (PNRR) grants unlimited validity on new CIEs issued to citizens over 70. You may apply for renewal starting 180 days (6 months) before expiry.

What happens to my paper carta d'identità on 3 August 2026? +

From 3 August 2026, all paper Italian ID cards become invalid — even cards with later printed expiry dates (e.g. 2027, 2030). The paper format can no longer be used for identification in Italy or for travel within the EU/Schengen. You must replace it with the CIE before that date. The replacement is classified by the Ministero dell'Interno as a first issuance, not a duplicate, so you pay only the standard €22.21 and no duplicate surcharge applies. Comuni are running task-force slots ahead of the deadline, but availability is tight — book early.

Can I get a CIE for my child? Do I need both parents? +

Yes — children of any age can hold a CIE. Validity is 3 years under age 3, 5 years from ages 3–18. The minor must be present at the Comune appointment. For a CIE valid for expatriation (espatrio), the written assenso of both parents is mandatory — if one parent cannot attend, the other brings the signed consent form plus a copy of the absent parent's ID. Without dual consent, the CIE is issued without expatriation validity. The minor's own signature is collected only from age 12 onward.

How do I get a CIE if I live abroad? +

AIRE-registered Italian citizens apply at the Italian Consulate of their circoscrizione consolare. You must already be registered with AIRE and have a validated codice fiscale (the consulate can request validation via the Agenzia delle Entrate if missing). The consulate captures your biometrics and photo, transmits the data to IPZS in Rome, and the card is delivered to the address you indicate within roughly 15 calendar days. From 1 June 2026, AIRE-registered citizens visiting Italy can also request the CIE at selected Comuni without losing their AIRE registration. The consular fee is €21.95 plus applicable consular stamps, paid in local currency at the quarterly MAECI exchange rate.

What if my CIE is lost or stolen? +

File a denuncia (police report) immediately at a Carabinieri or Polizia di Stato station — the report itself is free and acts as a temporary identification document. Then book a new Agenda CIE appointment and apply for a duplicato; bring the denuncia, your codice fiscale, a backup photo and another valid ID (passport, driving licence). The duplicate fee totals approximately €27.37 (the standard €22.21 plus around €5.16 duplicate surcharge — the exact figure varies slightly by Comune). Delivery times are the same 6 working days. If you find the original card after applying for a duplicate, the original is automatically deactivated and cannot be reused.

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