THE ID CARD - WHAT IS AND HOW WE CAN OBTAIN IT?

The Italian identity card is an optional identity document that may be issued to anyone who is resident in Italy and to Italian citizens living abroad.
What is it? and How we can obtain it?
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The Electronic Identity Card (CIE) can be issued exclusively to Italian citizens legally residing in their consular jurisdiction and registered with the Consulate. 
To issue the CIE, a validated tax code is also needed. Otherwise, the tax code shall be attributed or validated by the Inland Revenue Agency, through the Consular Office, before the issuance of the CIE.
Period of validity
The period for which the identity card is valid varies according to the age of its bearer:

•   3 years for minors up to the age of 3;
•   5 years for children aged between 3 and 18;
•   10 years for all those over the age of 18.

How to apply for CIE
The application for an electronic identity card shall be submitted using the Online Booking platform or any other channel made available to the relevant Consular Office.
From the moment of the application to the date set for the appointment, at least 15 days elapse, which are necessary to enable the Consular Office to check the personal data, resolve any discrepancies and misalignments and verify that there are no causes that may hinder the issuance of the document.
Please note that registration with A.I.R.E. is essential to apply for the issuance of the CIE. For the Italian citizens born abroad, the birth certificate shall be already entered into the Civil Status registers of the relevant municipality.
Appointment and documents to be submitted:
At the appointment, the applicant shall submit the following documents:

•  1 paper-format passport-size photo;
•  A valid identification document. Otherwise, the applicant shall be accompanied by two witnesses;
•  written statement of consent to the issuance of the identity card by the other parent in case the applicant has children under the age of 18 (regardless of the applicant’s civil status: single, married, separated or divorced)
•  atto di assenso al rilascio da parte dell’altro genitore
•  written statement of consent by both parents in case the applicant has children under the age of 18
•  atto di assenso di entrambi genitori.

 Fees
Identity card fees:
 € 21.95 for first issuance or renewal;
 € 27.11 for duplicates in case of loss or theft.
Payment shall be made on the day of the appointment according to the procedures laid down by the relevant Consular Office.
 Delivery of the identity card
The CIE is printed and later delivered by mail to the residence (or other address) declared by the applicant, by the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, within 15 days from the date of the request made to the Consulate.


PAPER-FORMAT IDENTITY CARD (CIC)
The issuance of identity cards is always subject to clearance by the Italian municipality of AIRE registration. Therefore identity cards are not issued on the spot.
It is still possible to request an identity card in paper format in Italy from the municipality of AIRE registration.
  Period of validity
The period for which the identity card is valid varies according to the age of its bearer:

• 3 years for minors up to the age of 3;
• 5 years for children aged between 3 and 18;
• 10 years for all those over the age of 18.

How to apply and documents needed.
Applications can be submitted personally to the local authorised Consular Office or by mail. For all specific information on how to apply (by fax, mail, etc.), we suggest visiting the website of the Consular Office.
Documents to be submitted:

• formulario di richiesta della carta d’identità (identity card application form), completed and signed by the applicant; 
• valid identification document 
• 4 recent and identical colour passport-size photos showing the applicant from the waist up, face-front and bare-headed, with eyes clearly visible;
• receipt for payment of fees;
• in case the applicant has children under the age of 18, atto di assenso al rilascio da parte dell’altro genitore (written statement of consent to the issuance of the identity card by the other parent), regardless of the applicant’s civil status (single, married, separated or divorced);
• in case the applicant is under the age of 18, atto di assenso di entrambi genitori (written statement of consent by both parents);
• If the applicant is under the age of 18 and born abroad, it is necessary to submit the child’s birth certificate – translated and legalised (or with affixed apostille) to the competent Consulate or, where required, a multilingual format certificate for subsequent registration in Italy.

NOTE: the new provisions require that the children under the age of 14 who go abroad unaccompanied by one of their parents or their legal guardian must have a declaration bearing the name of the person, entity or transport company to whom the child is entrusted, issued by the person who can give consent, validated by the Police Office or the Consular Authority.
As of January 24, 2012, the date of entry into force of Law No. 1 of January 2012, 2012, the identity cards valid for expatriation issued to children under the age of 14 can, upon request, also carry the parent(s)’ or legal guardian’s name. In this case, it is not necessary to have documents proving their legal authority over the child.
 Fees
CIC fees:

• € 5.61 for first issuance or renewal;
• € 10.77 for duplicates in case of loss or theft.

 
Collection of identity cards
Identity cards shall always be collected personally since the authorised official shall identify the applicant, who shall sign both the identity card and the documents to be filed with the competent Police Office and the Consular Office.
  Rediscovery of the identity card
 In case of rediscovery of an Italian identity card lost or stolen abroad, it shall be returned to the Consular Office of the jurisdiction in which the loss or theft occurred.
 Therefore, those who have recently experienced loss/theft abroad and wish to be informed whether the identity card has been returned should contact the competent Consular Office for further information.
 The Consular Office can collect the documents in one of the following ways:
 directly at the Consulate service desk;

• through the postal service, at the request and expense of the person concerned.

Regarding lost or stolen identity cards issued by the Consular Offices, the latter shall communicate their rediscovery to their owners and inform them that they will be destroyed in case no request for restitution is made within one year of their rediscovery.
Useful links & Forms:
www.esteri.it/mae/resource/doc/2015/02/modello_richiesta.pdf

​www.esteri.it/mae/en/servizi/italiani-all-estero/documenti_di_viaggio

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