This section provides answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding applications for and issuance of the Electronic Identity Card (Carta d’Identità Elettronica) – CIE) at the Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco.
For information on eligibility requirements, application procedures, and required documentation, applicants are advised to first consult the Electronic Identity Card (CIE) page.
- Can I apply for a CIE at a municipality in Italy if I reside abroad?
Yes. Effective June 1, 2026, pursuant to Law No. 11 of January 19, 2026, Italian citizens residing abroad who are duly registered with AIRE may apply for a CIE at any Italian municipality, regardless of the municipality with which they are registered for AIRE purposes.Before visiting the municipality where you intend to apply, you are advised to contact the municipality directly to verify its appointment and application procedures.
- Do I have to be registered with AIRE to apply for a CIE at the Consulate?
Yes. The Consulate General may accept applications only from Italian citizens who legally reside within its consular jurisdiction, are duly registered with AIRE, and whose personal information is correctly recorded in the relevant Italian databases. Your AIRE registration must therefore be completed before you apply for a CIE.
3. I was born abroad. Can I apply for a CIE if my birth certificate has not yet been registered in Italy?
No. Italian citizens born abroad must first have their birth certificate duly registered in the civil status records of the competent Italian municipality.
- When can I apply for a new CIE?
A CIE may be requested, among other circumstances:
- if you do not currently have an identity card;
- to replace a previous identity card;
- if your previous identity card was stolen, lost, or damaged;
- when renewal is permitted as the document approaches its expiration date.
If your previous identity card was stolen or lost, you must provide the corresponding police report filed with the competent authorities.
- Do I need to apply for a new CIE if I change my address?
No. An identity card is a personal identification document, not proof of residence. A change of address therefore does not require the issuance of a new CIE.
However, you must promptly notify the Consulate of any change in your residential address so that your personal and consular records can be kept up to date.
- I changed my address but have not yet reported it to the Consulate General. Can I still apply for a CIE?
You must first update your residential address through the FAST-IT portal.
- Is the CIE issued on the day of the appointment?
No. The Consulate General accepts the application and collects the information required for issuance of the card, but does not physically produce the CIE.
The CIE is produced in Italy by the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato (Italian State Printing Works and Mint) and is subsequently mailed to the address provided by the applicant.
- How long does it take to receive the CIE?
Production and delivery times may vary. The CIE is not issued on the day of the appointment. Once produced in Italy, it is mailed to the address provided in the application.
Applicants may track the shipment using the tracking information provided at the time of application. The Consulate General is not responsible for delays or service disruptions attributable to postal operators.
- Can I pick up my CIE directly at the Consulate General?
Under the standard procedure, the CIE is mailed to the address provided by the applicant. Alternative delivery arrangements are available only in cases expressly authorized by the Consular Office.
10. How long is the CIE valid?
As a general rule, the CIE is valid for:
- 3 years for children under the age of 3;
- 5 years for minors aged 3 to 17;
- 10 years for adults.
For citizens who are at least 70 years old at the time of application, the provisions governing CIEs with unlimited validity apply where the applicable requirements are met.
- I am over 70 years old. Does my CIE have unlimited validity?
A CIE issued on or after July 30, 2026, to a citizen who is at least 70 years old at the time of application has unlimited validity in the cases provided for under applicable law.
These provisions do not automatically convert a previously issued CIE into a document with unlimited validity.
For eligibility requirements, exclusions, and information regarding the duration of the electronic features associated with the card, please consult the relevant notice.
- Is a paper identity card still valid for international travel?
Effective August 3, 2026, paper identity cards are no longer valid for international travel, regardless of the expiration date printed on the document.
For travel to countries where the Italian identity card is recognized as a valid travel document, travelers must therefore use a CIE that is valid for travel abroad.
- Can I use my CIE to travel to the United States?
No. The CIE is not a valid document for entry into the United States of America.
Travel between the United States and Italy requires a valid passport, as well as compliance with any additional requirements under applicable U.S. law.
- Can I use my CIE to travel within Europe?
A CIE that is valid for travel abroad may be used as a travel document within the countries of the European Union and in other countries that recognize it as a valid travel document.
Because entry requirements may change, travelers are advised to consult the relevant country information page on the Viaggiare Sicuri website (https://www.viaggiaresicuri.it) before departure.
- Do both parents have to provide consent for a CIE to be issued to my minor child?
Yes. For a minor to be issued a CIE that is valid for travel abroad, the consent of both parents, or of the person or persons exercising parental responsibility, is required in accordance with applicable law.
Consent is required even if the parents are unmarried, separated, or divorced.
- How can the other parent provide consent?
Consent must be provided in accordance with the procedures established by the Consulate and using the appropriate forms.
When authentication of the signature is required, it may be completed at an Italian Consular Office or in accordance with any other procedures permitted and specified by the Consular Office.
17. My child is under 12 years old. Does my child have to appear in person at the Consulate General?
For applications submitted to the Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco, CIE applications for children under the age of 12 must be submitted by mail in accordance with the procedure described on the main CIE page.
Neither fingerprints nor a signature are collected from children under the age of 12.
18. My child is 12 years old. Does my child have to appear in person?
Yes. Beginning at age 12, minors must appear in person for their appointment because the biometric data required for issuance of the CIE, including fingerprints and a signature, must be collected.
19. Can a married woman have her spouse’s last name included on her CIE?
No. The CIE is issued using the cardholder’s personal information as recorded in the Italian civil records and does not provide for the addition of a spouse’s last name as part of the cardholder’s legal surname.
Married women are also advised to use their maiden name when booking the appointment.
20. What should I do if my CIE is lost or stolen?
If your CIE is lost or stolen, you must file a report with the competent authorities.
To apply for a new CIE, you must also provide documentation of the loss or theft report in accordance with the instructions provided by the Consular Office.
If you need to travel urgently, you should separately verify the requirements and procedures applicable to the issuance of a passport.
- Can I apply for a CIE at an Honorary Consulate?
No. CIE applications cannot be submitted at Honorary Consulates.
Citizens residing within this consular jurisdiction must follow the procedures established by the Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco or, effective June 1, 2026, may apply at any Italian municipality.
22. Can I use the CIE to access online services provided by Italian Public Administrations?
Yes. The CIE includes digital identification features that allow cardholders to access online services provided by Italian Public Administrations and other entities that support authentication through the CIE.
For information on activation, using the CIE as a digital identity, and recovering PIN and PUK codes (https://www.carteidentita.interno.gov.it/info-utili/recupero-puk), please consult the official Electronic Identity Card website (https://www.cartaidentita.interno.gov.it/info-utili/codici-di-sicurezza-pin-e-puk/).
23. Who can I contact for additional information?
Before contacting the CIE Office, please carefully review the Electronic Identity Card (CIE) page and these FAQs.
For additional information regarding CIE services provided by the Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco, please email: sanfrancisco.cie@esteri.it