The Electronic Identity Card (Carta d’Identità Elettronica, or CIE) is an official personal identity document issued by the Italian Ministry of the Interior and produced by the Italian State Printing Works and Mint.
Italian citizens residing in Ireland and duly registered with AIRE within the consular district of the Embassy of Italy in Dublin may apply for a CIE at the Embassy, by appointment through the Prenot@Mi portal.
NEW: YOU CAN ALSO APPLY FOR A CIE AT ITALIAN MUNICIPALITY OFFICES
Since 1 June 2026, Italian citizens registered with AIRE may apply for an Electronic Identity Card at any Italian municipality (Comune), pursuant to Law No. 11 of 19 January 2026.
Applicants may choose to collect the card from the municipality where they submitted the application or request that it be posted abroad to their residential address. For information about appointments, application procedures and delivery, applicants must contact the municipality they have chosen directly.
IMPORTANT: PAPER IDENTITY CARDS
From 3 August 2026, Italian paper identity cards are no longer valid for international travel, regardless of the expiry date shown on the document.
To travel using an identity card, you must have a valid CIE and check that your destination country accepts it as a travel document. Alternatively, you may use a valid passport.
Who can be issued a CIE by the Embassy?
The Embassy of Italy in Dublin can issue a CIE only to Italian citizens who:
- legally reside within the Embassy’s consular district;
- are duly registered with AIRE and in the consular register;
- have personal details that are up to date and correctly recorded in the relevant databases;
- meet the requirements for the issue of the document.
For Italian citizens born abroad, the birth certificate must already have been transcribed into the civil-status registers of the competent Italian municipality.
Anyone who is not yet registered with AIRE must regularise their status through the FAST IT portal and wait until the registration has been recorded.
If you change address, you must report the change through FAST IT before booking an appointment.
FAST IT – Online Consular Services
When can I apply for a CIE?
You may apply for a CIE in the following circumstances:
- you do not hold another valid identity card;
- your current identity card has less than six months of validity remaining, subject to the applicable rules;
- your previous document has been stolen, lost or damaged.
In cases of theft, loss or damage, the fee applicable to a replacement document may be charged.
Before booking, carefully check that you meet the requirements. Appointments that do not meet the stated conditions may be cancelled.
How do I book an appointment?
Appointments at the Embassy must be booked exclusively through the Prenot@Mi portal.
PRENOT@MI – Consular Appointment Booking
Select the service for the Electronic Identity Card and complete all the required fields correctly.
Appointment confirmation: You must confirm your booking during the period specified by the Prenot@Mi system, from the tenth to the third day before the appointment date. If you do not confirm, the system will automatically cancel the booking.
Before the appointment, the Office may check your personal details and supporting documents. If any issue prevents the document from being issued, the appointment may be cancelled. You will need to book a new appointment after your records have been corrected.
Which documents do I need to bring?
On the day of the appointment, applicants will normally need to provide:
- A recent colour passport photograph, facing forward, with a white background and compliant with biometric requirements, in the required 35 × 45 mm format.
- Their previous identity card, even if it has expired.
- For a first issue, a suitable identity document, even if expired. If no identity document is available, contact the Office in advance to check whether identification by witnesses is possible.
- In cases of theft or loss, the report made to the relevant police authorities.
- For minors, the parental consent documentation described in the dedicated section below.
- Payment of the applicable issue or replacement fee, using the method specified by the Embassy.
Applicants must attend the appointment in person. Minors must also attend, regardless of age, so that their identity can be verified.
How much does the CIE cost?
The fees indicated by the Embassy are:
- €21.95 for issue or renewal;
- €27.11 for a replacement in the event of theft, loss or damage.
Payment at the Embassy is by debit card.
How is the CIE issued and delivered?
The CIE is not handed over on the day of the appointment.
The card is produced in Italy by the Italian State Printing Works and Mint and sent by registered post to the applicant’s declared residential address.
Delivery can be tracked using the tracking code provided. If delivery is unsuccessful, the document may be returned to the Consular Office after the postal collection period has expired.
To avoid delivery problems, make sure your registered address is correct and up to date.
Can I apply for a CIE for my minor child?
Yes. Minors can also be issued an Electronic Identity Card.
When booking through Prenot@Mi, enter the details of the minor children for whom you are applying in the “NOTES” field:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Height
A single request can be used to book an appointment for a maximum of two people, in accordance with the portal’s procedures.
The minor must attend the appointment, regardless of age.
What is the parental consent form for minors?
For a CIE to be issued to a person under 18, the consent of both parents is required, even if they are unmarried, separated or divorced, except in cases provided for by law.
The form must be completed and signed in accordance with the Embassy’s instructions.
- If one parent is a non-EU citizen, including a UK citizen, their signature must be authenticated in accordance with the procedures specified by the Embassy.
- If the other parent’s consent cannot be obtained, an order from the competent Guardianship Judge may be required.
- If one parent has died, a copy of the death certificate must be provided.
Parental Consent Form for a Minor’s CIE (CIE2)
Application Form for the Guardianship Judge
How long is the CIE valid for?
The card’s validity depends on the holder’s age:
- 3 years for children under 3 years of age;
- 5 years for minors aged 3 to under 18;
- 10 years for adults, subject to the special provisions for people aged over 70.
From 30 July 2026, CIEs issued to people who are 70 or older on the date of issue have unlimited validity.
Unlimited validity of the physical document does not automatically apply to all electronic functions: digital identification and access to automated airport gates remain subject to specific time limits.
Can I apply for a CIE at an Italian municipality if I live in Ireland?
Yes. Since 1 June 2026, Italian citizens registered with AIRE may apply at any Italian municipality.
Contact the municipality directly to check whether an appointment is required, which documents you must provide, how long the process takes and which delivery options are available.
The card may be collected in person from the municipality or, where this service is available, posted to your residential address abroad.
This is an alternative to applying through the Embassy using Prenot@Mi.
Do I need a new card if I change address?
No. An identity card is an identity document, not a certificate of residence. You do not need to replace a valid CIE simply because you have changed address.
However, you must update your personal details through FAST IT so that the information held in the consular and AIRE records is correct.
Can my spouse’s surname be added to the card?
No. The identity card shows the holder’s personal details as recorded in the official civil-status records. It is not a civil-status document, so a spouse’s surname cannot be added solely because of marriage.
What should I do in an emergency?
For situations involving a demonstrable urgent need, or for information that is not available on the website, you can contact the CIE Office at:
Include the following with your request:
- the completed and signed application form;
- a copy of a valid identity document;
- a brief explanation of the reason for the urgency and, where relevant, supporting documentation.
The CIE Office will assess the request and whether an exceptional appointment can be offered. Submitting the documentation does not guarantee that an urgent appointment will be granted.
Which countries accept the CIE for entry?
The CIE can be used as a travel document only in countries that recognise it for that purpose and subject to their entry requirements.
Before travelling, consult the official Viaggiare Sicuri country information pages.
Viaggiare Sicuri – Information on Destination Countries
For further information, please consult the sections on consular services on the website of the Embassy of Italy in Dublin.
How to use the CIE for digital identification
The Electronic Identity Card (CIE) allows users to access online services provided by Italian public administrations and participating private organisations through the digital identification system of the Ministry of the Interior.
You can use the CIE to authenticate yourself in different ways, depending on the service you want to access.
What are the authentication levels?
- Level 1: access using a username and password.
- Level 2: access using a username and password plus a second authentication factor, through the CieID app or a temporary one-time password (OTP) sent by SMS, depending on the options available.
- Level 3: access by reading the CIE chip, using an NFC-enabled smartphone and the CieID app, or a computer with a smart-card reader and the CIE software.
How do I activate my CIE digital identity?
To activate Level 1 and Level 2 CIE credentials, use the official online service of the Ministry of the Interior.
During the process, you will be asked for details from your card and the first part of your PUK code. To activate the credentials without physically reading the card, you must have provided at least your mobile phone number when applying for the CIE at the municipality or Consular Office.
Activate your credentials here:
Activate your CIE Digital Identity – Ministry of the Interior
To use the CIE with Level 3 authentication, download the CieID app to an NFC-enabled smartphone and follow the instructions to register your card. You will need the CIE and the complete 8-digit PIN.
Alternatively, you can use a computer with a compatible smart-card reader and install the official CIE software.
Official Information on CIE Digital Identification
Where can I find my PIN and PUK codes?
Two security codes are associated with the Electronic Identity Card:
- PIN (Personal Identification Number): an 8-digit code required for online authentication by reading the card and for certain security operations.
- PUK (Personal Unblocking Number): an 8-digit code used to unblock the PIN and set a new one. It is also required for some procedures to activate CIE credentials.
Where are the codes printed?
The first four digits of the PIN and PUK are printed on the last sheet of the documentation provided when you applied for the CIE at a municipality or Consular Office.
The last four digits are included in the accompanying letter received with the card.
To obtain each complete code, combine its first and second halves.
Keep the documentation safe and store the codes securely. Do not share them with anyone else.
What should I do if I have lost my PIN or PUK?
I have forgotten my PIN or my card is blocked
If you have forgotten your PIN, or entered it incorrectly three times in a row, you can set a new PIN using the PUK.
You can do this in the CieID app by selecting “Unblock card” and following the instructions to set a new PIN.
Do not make repeated attempts if you are unsure of your PUK. After ten consecutive incorrect PUK entries, the card’s digital functionality is permanently blocked.
I have lost my PUK or one part of it
If you provided an email address or mobile phone number when applying for the CIE, you can use the “PUK Recovery” function in the CieID app.
The procedure normally involves the following steps:
- Download or update the CieID app on an NFC-enabled smartphone.
- Select “PUK Recovery”.
- Hold the CIE near the smartphone and enter the card’s serial number.
- Enter the contact details requested, following the app’s instructions.
- Wait 48 hours to complete the recovery process, in accordance with the required security procedure.
If you did not provide the necessary contact details, or you no longer have access to them, you can contact an Italian municipality to request an update to your contact information and, if necessary, a reprint of the codes.
How to Recover the PUK – Ministry of the Interior
Who can help if I have problems with CIE digital identity?
For technical problems involving credential activation, registering the card in the CieID app, using online services or recovering security codes, consult the official support service of the Ministry of the Interior.
CIE Support – Ministry of the Interior
- Email: cie.cittadini@interno.it
- Support hours listed by the service: Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Please note: The Embassy’s CIE Office handles consular applications for the issue of the identity document. For technical problems with digital credentials, you should contact the national support service listed above.