What’s New
Effective June 1, 2026, Italian citizens registered with the Registry of Italians Resident Abroad (AIRE) may apply for an Electronic Identity Card (Carta d’Identità Elettronica – CIE) at any Italian municipality (Comune). The identity card will be delivered using the same procedures as applications submitted through a Consular Office. Applicants may either collect the card in person from the municipality or request that it be mailed to their address abroad.
Starting August 3, 2026, the paper identity card will no longer be valid for international travel, regardless of the expiration date printed on the back. From that date onward, the Electronic Identity Card (CIE) will be the only identity card valid for travel abroad.
For citizens 70 years of age or older, Electronic Identity Cards (CIEs) issued on or after July 30, 2026, will have unlimited validity.
The new Electronic Identity Card (CIE) is a multifunctional document. It serves as proof of identity, is a travel document within the European Union, displays the holder’s Italian Tax Code (Codice Fiscale), and can be used to obtain a SPID (Public Digital Identity System) account for accessing online services provided by Italian public administrations.
PLEASE NOTE: The Electronic Identity Card is not issued on the spot. It is produced in Italy and mailed directly to the applicant’s address.
The CIE may be issued only to Italian citizens who are legally resident within this Consulate’s jurisdiction, are registered in the Consular Registry, whose personal data are already recorded in the AIRE (Registry of Italians Resident Abroad) database, and who possess an Italian Tax Code (Codice Fiscale).
Requirements for Applying for an Electronic Identity Card (CIE)
To obtain a CIE, applicants must:
- Be registered with AIRE in this Consular jurisdiction.
- Have their birth certificate registered (transcribed) in Italy, since the registration details must appear on the CIE.
- Have an Italian Tax Code (Codice Fiscale). Applicants who do not have one should follow the instructions available here:
https://conslosangeles.esteri.it/it/servizi-consolari-e-visti/servizi-per-il-cittadino-italiano/codice-fiscale/ - Have updated their records in the event of:
- a change of address;
- a change in marital status;
- the birth of children.
Changes of address must be reported through the Fast IT Portal, making sure to use your full legal name as shown on your birth certificate. The portal allows you to view your Consular Registry record through the ASON – “View Your Personal Record” function. Once your record is displayed, you may submit your address update using the appropriate option.
IMPORTANT: If the applicant does not meet the above requirements, or if any circumstances preventing issuance are identified, the application cannot be processed and the appointment will be cancelled.
How to Apply for an Electronic Identity Card (CIE)
Applications for a CIE require an appointment booked through the Prenot@mi platform.
Please enter the information of the person for whom the document is being requested, if different from the user who booked the appointment.
Married Women
Please enter your personal details using your maiden name, exactly as shown on your birth certificate.
The Electronic Identity Card does not indicate the holder’s marital status, and married women may not have their spouse’s surname printed on the card.
The applicant and/or cardholder must be present at the appointment. This also applies to children aged 12 and over.
Documents Required
Applicants must provide:
- One passport-size photograph.
- A completed and signed application form. For minors, the form must be signed by both parents.
- Previous identity card (if applicable).
- An Italian identification document, or alternatively two witnesses.
- Written consent from both parents if the identity card is being issued to a minor.
- Payment of the applicable consular fee, by money order or cashier’s check payable to:
Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles
Please consult the Consular Fee Schedule, updated quarterly, for the current amount.
Delivery of the Electronic Identity Card
The CIE is not issued on the day of the appointment.
It is produced in Italy by the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato and mailed directly to the address provided by the applicant.
If delivery cannot be completed due to an incorrect address or because the holding period at the post office expires, the package will be returned to the Consular Office for further delivery attempts.
For inquiries regarding identity cards, please email:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Who is eligible to receive an Electronic Identity Card?
This Consulate General may issue Electronic Identity Cards only to Italian citizens who are legally resident within this Consular district and whose AIRE registration is complete.
If you have changed your residential address since last notifying the Consulate, you must first update your address through the FAST IT portal before booking an appointment.
2. When can I apply?
A CIE may be issued:
- to replace a valid paper identity card;
- if you do not currently possess a valid identity card;
- if your previous identity card has been lost, stolen, or damaged.
3. How do I apply?
Applications must be submitted exclusively through the Prenot@mi online appointment platform.
Please note: If verification reveals circumstances preventing the issuance of the CIE, the applicant will be informed of the reasons why the application cannot proceed.
4. Can I schedule appointments for my minor children?
Yes. A separate appointment record must be completed for each applicant.
5. What happens during the appointment?
At the appointment, the Consular officer will:
- review the required documentation;
- verify the applicant’s identity;
- verify the photograph;
- collect fingerprints and the applicant’s signature (except for children under 12 years of age).
6. How will I receive my Electronic Identity Card?
The CIE is issued by the Italian Ministry of the Interior and produced by the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, which mails it directly to the applicant’s declared residential address.
7. How long is the identity card valid?
The validity period depends on the holder’s age:
- 3 years for children aged 0–3.
- 5 years for minors aged 4–18.
- 10 years for adults over 18.
- Unlimited validity for persons 70 years of age or older, for cards issued starting from July 30, 2026.
8. What is parental consent?
Parental consent is required for issuing an identity card to a minor, including when the parents are unmarried, separated, or divorced.
If the other parent is a citizen of an EU Member State, they do not need to appear at the Consulate. A completed and signed consent form together with a photocopy of their passport or identity card is sufficient for signature verification.
If the consenting parent is a non-EU citizen, the declaration of consent must be signed:
- at the Consulate on the day of the appointment, upon presentation of a valid identity document; or
- before a U.S. Notary Public.
9. Do I need a new identity card if I change my address?
No. The identity card is a document proving identity, not residence.
10. Can a married woman have her husband’s surname printed on the card?
No. The identity card is an identity document and does not indicate marital status.
11. Can I apply for an identity card at my municipality in Italy even if I live abroad?
Applicants should verify this possibility directly with their Comune (municipality) in Italy.