Carta di identità elettronica in Italia anche per gli iscritti all'AIRE

It is confirmed: from 1 June 2026, AIRE-registered Italian citizens will be able to apply for an Electronic Identity Card (CIE) directly in Italy, at any Italian municipality, and not just at the Consulate.

The new procedure is set out in DAIT circular 54 of 29 May 2026 and provides that, after the appointment, the CIE may be delivered, at the applicant’s choice, either to an address in Italy or to an address abroad in the country of AIRE residence. The ordinary processing times are of six working days after the appointment, plus the time it takes to be delivered at the chosen address.

We welcome this development with great satisfaction. It is a concrete result, supported by the Comites of Manchester together with many associations and representative bodies of Italians abroad, on numerous occasions including through a letter sent on 11 February 2025 to the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

We therefore invite AIRE-registered Italian citizens travelling to Italy to consider applying for a CIE for themselves and their family members, recalling that:

1. The electronic identity card is a second Italian document valid for all legal purposes and recognised by most organisations in the United Kingdom. It can therefore significantly reduce the inconvenience caused by any delays or difficulties in obtaining a passport, which unfortunately continue to affect many citizens in this consular district.

2. The CIE can be used to travel to Italy. In addition, for those with settled status or pre-settled status, the CIE can also be used to travel to the United Kingdom, provided that it is correctly linked to their UKVI account.

3. The CIE includes a digital identity: it therefore allows access to the online services of the Italian Public Administration, in a similar way to SPID, simplifying many bureaucratic procedures for those living abroad.

This is an important step forward for Italians living abroad, making access to an essential document much simpler and concretely strengthening the rights of AIRE-registered citizens.

For full details, please refer to the circular.