The Consulate General of Italy in Houston has launched a pilot program for issuing the Electronic Identity Card (CIE).
Starting September 25, 2023, it will be possible to apply for the new Electronic Identity Card by appointment only, through the PRENOT@MI platform.
The identity card is a personal identification document that is valid for travel within the European Union, in some Schengen Area countries (e.g., Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland), and in other countries with which bilateral agreements exist (refer to the individual “country info sheets” on www.viaggiaresicuri.it).
The CIE can only be issued to Italian citizens who are regularly residing within the Houston consular district, are already registered in the consular records, and whose personal data are present in the A.I.R.E. database (Registry of Italians Residing Abroad) maintained by the Ministry of the Interior (and eventually also in the ANPR).
To issue the CIE, a validated tax code (codice fiscale) is also required. If the applicant does not have one, the Consulate will facilitate the issuance or validation of the tax code with the Italian Revenue Agency before proceeding with the CIE request.
Validity Period
The validity of the identity card depends on the age of the holder:
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3 years for children under 3 years old
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5 years for minors aged 3 to 18
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10 years for adults (18 and older)
Application Procedure
Applications for the CIE must be submitted exclusively via the Prenot@MI platform.
IMPORTANT: If, after internal checks, the Consulate determines that there are impediments to issuing the CIE, the applicant will be notified and the appointment may be canceled.
Registration with A.I.R.E. is mandatory to apply for a CIE.
For Italian citizens born abroad, the birth certificate must already be transcribed in the Civil Registry of the relevant Italian municipality, as the CIE must include the transcription details.
Before accessing the CIE appointment calendar and selecting an available date, you must complete the mandatory fields (marked with *) on the online form.
Make sure to enter the personal information of the document holder, if different from the registered user.
For married women: enter your maiden name only. Marital status is not shown on the CIE, and the spouse’s name cannot be included.
The physical presence of the applicant and/or document holder is required.
On the day of the appointment at the Consulate, biometric data will be collected, and the application file will be validated.
If your residential address has changed since your last update with the Consulate, you must update it via the FAST IT portal before scheduling an appointment.
Appointment – Required Documents
At the appointment, you must bring:
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Completed CIE application form for adults or for minors
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1 passport-style photo (same format as for passports, printed)
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Previous identity card, if available
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A valid Italian ID (per Italian law), or a valid U.S. ID, or a valid passport (for all other countries).
If none of the above are available, the applicant must be accompanied by two witnesses. -
Declaration of loss/theft of previous ID card, if applicable
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Consent from both parents, if the applicant is a minor under 18
Parental Consent Details:
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If the other parent is an Italian or EU citizen, they may provide written and signed consent along with a copy of their valid passport. The consent must be dated within six months of the appointment.
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If the other parent is not an Italian or EU citizen, they must either be present at the Consulate or send their consent via certified email (PEC) through another diplomatic/consular authority, Italian police (Questura), or a municipality.
During the appointment, the consular officer will collect:
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The photograph
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Fingerprints (not required for children under 12)
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Digital signature
These will be securely stored only on the microchip embedded in the CIE and not saved elsewhere.
Cost
The cost of the document is $25.80, payable in cash on the day of the appointment.
Exact change is required.
Please confirm the current fee in the Consular Fee Schedule (see the row “Issuance of Electronic Identity Card, art. 28C (A+B)” and the “USD rounded” column).
Fees are updated quarterly on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1.
Delivery of the Identity Card
The CIE is printed and shipped by the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato to the address provided by the applicant, typically within 15 days of the appointment.
If delivery fails due to an incorrect address, the package will be held at the local post office. If not picked up in time, it will be returned to the relevant Consulate, which will attempt a second delivery.