Whether you’re applying for an Italian visa or looking to file your application for citizenship by descent from abroad you will need to schedule an appointment at your local Italian consulate. It is recommended that you book an appointment sooner rather than later, as appointment times can often be backed up for months. Booking an appointment in theory should be simple, but each consulate can operate slightly differently. For example, Italian consulates release citizenship appointments on different days. Furthermore, although several Italian consulates release appointments at exactly midnight (Italian time) some consulates release appointments at different times of the day. This, in addition to the volume of applications for Italian citizenship, can make the scheduling process quite complex. While appointments for citizenship are the most requested, scheduling appointments to apply for a visa or to apply for an Italian passport can also be challenging. As a general rule, you should always check the website of your local consulate for updates or changes regarding the days on which appointments are released. This article will attempt to clarify this particular stage in the application process to be granted citizenship, and explain how to book an appointment at an Italian consulate.
How do you book an appointment?
Luckily, since June 2021 the Italian Consulates began migrating to the new Prenot@mi booking system, which at the time of writing this article most consulates use. The section below will explain how to use the new online booking system, and it will also discuss a couple exceptions to be aware of.
- Create an account
First of all, you will need to create an account on https://prenotami.esteri.it. Under the registration form, you will need to provide your name, birth date and place, contact information, and select your local Italian consulate.
- Confirm the account
After you have created your account, you will need to access your email to confirm your registration. If you move to a different state and you wish to update your residency address and local consulate, you can do so easily. However, after you create your account, you will not be able to change other personal information, such as your name, last name, date of birth, phone number, or email address.
- Book an appointment
After you have confirmed your account, you can book your appointment. You will need to log onto your account, and select the correct office depending on which service you require, e.g. visas, citizenship by descent, etc. When you make the booking, you can add any additional notes for the consulate. If you have questions regarding your application, it is better to email the consulate directly. You can find their contact information on their website.
With regard to families living under the same consular jurisdiction and applying jointly for citizenship by descent, the general rule is that every person over the age of 18 needs to book a separate appointment. However, some consulates allow applicants to add one or more family members to their appointments. In this case, when you apply, you will need to specify your relationship to the family members in your application, and you will also need to list their personal details.
- One-time confirmation code
After booking your appointment, you might need to check your email for a one-time code that you will need in order to confirm the booking.
- Confirmation email
Once the appointment is booked you will receive a confirmation email listing the date and time of your appointment, the consulate’s address, and a reminder to arrive at your appointment at the consulate at least 30 minutes before the scheduled interview as you will need to go through security checks.
Some useful tips
If the consulate is particularly full and finding an appointment slot is proving difficult, the below information and tips may help:
- Appointment slots are generally released at midnight Rome time; however please note that certain consulates release appointments at different times, and so please be sure to check the consulate’s website for specific information about appointment release times.
- Make sure to connect a few minutes before midnight (or the time at which appointments are released) to allow the time for the “Prenotami” system to fully load.
- Refresh the page between 15 and 30 seconds before the time at which appointments are released.
- Use two devices simultaneously to refresh appointments.
- Make sure your internet connection is fast, and use it hard-wired if possible.
- Keep your email open and ready so that the OTP code can be received quicker.
- Make sure your browser has pop-ups enabled. This will facilitate the OTP process.
- Red days mean unavailable appointments, while green days have available ones.
No appointments?
Some consulates might not have any appointments available when you access your account. In this case, you might be able to join a waiting list. If you do so, you will receive an email confirming that you your details have been added to the list and you will also be provided with the number of applicants in the queue before you. Once your name is in the waiting list you will not be able to book an appointment as you will simply need to wait for your turn. When your turn comes you will receive an email, and you will be provided with a certain timeframe to confirm your availability.
When do I need a consulate appointment?
You will need to book an appointment at the consulate if you reside outside of Italy and you need to apply for a visa or for citizenship by descent. If you already live in Italy and are looking to apply for citizenship, then you can apply through the municipality in which you reside. Finally, if you apply for citizenship via marriage and do not live in Italy you might not need to use Prenot@mi to book your consular appointment. For example, at the time of writing this article, both the Miami and London Consulates ask that those applying for citizenship via marriage send an email to request an appointment. However, the Philadelphia Consulate asks that those applying for citizenship via marriage still use Prenot@mi. If you are applying for citizenship via marriage then it is important to double-check your local consulate’s website to see how to secure an appointment.
Conclusion
This article has sought to describe the process to secure an appointment at an Italian Consulate for your citizenship or visa request. With ever-shifting regulations, it is once again advised to always check your local consulate’s website for the particular service you need. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected].
