If you have acquired Italian citizenship, and you are residing in italy, you may be wondering about the process to apply for an Italian passport. Where does the application get submitted and what documents are required? Perhaps you have been residing in Italy while applying for Italian citizenship by descent at your local comune or have acquired Italian citizenship by marriage or residence. This article will cover everything you need to know about applying for or renewing your Italian passport in Italy.
Italian Passport
One of the many advantages of Italian citizenship is the freedom to live, work, and study, not only in Italy but throughout the European Union. An Italian passport functions as both an identification and travel document, allowing you to visit more than 130 countries visa-free. According to PassportIndex.org, which ranks passports by their global mobility, the Italian passport holds 3rd place worldwide.
The Italian passport itself is a 48-page paper booklet and has a validity of 10 years. For enhanced security, it is equipped with a microchip in the cover, containing the personal information and biometrics (photo and fingerprint) of the passport holder. This also enables you to use the passport to pass through the electronic gates at immigration control.
How to Apply
If you are living in Italy, you will apply for a passport (or renew your existing passport) in the municipality or province where you are residing. Alternatively, if you are an Italian citizen residing abroad, you will need to address your local Italian consulate for passport services. It’s also important to remember that it’s a requirement to register with AIRE, (Registry of Italian Citizens Residing Abroad) if your place of residence is not in Italy or you have acquired Italian citizenship jure sanguinis in the US or foreign country via a consulate and you are residing outside of italy. You will not be able to access the passport services at your local consulate until you are registered with AIRE.
Applying for a Passport at the Questura
As a resident of Italy, you can apply for a passport at the local questura (police headquarters). In most cases you will need to make an appointment through the State Police passport portal, logging in with your SPID or CIE (electronic identification). In some towns, there are also walk-in hours for passport services.
Required documents to bring to your appointment include a completed application form, official Italian ID (carta d’identità) and fiscal code (codice fiscale). You will also need 2 passport photos, compliant with ICAO standards (International Civil Aviation Organization), receipt of payment of €42.50 (payment made at the post office with a bolletino postale) and the administrative stamp (marca da bollo) for €73.50 (purchased at a tabaccheria). Be sure to reference the passport section of the State Police website for complete document checklist and also the passport section of your local questura website, as requirements may vary depending on the municipality. You will also need to bring with you a printout of the appointment booking details.
Once the passport is ready, you will receive an email notification. You can return to the questura to collect the passport or use the “home passport” service to have it delivered to your home through Poste Italiane.
Applying for a Passport at the Post Office
It is also now possible to apply for or renew your Italian passport at the post office, Poste Italiane. This service is not available in every comune, so be sure to check online to verify if your local post office offers these passport services. Also, it’s required that you are a resident of the municipality where the post office is located to make a passport request.
To make an appointment, you will need to log in with either a Poste Italiane account or SPID digital identity. At the time of your appointment, present the required documentation at the counter. The documentation is the same as when attending an appointment at the questura. The clerk will process the application and send the documents to the questura. When the passport is ready, you can collect it at the police office indicated on the receipt.
Italian Passport for Minors
Italian passports for minors either have a 3-year validity (for minors ages 0-3 years old) or a 5-year validity (ages 3-18). Documentation for minor passport applications is the same as the adult application, including application form, identification, passport photos, and payment of the administrative fee (€42.50) and €73.50 stamp. Additionally, both parents will need to sign a consent in front of the public official at the time of submitting the application. Refer to the following webpage for additional information regarding Italian passports for minors.
This article has detailed the process of applying for or renewing an Italian passport for Italian citizens living in Italy. Whether you have just acquired your Italian citizenship or you are an Italian citizen by birth, passport requests are made at your local police headquarters or in some towns, the post office. If you have any questions about Italian citizenship or residence in Italy, don’t hesitate to contact us directly.
