Okay, I have big news: I think I have officially completed the final level of the Italian bureaucracy challenge for moving to Italy! This month, I got the last important document I needed to live in Italy (as an American or otherwise): la carta d’identitá.
And today, I will tell you how to get yours too.
What Is the Carta d’identitá?
The carta d’identitá is an identification card. On the surface, it does exactly the same thing as an American ID card: it serves to prove your identity. It has all your important information on it like your name, birthdate, address, codice fiscale, nationality, height, gender and a recent photo of you, and it is the most important document you will get here in Italy once you get settled because (as you’ll see in the next section) it is basically your ticket to everything.
In the past, the carta d’identitá was not really a card at all, but more like a folded paper brochure-type thing, much like some versions of the carta di soggiorno (except maybe a little bit more durable). Now most regions have switched over to an actual card the size of a credit or debit card (called the carta d’identitá elettronica) that looks more like your average American ID card, except this one also has a contactless chip and the ability to be scanned electronically to do certain things, which is pretty cool.
If you are over 18, the card lasts 10 years, after which you will have to renew it.
What You Can Do with a Carta d’identitá
When I say your carta d’identitá is the ticket to everything, I am not kidding. While the tessera sanitaria is your key to healthcare (and, weirdly, to buy cigarettes), the carta d’identitá lets you do even more. On the very surface level, it is like a passport that allows you to go around, not just Italy, but the entire European Union. But it, along with the pin you get with it, gives you access to all sorts of online programs via SPID (SPID is a whole other article in and of itself, but in the meantime you can check out that link to get an idea).
But, my favorite thing you can do with the carta d’identitá is use it as a library card. You can sign up online or at the library itself, and then the ID card becomes your library card as well. It’s a really simple process, and it gives you access to both ebooks online via the website and books you can check out in person at the physical branch.
But I’m an American in Italy, Can I Still Get an Italian ID Card?
Yes!! In fact, it is encouraged. Anyone who is a resident of Italy can (and must) get a carta d’identitá. The only real difference is that foreigners living in Italy must always have their ID card with them, while this isn’t necessarily a requirement for Italian citizens.
How to Get a Carta d’identitá
If you have read the rest of the How to Survive Italian Bureaucracy section, you will know that getting official documents in Italy is not easy. But, I am extremely happy to say that this is one instance in which it was not difficult at all!
Here is what you will need:
- personal information (name, birthdate, address, phone number, etc.)
- codice fiscale (if you don’t have this, you have to go back a step and get it before you can get your ID card)
- recent passport-sized photo
- print-out of appointment confirmation
- passport
- carta/permesso di soggiorno
- fee (in my comune it was €22.20)
I started by doing an internet search for my comune + carta d’identitá and that led me to a link to schedule an appointment. But if you want to skip a step, follow this link to the Italian national electronic ID card website.
You will then provide some simple information like your name, birthdate, address, and codice fiscale and make an appointment at your local comune.
At the appointment, you will need to bring your passport and carta/permesso di soggiorno, and be prepared to answer a few more questions. Most of the information will already be in the computer from when you input it during the appointment-making process, but there is one question I wasn’t expecting: your height.
This turned into a funny scene, because while I know my height perfectly well in American imperial measurements, I had no idea what it was in metric! I tried to convert it online then and there and it was wrong (thanks, Google…), but the woman interviewing me made a guesstimate that turned out to be exactly right when I went home and checked later. But to save everyone a lot of trouble and embarrassment, know your height in metric beforehand!
Next, you will be asked if you would like to be an organ donor, just as you would when getting your driver’s license in America (FYI: even if you’re an organ donor there, you can still be one here too. Plus you don’t have to be Italian, American organs work here as well).
Then they take your fingerprints electronically, you pay the fee, and that’s it!
Then you go home and wait for the card to be delivered via registered mail, which you have to sign for. Once you have it, you’re officially a bona fide Italian resident who can do everything the Italians can do, which is pretty darn cool.
Do you have your carta d’identitá yet? What was the process like for you? Let us know in the comments!
Hello,
Thank you so much for this clear and organized information.
I will request for the first time my Carta d’identitá Italiana.
I have my Italian passport, do I need this carta/permesso di soggiorno?
Kind regards
Hi Angelina! The carta d’identità is different than the carta di soggiorno. If you have Italian citizenship (which I assume you do, since you have an Italian passport), you don’t need to get a carta or permesso di soggiorno.
You do however, need to get a carta d’identità. That one is an ID card that everyone in Europe is required to have, so it’s pretty important.
Hello, thank you so much for the information!
I have been so confused about this and when I go through the link and fill in the data for booking the appointment, the ‘Continue’ button does not work.
I have no idea what I may be doing wrong as I have filled in all the required data.
Please did you experience anything like this or know what I can do? Kindly let me know.
Thank you.
Hi Desire!
Hmm, that didn’t happen to me, but it could be a bug with the website, or perhaps you missed something small and it didn’t alert you properly. If you’d like me to take a look at it, you can send a screenshot of the problem page as well as a link to the form you used to blog@anamericaninitaly.com and I can let you know if I can see the problem!
Thank you so much, Jessica! It was a bug in the system. However, when I finally got in, there is no way to book appointments in Milano offices via that link, but I believe it would work for some other cities/ regions.
Thank you for all the info you share here.
I’m glad you finally got in, but it’s a shame it wasn’t the right link for Milano! Hopefully you found the right one since this was posted. You may end up having to call them!
Hi. I just received notification of my (and my son’s citizenship) but we do not have time to get passports before going to Italy for 4 months. I would like the carta identica so we can get on the airplane home with no trouble after 4 mos instead of the 90 days. Can we just go to our commune where our citizenship is registered? I do not see how to make an appointment there. Thank you
Hi Michele,
You can find some more information about getting the carta d’identita from the official government website here: https://www.cartaidentita.interno.gov.it/en/home/. I’m not sure if you may need to have residency in Italy to get one, though, and I am sure you need a codice fiscale. I would recommend calling your local comune or questura to ask about the procedure, because I’m not sure the carta d’identita will be enough to let you stay past the 90 days, since it is just an ID card.
Thank you for the info!
Do I need to bring a certification of residency if I already have a permesso di soggiorno and codice fiscale?
Hi Sara,
Like most things in Italy, you will probably have to check the rules in your specific comune about that. I don’t think you need it because it isn’t listed on the general list of requirements (and they didn’t ask me for it at my appointment), but it would probably be a good idea to have it just in case. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to Italian bureaucracy!
thank you so so much, I am a student at the university and the process of getting documents always seems daunting. this site is super helpful.
keep up the fantastic work <3
Thank you, Shalini! I’m so glad I could help! 🙂
Hello. I haven’t been able to go to the police appointment for my residence permit card (permesso di soggiorno) yet, and I have to wait for the March for this 🙁 Can I apply for this ID with my residence permit application documents(richveta) that I received from the post office until then?
Hi Zeynep,
I believe you have to have the actual residence permit, but I’m not sure. I would recommend calling you comune or questura to ask.
These are great instructions if only the website for booking actually worked!
1. For two months now, the Rome municipalities are all but 2 or 3 listed as not allowing online appointment bookings… and the 3 that are, don’t have appointments until November and December of 2024! At this point, is there a face-to-face way of going about getting an appointment? Showing up at my municipality’s Anagrafe and asking?
2. I currently don’t have a valid permesso di soggiorno, but I read that on the government website that a person could show up with two witnesses in the case of an expired document… anyone know if this is true and if it applies to non-EU citizens?
Anyone’s advice on what to do – since that online prenotazione system is pretty crummy – would be life-saving!
Hi Meghan,
Sorry you are having trouble! Bureaucracy in Italy is always a pain, unfortunately. You may have some luck if you go to the anagrafe and ask about an appointment, or you could try to call them on the phone if your Italian is decent. It is possible that there really may not be any appointments until later in the year, though, as these kinds of appointments are often booked up several months ahead of time.
As for the permesso di soggiorno, I hesitate to answer because I am not a lawyer and have not personally heard about the two witnesses exception. I would try to call the comune or the US embassy and ask about that as well.
Sorry I couldn’t be of more help!
Hi, I have a query with the receipt of permesso di soggiorno can I apply for Carta d’identitá?
At the time of interview will they ask the physical card of permesso di soggiorno ?
Hi! I believe you need the physical card, but I am not 100% sure. I would recommend checking with your comune to get more specific information.
Hi, currently I am a student who is living in Student Dormitorio(like appartment), how can I get the carda d’identita ?
Hi! Your school may be able to help with this, but first you should go register at the anagrafe. You may not need one/maybe can’t get one if you are not a permanent resident, however.