Passports

THE ITALIAN PASSPORT – GENERAL INFORMATION

The electronic passport is a biometric travel document that can be used for identification and is valid in all the States that are recognised by Italy.

The validity periods of the passport are determined by the age of the holder:

• for minors under the age of 3 the validity is 3 years;
• for minors between 3 and 18 the validity is 5 years;
• for adults aged 18 and older the validity is 10 years.

Its issuance comes from the Consular Office responsible for the district where the applicant is a registered AIRE resident. Those resident in Italy will refer to the Questura.

For the release of a passport, it is necessary to be an Italian Citizen. The Consulate General therefore reserves the right to request supporting documents as proof of the uninterrupted possession of Italian Citizenship from the applicant or their ancestors.

Before requesting a passport, kindly ensure that:

• You are registered in the AIRE database;
• You are a resident in our Consular Jurisdiction;
• Your current address is registered, or updated via the FAST-IT Portal available here: https://serviziconsolarionline.esteri.it;
• Your birth certificate has been transmitted to the relevant Italian Municipality for registration.

For those with appointment at the Consulate General, the passport is released on the day of appointment while you wait.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE FOR ADULTS AND MINORS (excluding residents of KwaZulu-Natal)

• Complete each part of the passport request form and send to johannesburg.pass@esteri.it (1 form per applicant). If the applicant is a minor, the form must reflect the minor’s information. At the base of the minor’s application, at least one parent must sign.
  
  
• Requests are ordered chronologically and are generally processed in 14 working days. If an appointment has not been communicated after such time, please call the numbers provided in the Contacts page between 12:00 and 14:30.
  N.B.: We do not send emails to ‘confirm receipt’ of applications as this is automated.

• The applicant must present themselves at the Consulate General on the day of appointment for biometrics with the following documents:
  
  - 2 colour photographs – High Quality, standard size, white background, no shadows (click here for full EU ICAO standards);
  
  - Identification Document - Previous Italian Passport (if not possible, some other valid identity document such as an SA ID, Driver’s License, SA Passport etc.);
  
  - Payment - to be paid in Rands via cash, South African debit card or EFT. (Note that EFTs must be done a minimum of 3 working days prior to the appointment. Please use the applicant’s surname as the reference). Click here for bank details;
  
  - Consent form for minor children (if applicable) – Minor children must be present for the appointment with at least one parent/guardian. In any case it is best for both parents to be present at the appointment. In cases where only one parenti s able to attend, the other must come and sign a consent form at the Consulate General before the minor’s scheduled appointment. [Click here to download consent form]
  N.B.: Parents who are EU citizens may give consent by sending a completed consent form with a copy of their valid EU passport/ID. They do not need to come to the Consulate to sign their consent forms.
  
  

PASSPORT APPLICATION PROCEDURE FOR ADULTS AND MINORS RESIDENT IN KWAZULU-NATAL

• Complete each part of the passport request form and send to johannesburg.pass@esteri.it (one form per applicant); If the applicant is a minor, the form must reflect the minor’s information. At the base of the minor’s form, at least one parent must sign;

• Requests are ordered as they are received. The Honourary Consul, Costiantino Buccimazza (cbuccimazza@italyhoncondurban.co.za) will contact you for appointment;

Starting from Wednesday 11 October 2023, KZN applicants will need to meet the Honourary Consul at his offices (3 Meadway, Drummond, KwaZulu-Natal) with the following:

- 2 colour photographs – High Quality, standard size, white background, no shadows (click here for full EU ICAO standards);

- Identification Document - Previous Italian Passport (if not possible, some other valid identity document such as an SA ID, Driver’s License, SA Passport etc.);

- Payment - To be paid in Rands via cash, South African debit card or EFT. Please note that EFTs must be done a minimum of 3 working days prior to the appointment. Please use the applicant’s surname as the reference. Click here for bank details;

- Consent form for minor children (if applicable) – Minor children must be present for the appointment with at least one parent/guardian. In any case it is best for both parents to be present at the appointment. In cases where only one parent is able to attend, the other must come and sign a consent form at the Consulate General before the minor’s scheduled appointment. [Click here to download consent form].
N.B.: Parents who are EU citizens may give consent by sending a completed consent form with a copy of their valid EU passport/ID. They do not need to come to the Consulate to sign their consent forms.

Kindly note that KwaZulu-Natal applicants will have their passports printed in Johannesburg and sent to the Honourary Consul, where the applicant will arrange for collection.

CONSENT FOR ADULTS WITH MINOR CHILDREN

Citizens are kindly informed that, starting from the 14th of June 2023, in basis of Italian Law D.L. 69/2023. Parents who share minor children no longer need consent for the release of their passport or CIE.

Specifically, the recent article 3-bis of Law. 1185/1967 indicates that, when it becomes certain that there is a concrete and actual danger that the transfer of the parent abroad may cause them to avoid fulfilling their obligations to their minor child, i twill then be possible for the other parent to request and injunction against the issuance of the passport/CIE.