{"id":3781,"date":"2024-08-27T11:26:04","date_gmt":"2024-08-27T09:26:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/consjohannesburg.esteri.it\/?page_id=3781"},"modified":"2026-08-03T17:04:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T15:04:15","slug":"electronic-identity-card-c-i-e","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/consjohannesburg.esteri.it\/en\/servizi-consolari-e-visti\/servizi-per-il-cittadino-italiano\/electronic-identity-card-c-i-e\/","title":{"rendered":"Electronic Identity Card (C.I.E.)"},"content":{"rendered":"

LATEST NEWS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Please note that Italian paper identity cards (Carta d’Identit\u00e0 Cartacea \u2013 CIC) will no longer be valid as of 3 August 2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Validity of the Electronic Identity Card (CIE) for citizens aged 70 and over: <\/strong>As of 30 July 2026<\/strong>, the Electronic Identity Card (Carta d’Identit\u00e0 Elettronica \u2013 CIE) issued to citizens who are 70 years of age or older<\/strong> at the time of application will have unlimited validity<\/strong>, while remaining valid for international travel. Please note that the Electronic Identity Card has unlimited validity<\/strong> and does not<\/strong> need to be renewed when used exclusively as a proof of identity<\/strong>. However, if the card is also used to access online public services<\/strong> or automated electronic gates (e-gates) at airports<\/strong> through the CIE system, it will not<\/strong> have unlimited validity. In such cases, the card must be renewed upon the expiration of its standard ten-year validity period<\/strong> in order to continue being used for these purposes.<\/p>\n

Starting from 1 June, all Italian citizens registered with AIRE may apply for an Electronic Identity Card (CIE) at any municipality (Comune) in Italy, and no longer exclusively through the Consular Office.\u00a0 <\/strong>To apply for a CIE at a municipality, applicants may book an appointment through the Ministry of the Interior’s online booking platform<\/a> or, where permitted by the municipality, apply in person without an appointment. In the latter case, the CIE may either be collected from the municipality where the application was submitted or, upon request, sent abroad through the competent Italian Consulate or Embassy.<\/p>\n

Please also note that the Electronic Identity Card is not issued on the spot at the Consulate<\/strong>. The document is produced in Italy and subsequently sent by post, generally within two to three months from the date of the appointment. Longer waiting times may also result from processing and delivery times of the South African postal service and are therefore beyond the control of this Consulate.<\/p>\n

Italian nationals registered with AIRE at this Consulate General are invited to book an appointment for the issuance of their Electronic Identity Card through the Prenot@Mi<\/strong><\/a> portal.<\/p>\n

1. What is the Electronic Identity Card?<\/strong><\/h6>\n

An ID card is an identification document used to verify a person\u2019s identity and to travel to EU Member States, some Schengen States (i.e. Iceland, Norway and Switzerland) and other States with which bilateral agreements have been reached (please visit each country tab on\u00a0www.viaggiaresicuri.it<\/a>).<\/p>\n

2. Who can apply for an Electronic Identity Card?<\/strong><\/h6>\n

This Consulate General can issue the C.I.E. exclusively to Italian citizens regularly resident in this consular district and registered in AIRE<\/strong>.
\nIf your residential address has changed<\/strong> (compared to the one previously communicated to the Consular Office), you must request the change of address<\/a> via the FAST IT portal<\/a> before booking<\/strong> the appointment.<\/p>\n

For the C.I.E. to be issued,\u00a0a validated tax code<\/a>\u00a0<\/b>is also required.<\/p>\n

3. When can I apply for a C.I.E.?<\/strong><\/h6>\n