The CIE: Italy’s identity card, physical and digital

The Ministry’s own description separates two things people conflate. The CIE is un documento che deve essere richiesto al Comune di residenza/dimora — requested at the comune of residence or domicile, or at the relevant consulate for Italian citizens registered abroad through AIRE. And it is un documento rilasciato dal Ministero dell’Interno che ne firma digitalmente i dati contenuti, rendendoli immutabili: issued by the Interior Ministry, which digitally signs the data it holds so it cannot be altered. Identification of the applicant is entrusted to a public official, which is why the appointment is in person.

Source: Ministero dell’Interno — Firma con CIE, read 13 September 2026.

Per the Ministry’s request page, you apply at your comune of residence or domicile, and participating comuni offer an online booking service for the appointment. The detail worth knowing while you wait: the Ministry states that the request receipt issued by the comune ha valore di documento di riconoscimento — it counts as an identification document — until the day before the card is delivered, and that the status of the card and the provisional document can be checked by scanning the QR code on the receipt with the Ve.Do. app.

Source: Ministero dell’Interno — Richiedi la CIE, read 13 September 2026.

The CIE is Italy’s hardware answer to the login problem that SPID solves in software. Per the Ministry, “Entra con CIE” gives access to public-administration sites, and the card supports registration and check-in with hotels, telecoms operators and financial institutions, plus access to transport such as buses, trams, metro turnstiles and bike sharing. It also meets the requirements of Article 26 of the European eIDAS regulation for an advanced electronic signature. Non-Italian residents should confirm eligibility, and whether their card is valid for travel, with the comune issuing it.

Source: Ministero dell’Interno — Identificazione fisica e digitale, read 13 September 2026.