As of January 2024, Italian citizens who meet the eligibility requirements may book an appointment to apply for the Electronic Identity Card (Carta d’Identità Elettronica – CIE), a plastic-card identity document. The CIE is issued by the Italian Ministry of the Interior, produced and mailed from Italy.
1) What is the Electronic Identity Card (CIE)?
The Italian identity card is an official personal identification document that can be used to establish the holder’s identity and, where applicable, to travel within the European Union, certain countries participating in the Schengen Agreement (including Iceland, Norway and Switzerland), and other countries with which Italy has concluded bilateral agreements. For country-specific entry requirements, please consult the relevant country information sheets on Viaggiare Sicuri www.viaggiaresicuri.it
The Electronic Identity Card (CIE) is the plastic-card version of the Italian identity card. In addition to serving the same purpose as the previous paper-based document, it enables holders to access online services provided by Italian public administration bodies.
2) Who is eligible to apply for a CIE?
The Embassy of Italy in Kuala Lumpur can issue a CIE only to Italian citizens who are legally resident within the Embassy’s consular jurisdiction, and are registered in the Embassy’s consular registry, and have their personal details registered in A.I.R.E. (Anagrafe degli Italiani Residenti all’Estero), the Registry of Italians Residing Abroad.
Italian citizens who are not yet registered with A.I.R.E. must first submit an application through the FAST IT portal and wait for the competent Italian municipality to complete their registration before applying for a CIE. Until registration with A.I.R.E. has been completed, the identity card must be requested from the Italian municipality where the applicant is officially resident.
Applicants who have changed their residential address since their last notification to the Consular Office must update their address through the FAST IT portal before booking an appointment.
For Italian citizens born abroad, the birth certificate must already have been transcribed into the civil status registers of the competent Italian municipality before their details can be registered in A.I.R.E..
3) When can a CIE be issued?
A CIE may be requested in the following circumstances:
• to replace a valid paper identity card;
• if the applicants does not hold any other valid identity card;
• in the event of loss, theft or damage to the previous identity card. In these cases, an additional duplicate fee applies.
The Consular Office reserves the right to cancel appointments that do not meet these requirements.
4) How do I apply for a CIE?
• Applicants must book an appointment through the Prenotami platform, and submit applications at the consular office.
• Before the appointment, applicants must email the completed application form and a copy of both sides of their current identity card (even expired / lost / stolen) to ambkualalumpur.consolare@esteri.it
Application forms (fillable):
1) CIE Application Form – Adults
2) CIE Application Form – Minor children
3) Declaration of Loss or Theft of an Italian Identity Card (CIC/CIE)
4) Parental Consent Form
5) Can I book an appointment for my minor children?
Yes. When booking through Prenot@mi, please enter the details of your minor children in the “NOTES” field. Make a “single booking” for the entire family, rather than separate bookings for each family member.
6) Can I book an appointment on behalf of my spouse?
Yes.
7) What documents must I bring to the appointment?
Applicants must bring the following documents and payment:
1. One passport-sized photograph meeting ICAO international biometric standards . The photograph must be recent, in color, taken from the front against a white background, and measure 35 x 45 mm.
2. The previous identity card, even if it has expired. For a first-time applications, applicants must bring an identification document, even if expired, or be accompanied by two witnesses.
3. A police report, in the event that the previous identity card has been lost or stolen. The report must be issued by the local police.
4. A parental consent form signed by both parents, if the applicant is under 18 years of age (see Section 11).
5. The applicable fee, payable in cash and in Malaysian ringgit (RM) only: Euro 21,95 for the issuance of a CIE, and euro 27,11 for a duplicate CIE.
8) What happens during the appointment?
During the appointment, the consular officer will collect and check the required documentation, verify the applicant’s identity and photograph, collect the applicant’s fingerprints and signature, except in the case of children under 12 years of age.
Children under 12 must also attend the appointment, as the consular officer is required to verify their identity in person.
9) How will I receive my CIE?
The CIE is issued by the Italian Ministry of the Interior and produced by the Italian State Printing Works and Mint (Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato). Once produced, the card is sent by registered mail from Italy to the residential address provided by the applicant. Applicants can track the delivery online using the tracking number. If delivery is unsuccessful, the card will be returned to the Consular Office of this Embassy after the postal service’s holding period has expired.
10) How long is the CIE valid?
The validity period depends on the age of the holder:
• 3 years for children aged 0 to under 3 years;
• 5 years for children aged 3 to under 18 years;
• 10 years for adults aged 18 and over.
11) What is the parental consent form?
When applying for a CIE for a minor, the parental consent form must be completed and signed by both parents, regardless of whether they are married, unmarried, separated or divorced.
• If one parent is a non-EU citizen, including a British citizen, the application form must be signed in the presence of an Embassy official. If the parent is in a country other than Italy or Malaysia, the form must be signed at an Italian consular office in the country where the parent is residing.
• If one parent is deceased, a copy of the death certificate must be submitted.
12) Do I need to apply for a new CIE if I change my address?
No. The identity card is a personal identification document, not proof of residence. Therefore, the address cannot be updated on an existing valid CIE, and a new card is not required solely because of a change of address.
13) Can married women include their husband’s surname on the CIE?
No. The CIE is an identity document, not a civil status document.
It therefore does not include marital status or a spouse’s surname.
14) When can I book an appointment for a CIE?
Appointments for the issuance of the CIE have been available since January 2024. Eligible applicants may book their appointments through the Prenot@mi platform, following the procedure described in Section 4.
