This guide covers the Carta d’Identità Elettronica (CIE) for foreign residents in Milan. It is based on official sources from the Comune di Milano and the Ministero dell’Interno. Procedures and fees can differ in other municipalities. Always confirm on your comune’s website before booking.
What the CIE is
The CIE is Italy’s electronic identity card. It is both:
- a physical ID document (polycarbonate card with chip, photo, and fingerprints when applicable), and
- a digital identity for accessing many Italian public services online via the CieID app and Entra con CIE.
In Milan, the CIE has replaced the old paper carta d’identità for new requests and renewals.
Who can request it in Milan
You must apply in person at an Anagrafe office. General prerequisites:
| Requirement | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Residenza anagrafica registered in Italy | You apply at your comune of residence (or domicilio, in limited cases). |
| Valid stay title (non-EU) | Extra-UE citizens need a valid permesso di soggiorno or carta di soggiorno, or proof of renewal (see below). |
| Codice fiscale | Tessera sanitaria or codice fiscale speeds up registration. |
EU citizens with registered residency follow the standard first-request document list (no permesso di soggiorno required for the CIE application itself).
Extra-UE citizens must also present permesso di soggiorno or carta di soggiorno. If the permit is expired, Milan accepts the renewal receipt or a Questura appointment confirmation via the PrenotaFacile app, per Comune di Milano FAQ (extra-UE).
What the CIE is and is not, for expats
Inside Italy: the CIE is a standard identity document for banks, contracts, public offices, and everyday admin.
For travel abroad (critical):
- For Italian citizens, a CIE valid for espatrio can be used in the EU and in Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein (Comune di Milano).
- For foreign residents, the identity card issued in Italy is not valid for espatrio. Use your passport (or other travel document from your country of citizenship) to leave Italy. This is stated explicitly for foreign residents by the Prefettura di Roma, Ministero dell’Interno and confirmed for foreign minors by Comune di Milano.
The CIE does not replace your permesso di soggiorno. You must keep your stay title valid independently.
Step 1: Book an appointment (Milan)
CIE requests in Milan are appointment-only.
- Use: Comune di Milano: Carta d’identità service page (booking links at top of page).
- Do not use the national portal
agendacie.interno.gov.itfor Milan, the comune uses its own booking system (Comune di Milano FAQ). - SPID is not required for booking (Comune di Milano FAQ). You can also use the simplified login at servizicrm.comune.milano.it/appuntamenti/login (name, surname, email).
FAQ: codice fiscale not recognized when booking
If the booking portal rejects your codice fiscale or shows an error after login:
- Clear cache and cookies and try an updated browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari) (Comune di Milano, KA-03729)
- Switch browser or try desktop vs mobile
- Confirm your CF matches your tessera sanitaria exactly (same spelling as passport)
- If you received CF very recently (e.g. at Questura), allow time for registry sync, then retry
- Still blocked? Submit the online help form under “Hai ancora bisogno d’aiuto?” on the Comune support portal, noting date, browser, and a screenshot
CIE booking itself does not require SPID, only the simplified form or service-page flow (Comune di Milano, KA-00578).
On appointment day, complete check-in using the link in your confirmation email, or show the QR code, codice fiscale, or existing CIE at the desk (Prenota appuntamento in Comune).
Step 2: Documents to bring
First request (general)
Per Comune di Milano:
- Tessera sanitaria or codice fiscale
- One paper passport photo meeting ICAO standards (see below)
- Another valid ID document (passport, driving licence, etc.) or two adult witnesses with valid ID
First request: extra-UE citizens
Add to the list above (Comune di Milano, extra-UE):
- Permesso di soggiorno or carta di soggiorno (valid, or renewal receipt / PrenotaFacile booking if expired)
Renewal
Per Comune di Milano: general renewal and extra-UE renewal FAQ:
- Tessera sanitaria or codice fiscale
- One paper passport photo
- Expired or damaged CIE (or theft/loss report to police, if applicable)
- Permesso di soggiorno (extra-UE, same rules as first request)
You can renew up to 180 days before expiry (Ministero dell’Interno).
Photo requirements (Milan)
Milan accepts paper photos only: not USB/digital uploads (Comune di Milano).
- Size: 35 × 45 mm, ICAO/passport standard (Comune di Milano, photo FAQ)
- Recent (within 6 months), neutral expression, plain light background, face uncovered
- Some Anagrafe offices have validated photo booths (see the service page)
Technical photo rules from the Ministry: Modalità di acquisizione foto.
Step 3: Appointment day, payment, and delivery
Payment
€22.20 at the desk on appointment day, cash or card (Comune di Milano, cost FAQ).
National base fee is €16.79 plus local fees (Ministero dell’Interno); Milan’s total is €22.20.
You do not receive the card immediately
The CIE is printed by the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato and shipped within 6 working days (Comune di Milano service page, Ministero dell’Interno).
- Delivery is by registered mail (raccomandata) to an address you provide, home or another domicilio
- You cannot collect it at the Anagrafe desk (Comune di Milano FAQ)
- Provide a complete address (street, number, CAP, city, floor/door if applicable) and ensure your name is on the mailbox/citofono
Receipt after the appointment
At the end of the appointment you receive a ricevuta (receipt with photo and data). It is valid only for identification inside Italy, not for travel abroad (Comune di Milano).
PIN and PUK
The CIE PIN is delivered in two parts: first part at the identification appointment, second part when you receive the card (Agenzia delle Entrate, access guide PDF). Store both securely: they are required for digital use.
Validity
Per Comune di Milano:
| Age group | Validity |
|---|---|
| Under 3 | 3 years |
| 3-17 | 5 years |
| Adults | ~10 years (9 years plus days until birthday) |
| Temporary fingerprint exemption | 1 year |
Using the CIE online (after you receive it)
Once you have the physical card and full PIN:
- Install CieID (Android 6+ or iOS 13+)
- Register the card in the app (8-digit PIN + NFC tap on supported phones)
- On supported portals, choose Entra con CIE, tutorial
Examples of services that support CIE login:
- INPS
- Agenzia delle Entrate: area riservata (CIE section)
- Fascicolo Sanitario Elettronico: access with CIE
- ANPR-related municipal certificate services (innovazione.gov.it overview)
Coverage is not universal on every local or private portal. Many services also accept SPID: keeping both is practical.
CIE vs SPID and the Fascicolo del Cittadino
Both are valid certified digital identities for Milan’s online services, but they work differently:
| SPID | CIE | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Separate identity from a provider (PosteID, Aruba, etc.) | Tied to your physical CIE card + PIN |
| Fascicolo del Cittadino | ✅ Accepted | ✅ Accepted |
| CIE appointment booking | Not required | Not required (simplified login works) |
| Before you have a CIE | Often the fastest first option | Requires card + PIN + NFC/CieID app |
The Fascicolo del Cittadino (Milan’s citizen portal for TARI, certificates, and municipal services) accepts only SPID or CIE, no Comune username/password (Comune di Milano, KA-03726, KA-03731).
Practical order for newcomers:
- Use SPID (or consulate-issued CF) to access Fascicolo del Cittadino for TARI declarations and municipal services. See our TARI guide
- After residenza and CIE issuance, add CieID so Entra con CIE works on national portals (INPS, Agenzia delle Entrate, FSE)
If CIE login to Fascicolo fails despite valid PIN and NFC, see Comune di Milano, CIE not recognized (KA-03728).
For other PA portals, coverage is not universal, keeping both SPID and CIE active is practical.
Quick checklist before you go
- ✅ Residenza registered in Milan
- ✅ Valid permesso (extra-UE) or renewal proof
- ✅ Codice fiscale / tessera sanitaria
- ✅ One ICAO paper photo (35×45 mm)
- ✅ Valid passport or other ID (or two witnesses)
- ✅ Appointment booked on comune.milano.it (not the national Agenda CIE portal)
- ✅ €22.20 for payment at desk
- ✅ Mailbox/citofono name ready for raccomandata delivery
Official links (bookmark these)
| Resource | URL |
|---|---|
| Milan CIE service + booking | comune.milano.it/servizi/anagrafe/carta-d-identita |
| Milan appointment login (no SPID) | servizicrm.comune.milano.it/appuntamenti/login |
| Milan CIE FAQs (documents, cost, travel) | servizicrm.comune.milano.it, Carta d’identità |
| National CIE portal (info + digital ID) | cartaidentita.interno.gov.it |
| CieID app | cartaidentita.interno.gov.it/info-utili/cie-id |
| Questura appointments (permesso renewal proof) | prenotafacile.poliziadistato.it |
| Fascicolo del Cittadino (SPID or CIE) | fascicolo.comune.milano.it |
| Permesso di soggiorno guide | /blog/permesso-di-soggiorno-milan-newcomers |
| Moving to Milan overview | /blog/moving-to-milan-complete-guide-students-job-seekers-professionals |
| Agenzia delle Entrate: CIE access | assistenza.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/accedere-all-area-riservata |
Sources
- Comune di Milano: Carta d’identità (service page)
- Comune di Milano: First CIE, extra-UE documents
- Comune di Milano: Renewal CIE, extra-UE documents
- Comune di Milano: First CIE, general documents
- Comune di Milano: Booking (no national portal)
- Comune di Milano: Cost €22.20
- Comune di Milano: Receipt not valid abroad
- Comune di Milano: Foreign minors, no espatrio
- Comune di Milano: Photo format
- Ministero dell’Interno: Rilascio e rinnovo CIE
- Prefettura di Roma: Stranieri e anagrafe (ID not valid for espatrio)
- Agenzia delle Entrate: Accedere con CIE
- Comune di Milano: Fascicolo credentials (KA-03726)
- Comune di Milano: Booking login errors (KA-03729)
- Comune di Milano: CIE not recognized online (KA-03728)