Ambasciata d'Italia Colombo

WHAT IS THE ELECTRONIC IDENTITY CARD (CIE)

The Electronic Identity Card (Carta d’Identità Elettronica – CIE) is the official identity document for Italian citizens. It is issued by the Italian Ministry of the Interior and produced by the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato. Thanks to advanced security and anti-counterfeiting features, the CIE enables verification of the holder’s identity and provides access to digital services offered by the Italian Public Administration.

The CIE is valid as a travel document and may be used to enter and travel within European Union countries, certain countries in the Schengen Area (e.g. Iceland, Norway and Switzerland), and other countries with which bilateral agreements are in place. For up-to-date information on the countries where the CIE may be used as an entry document, please consult the individual country information pages available on www.viaggiaresicuri.it.

WHO CAN APPLY FOR A CIE AT THE EMBASSY

The CIE may only be issued to Italian citizens who are permanently resident in Sri Lanka or the Maldives and are duly registered with AIRE. For information on the correct AIRE registration procedure, please refer to the dedicated AIRE page on this website.

Italian citizens born abroad must also ensure that their birth certificate has already been registered in the Civil Status Records of the relevant Italian municipality, as the registration details must be included on the CIE.

Please note: As of 1 June 2026, Italian citizens registered with AIRE may apply for an Electronic Identity Card at any municipality in Italy. The identity card will be delivered in accordance with the same arrangements applicable to applications submitted through a Consular Office. Applicants may either collect it in person from the municipality or request that it be sent to their address abroad.

WHEN CAN YOU APPLY FOR A CIE AT THE EMBASSY

You may apply for a CIE in the following cases:

first-time application/first issuance (if you do not already hold an identity card);
theft, loss or damage of your identity card;
replacement of a paper identity card;
replacement of a first- or second-generation CIE (issued before 4 July 2016).

HOW TO APPLY FOR A CIE AT THE EMBASSY

To apply for an Electronic Identity Card, you must:

Book an appointment through the Prenot@mi platform by selecting the “Identity/Travel Documents” service. You may make an individual booking or a multiple booking from a single account for up to two additional family members.

Please note: If your residential address has changed since you last notified the Consular Office, you must request an update of your address through the FAST.IT portal before booking your CIE appointment.

At least 7 days before your appointment, send the following documents to ambcolombo@esteri.it:
- the relevant application form, available at the following links: CIE Application Form for Adults or, for applicants under the age of 18, CIE Application Form for Minors;
- a copy of the front and back of your current identity card.

Failure to submit the required documentation at least 7 days before the appointment will result in the cancellation of the appointment.

The Embassy will carry out the preliminary checks required by law. Should these checks identify any circumstances preventing the issuance of the CIE, the Embassy will inform the applicant accordingly, including for the purpose of cancelling the appointment.

On the day of the appointment, applicants and/or identity card holders over the age of 12 must appear in person for the collection of biometric data.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED AT THE APPOINTMENT

On the day of the appointment, you must provide:

one recent passport-size photograph (optional for applicants over the age of 12, who may have their photograph taken at the Consular Office);
your current identity card. If you do not have one, you must provide another valid Italian identification document;
where applicable, the police report concerning the loss or theft of your previous valid document, together with the relevant Identity Card/CIE Loss or Theft Form;
a Parental Consent Form signed by both parents if the applicant is under 18. In particular:
- If the parent giving consent is an EU citizen, they are not required to appear in person at the Embassy. It is sufficient to submit the duly completed and signed Consent Form together with a copy of that parent’s passport or identity card.
- If the parent giving consent is a non-EU citizen, they must appear in person at the Embassy on the day of the appointment to sign the consent declaration and must present a valid identity document.

FEES AND PAYMENT

The CIE fee is payable in Sri Lankan rupees (LKR), based on the applicable euro equivalent:

€21.95 for a first issuance or renewal;
€27.11 for a replacement due to theft, loss or damage of a CIE that is still valid.

Payment must be made in cash on the day of the appointment.

DELIVERY OF THE CIE

The Electronic Identity Card is not issued or handed over on the day of the appointment.

The card is produced in Italy and sent directly to the address provided by the applicant. Applicants may track the delivery through the Poste Italiane website (https://www.poste.it/prodotti/raccomandata.html) by selecting “Cerca spedizioni” (“Track shipment”) and entering the registered-mail tracking number shown on the CIE application receipt provided at the appointment.

If delivery is unsuccessful after three attempts, the CIE will be returned to the Embassy. The Embassy will then contact the applicant to arrange collection from the Consular Office.

VALIDITY OF THE CIE

The validity of the CIE depends on the holder’s age.