Check with the office. The official pages for this service leave out some details, or are older than a year. Use this page as a starting point and confirm fees and documents before you apply.
The CIE is the Italian electronic identity card, valid for identification and for travel in the EU and several other European countries. AIRE-registered Italians living in NSW apply in person because fingerprints are taken at the consulate.
Where to apply in Australia
Consulate General of Italy in Sydney (Level 19, 44 Market Street, Sydney NSW), for residents of NSW only (Queanbeyan and Cooma fall under the Embassy in Canberra).
Other Italian posts in Australia (Embassy in Canberra, Consulate-General Melbourne, Consulates in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth) run their own pages for their own districts; those were not read in this research, so details here describe the Sydney procedure and may differ elsewhere.
Contact details for every office are on the page of the embassy and consulates of Italy.
How to apply
Update your address on the FAST IT portal if you moved | book a slot on Prenot@mi | attend in person with the documents; photo and biometrics are taken on site | pay on the day by eftpos or cash; the card is posted to your home address
Applications are handled through Prenot@mi (Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs booking portal), https://prenotami.esteri.it; no outsourced provider mentioned.
Documents you need
- Adults: current or previous Italian ID card (expired accepted) or current Italian passport; two witnesses if no ID at all
- Minors: same documents, both parents' consent (form signed by the absent parent), photos only for under 5s, death certificate if a parent has died
- Lost or stolen card: police report number, consulate report form and another ID
Fees and processing time
- Official fee: amount not listed on the Sydney page (tariff sets the fee at the same level as in Italy)
Processing time: Not stated; card delivered by post.
Good to know
Validity: 3 years for ages 0-3, 5 years for 5-18, 10 years over 18 (3-5 not specified). Fee amount not published on pages read.
Official sources
- conssydney.esteri.it/en/servizi-consolari-e-visti/servizi-per-il-ci…
- conssydney.esteri.it/en/wp-json/wp/v2/pages/2254
- esteri.it/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/tariffa_consolare.pdf
Check before you apply
This page summarises information published by Italy's official channels, last checked on 24 octubre 2026. Fees and requirements can change at short notice, so confirm with the office that will handle your case.
Spotted a change? Let us know.
More services of Italy in Australia
- AIRE registration (Italians resident abroad)
- Birth registration of minor children and citizenship declaration
- Conformity stamp on copies and translations; apostille guidance
- Consular certificates (citizenship, family status, civil status)
- Emergency travel document (ETD)
- Italian citizenship by descent (adults)
- Italian citizenship by marriage or civil partnership
- Italian passport (adults and minors)
- National (long-stay) visa for Italy
- Notarial acts and powers of attorney
- Reacquisition of Italian citizenship
- Registration of a death (Italian citizen died in Australia)
- Registration of marriage, divorce and other civil status changes
- Renunciation of Italian citizenship
- Repatriation of human remains or ashes to Italy
- Schengen (short-stay) visa for Italy
- Voting from abroad (Italian elections and referendums)