CIE in Rome: Cost, Timeline, and How to Find an Appointment

In a nutshell

The CIE (Carta d'Identità Elettronica — Italy's electronic ID card) costs €22.21 for a new issue or a standard renewal. Once you have your Municipio appointment, the visit itself takes around 20 minutes and the card arrives at your home in 6 working days by post. The real hurdle isn't the cost or the paperwork — it's finding an available slot in time.

At a glance

New issue / renewal fee	€22.21
Duplicate fee (lost/stolen)	€27.63
Time at the counter	15–25 minutes
Home delivery	6 working days (registered mail)
Where in Rome	Any Municipio I–XV or the Anagrafe Centrale, Via Petroselli 50
Payment methods	Debit card, credit card (no Amex), PagoPA, cash (select Municipi only)

What you're actually paying for

The official fee breaks down into two components:

• €16.79 for the production of the card (paid to the Ministry / Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato)
• €5.42 in administrative fees for the Comune (city hall / municipality)

Total: €22.21. No marca da bollo (revenue stamp you stick on official forms) is required — the fixed fees are already included.

If your card was lost, stolen, or damaged the fee rises to €27.63: an extra €5.42 duplicate charge on top of the base amount. If you are also filing a loss report, factor in a separate €16 marca da bollo for that form.

Including the passport photo (if you don't already have one) and travel costs, the realistic total typically lands between €25 and €30.

How to pay at the Municipio

Payment happens on the day of your appointment, directly at the counter. Accepted methods:

• Debit cards (Bancomat / Pagobancomat)
• Credit cards (all major brands except American Express)
• Cash — only at some Municipi; verify beforehand
• PagoPA online: you can pay before your appointment through the Roma Capitale PagoPA portal if you have SPID (Italy's digital identity for accessing online public services) or CIE. Bring the receipt to the counter.

What happens on appointment day

The appointment takes 15–25 minutes on average. The clerk checks your documents, takes your photo and fingerprints digitally, you sign the form electronically, and you pay. Before you leave you receive a paper receipt with a QR code that counts as a valid identity document in Italy until your CIE arrives. Note: this receipt is not valid for international travel.

After the appointment your application is transmitted to the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, which personalises and prints the card within 1–2 working days. Delivery is by registered post to the address you choose: your registered address, any other Italian address you specify, or direct collection at the Municipio if you prefer.

There is no express option

Italy does not offer a paid fast-track CIE service. Six working days is already as fast as it gets.

If you need a travel document urgently, your options are:

• Urgent passport at the Questura (police headquarters — also issues residence permits): available within 1–3 days when there is a documented urgent need.
• Emergency paper CIC at the Anagrafe Centrale, Via Petroselli 50: possible in exceptional cases, at the manager's discretion — treat this as a last resort.

The real challenge: getting an appointment

Availability in Rome varies enormously by Municipio and by time of year. At best you're looking at a 2–4 week wait; during peak periods, particularly in central Municipi, waits can stretch to 2–3 months.

Practical strategies to find a slot sooner:

• Check every Municipio, not just the one nearest to you. You can book at any Rome location regardless of where you live. Outer Municipi tend to have more availability.
• Log into the CIE booking portal between 07:00 and 09:00: new slots are typically unlocked in that window.
• Try again after 22:00: many systems release additional slots overnight.
• Watch for Open Days: Roma Capitale periodically organises weekend sessions (Saturdays and Sundays). Announcements are posted on comune.roma.it.
• Check for cancellations: when someone cancels, their slot becomes available in real time.

Mistakes to avoid

1. Arriving with a non-compliant passport photo. If the photo doesn't meet requirements (white background, face uncovered, correct dimensions), the appointment cannot proceed and your slot is lost.
2. Counting on cash without checking first. Not all Municipi accept cash. Always bring a payment card as a backup.
3. Waiting until it's urgent to book. Rome appointments fill up fast. If you know your card expires within 6 months, book now — you can request renewal up to 180 days before the expiry date.

Special cases

Are you an Italian citizen registered abroad (AIRE)? Applications go through the Italian Consulate in your country of residence. The fee varies (roughly €21.95–€30 depending on the country) and timelines are longer: 4–6 weeks.

Want to track your delivery? After your appointment you receive a tracking number to follow the parcel through Poste Italiane.

CIE hasn't arrived after 6 working days? Call the Ministry of the Interior's dedicated CIE helpline: 800 86 30 70.

Official sources

• Ministry of the Interior — CIE
• Roma Capitale — Electronic Identity Card
• CIE appointment booking
• PagoPA Roma Capitale

Legal references: DM Ministero Interno 25/05/2016 (CIE fees), DM 23/12/2015 (CIE issuance).