SPID for Foreigners in Rome: How to Apply Step by Step
You can get SPID even if you're not Italian. You'll need a passport, a residence permit, and a tax ID. Here's which provider to choose and where to go in Rome.
In a nutshell
SPID (Italy's digital identity for accessing online public services) is your master key to every Italian public service: INPS (Italy's social-security agency), Agenzia delle Entrate (Italy's tax-revenue agency), the local health authority, the City of Rome, your residence permit status. Without SPID — or a CIE (Italian electronic ID card) — you can't access almost any government service online. Foreigners can get it too, as long as you have a valid residence permit, a Codice Fiscale (Italian tax ID — your personal 16-character code, used for almost everything), and an Italian mobile number.
At a glance
| Cost | Free with CIE/CNS. Video verification: €10–30. Annual fee from year 2 with some providers: €5–10/year. Sielte: always free. |
| Timeline | As little as 5 minutes (with CIE) up to 1–3 days (in-person or video verification). |
| Where in Rome | Post offices (PosteID), Municipio counters, authorised tobacconists. |
| Documents | Passport + residence permit + Codice Fiscale + Italian mobile number + email |
Why you actually need it
With a single username and password — plus a one-time OTP code via app or SMS — you can access:
- INPS: unemployment benefit (NASPi), family allowance (Assegno Unico), ISEE income indicator, contribution history
- Agenzia delle Entrate: your tax profile, annual tax return (Modello 730), refunds
- Salute Lazio: booking medical appointments, your electronic health record, prescriptions
- App IO: government notifications, pagoPA payments, digital health card
- Sportello Unico Immigrazione (one-stop immigration desk at the Prefettura, the regional state-government office): residence permit status and renewals
- Comune di Roma (Comune — city hall): civil registry certificates, TARI and ZTL payments
- Schools and universities: online enrolment and registration
Without SPID or CIE, you'd have to show up in person for every one of these services. With SPID, you do it all from home.
What you need to apply
You can apply for SPID if you are at least 18 years old and have:
- A valid Italian identity document (paper ID card, CIE, or passport) or a foreign passport plus a valid Permesso di soggiorno (residence permit for non-EU citizens)
- Your Italian Codice Fiscale
- An active Italian mobile number (OTP codes are sent by SMS)
- An email address
If you're an EU citizen, your home-country ID card or passport plus your Italian Codice Fiscale is enough. No residence permit required.
The Italian mobile number is non-negotiable: providers use it to verify your identity and send security codes. An Italian SIM costs a few euros a month and you can activate one with your residence permit.
Which provider to choose
Italy has 9 identity providers accredited by AgID (Italy's digital-agency). Here's a current comparison as of 2026:
| Provider | Activation cost | Annual fee (from year 2) | Free verification method |
|---|---|---|---|
| PosteID (Poste Italiane) | Free year 1 | ~€6/year | At a post office counter |
| Sielte ID | Always free | €0 | Video call |
| Aruba ID | Free year 1 | ~€4.90 + VAT | With CIE/CNS/digital signature |
| InfoCert ID | Free year 1 | ~€5.98 | With CIE/CNS/digital signature |
| Register.it | From €9.90 | ~€9.90/year | With CIE/CNS/digital signature |
For foreigners in Rome, the most practical choice is PosteID if you want in-person verification: post-office staff are used to handling foreign passports and residence permits every day. If you want zero cost and can manage a video call from home, Sielte ID is the only option that stays completely free year after year. If you already have an active CIE, Aruba ID or InfoCert ID let you finish in 10 minutes online with no verification fee.
How to apply with PosteID (step by step for foreigners)
- Go to posteid.poste.it and click "Richiedi SPID."
- Enter your name, surname, Codice Fiscale, email, and Italian mobile number.
- Create a username and password.
- Upload scans of your passport, residence permit, and health card (or Codice Fiscale card).
- Choose your verification method: at a post office (free, and the simplest option for foreigners). Book an appointment via the Ufficio Postale app or at poste.it, then show up with your original documents.
- After verification you receive your credentials by SMS and email.
- Download the PosteID app to generate OTP codes whenever you log in.
With Sielte ID: go to sielteid.sielte.it, register, upload your document and a selfie, then do a free 10–15-minute video call with an operator. They accept a passport plus residence permit.
Where to do in-person verification in Rome
If you choose PosteID, you can book verification at any large post office in Rome. Search by postcode in the Ufficio Postale app or at poste.it and select the "Identificazione SPID" service.
Some Municipio offices of Roma Capitale offer free SPID verification for residents under agreements with the city. Check availability on your Municipio's page.
Some authorised tobacconists (those offering Mooney or PagoPA Spot services) can also verify your SPID identity for around €10–15.
Mistakes to avoid
- Don't pay an agency to set up SPID. There are outfits charging €50–100 to activate SPID. Every official provider costs far less or is free. Use only providers listed at spid.gov.it.
- Never share your username, password, or OTP code with anyone. INPS, Agenzia delle Entrate, and Poste Italiane will never ask for your SPID credentials by phone or WhatsApp. The OTP acts as a signature — don't share it.
- Watch out for phishing about annual fees. If you get a suspicious SMS or email with a link asking you to pay your Poste or Aruba subscription, it's a phishing attack. Only pay by logging directly into the provider's official website with your own credentials.
Special cases
Your residence permit has expired and you're waiting for renewal? PosteID accepts the postal receipt from the renewal application together with the expired permit. Other providers may refuse — ask before starting the process.
You just arrived and don't have a permit yet? You'll need to wait until you at least have the postal receipt from submitting the kit. Without a permit or receipt, SPID is not available. In the meantime, if you're already registered as a resident, you can use the CIE to access government services without SPID.
You already have a CIE? You don't have to get SPID as well. The CIE works to access all public-administration services. SPID is more convenient on mobile (app + OTP), but the two are functionally equivalent.
Italian citizen registered abroad (AIRE)? PosteID, Aruba, and InfoCert offer remote verification by webcam using a CIE or electronic passport.
Official sources
- SPID.gov.it — AgID official site
- How to apply for SPID
- SPID for foreigners — AgID helpdesk FAQ
- SPID in English
- PosteID — Poste Italiane
- Sielte ID
- Aruba ID
- InfoCert ID
Legal references: D.Lgs 82/2005 (Codice dell'Amministrazione Digitale), DPCM 24/10/2014, Regulation (EU) 910/2014 (eIDAS).