What documents are required? 1
How long does it take to get a passport? 3
In which countries can you travel without a passport?
Where to request it
A passport is the only identification document that allows you to travel outside the European Union ; it is valid for ten years, and once this period has elapsed, since it cannot be renewed, you must request a new passport and return the old one.
Regarding the application for issuance , even if this is your first time issuing a passport, the most popular method is to apply directly to one of the following offices in your place of residence, domicile, or abode: the Police Headquarters , the passport office of the Public Security Commissioner , or the Carabinieri station . Italians residing abroad should submit the application to a diplomatic or consular representation.
Waiting times can vary from 1/2 days up to a couple of weeks, especially near the summer season and therefore mass departures.
A new, very useful service for reducing waiting times is available: you can apply for a passport online on the Italian State Police website, in the online passports section. This service allows you to reserve the date, place, and time to submit your application, thus avoiding long lines at the offices.
What documents are required to submit?
To obtain a passport, you need to have a series of documents :
- The printed “Passport Application ” form duly completed in all its parts (the form for adults and one for minors is available);
- A valid identity document;
- 2 recent and identical passport photos;
- A receipt for payment of €42.50 (ordinary passport). This payment must be made exclusively through a payment slip to account no. 67422808, made out to the Ministry of Economy and Finance – Treasury Department. The reason for payment must be: “Amount for the issuance of the electronic passport”;
- A revenue stamp worth €73.50 (administrative fee);
- The printout of the receipt that will be sent by the system following registration on the Passport Agenda website;
- If you request a new passport due to deterioration or expiration of your old one, you will also need to submit the old document for return;
- If you request a new passport due to theft or loss , please bring the relevant report.
Cost
Until June 24, 2014, a €40.29 annual passport tax was in effect. Since it was abolished, effective from that date, all passports, including those already issued, will be valid until the expiration date indicated on the document, without the need to pay the annual tax.
As of today, the total cost of a passport is €116: the stamp duty is €73.50, and the postal payment is €42.50. Starting October 27, 2014, a new service is available to all citizens: “Passport Delivery .” Thanks to this service, implemented in collaboration with Poste Italiane, citizens can request the document be delivered to their home by completing and returning a Poste Italiane envelope, provided by the Police Headquarters or police station, and then paying €8.20 cash on delivery.
Passport validity period
The passport issued by the Italian Republic is valid for 10 years ; upon expiration, it is necessary to request a new document.
Physically, a passport resembles a paper booklet ; its unique feature is the microchip installed on the cover that allows for virtual identification of the citizen, thus preventing easy forgery or identity fraud. The microchip stores all of the citizen’s personal information, passport photos, and fingerprints.
How to book the release
Passports have been the focus of media attention lately. The pandemic years, in fact, rendered this document essentially useless, as travel was prohibited. Over the two years of the pandemic, deadlines and unanswered requests piled up, resulting in a surge in applications starting in mid-2022. However, the public officials responsible for issuing and renewing passports represent a significantly small number compared to demand. Therefore, to date, passport issuance and/or renewal times have dramatically lengthened in nearly all Italian cities.
The easiest way to avoid queues and short waiting times is to make a reservation for issuance through the official website of the State Police: https://www.passaportonline.poliziadistato.it/
You can access it using your electronic identity card or SPID , and from there choose the police headquarters or police station in your city, the day and time to go to request the issue and take your fingerprints, which are essential for accessing the document issue.
Once your fingerprints have been taken, you can go to the designated office with all the documents needed to complete the passport application.
How to request renewal
A passport is valid for 10 years . If it expires, or if it’s stolen or lost, you must apply for a new passport. A duplicate passport can never be requested; therefore, the process (fingerprinting and submitting all required documentation) must be repeated each time.
If your passport is lost or stolen , you must report it to the police station . If you are considering applying for a new passport because your current one is damaged or damaged (ie, illegible and unusable), you must submit the old document along with the documentation. The police station will then cancel and dispose of it.
How long does it take to get a passport?
Once the process is completed, the passport issuance time is approximately 20 days.
The document can also be collected by a person other than the applicant, provided that the latter has a proxy authorized by a notary or a registry official.
Finally, it is possible to receive the passport comfortably at home by paying a surcharge of €9.50 on delivery.
If you have a proven need to obtain a passport quickly, the Italian State Police website states that it’s best to go directly to the Police Station or Questura to expedite the process. If you’re abroad and have lost or misplaced your passport , it’s essential to go to the Italian embassy to obtain a temporary travel document ( ETD ). Once you return to Italy, you can reapply for a passport using the standard procedure.
As of June 27, 2012, the registration of minors on their parents’ passports is no longer valid; the minor must therefore have a personal travel document .
There are two types of passports for minors: documents for minors aged 0 to 3 years (valid for three years) and those for minors aged 3 to 18 years (valid for five years).
The procedure to follow and the documentation to submit are the same as those valid for adults, with the difference that to request a passport for a minor, the consent of both parents is essential, who must sign in front of a Public Official at the office where the request is submitted.
If one parent is unable to wait for the signing, the request must include a photocopy of that parent’s original signed document and a written declaration confirming the minor’s consent to travel abroad, also signed in original.
If the passport applicant is a parent of minor children , whether married, cohabiting, separated, divorced, or simply the biological parent, they must provide the consent of the other parent . If the other parent is unable to appear before the Public Official to sign the consent, who is responsible for authenticating the signature, they will need to submit a photocopy of the absent parent’s document, signed in original, and a written and signed consent to travel abroad. This procedure is required by law for the protection of minors .
The passport for animals
Pets also need passports to travel abroad. For our four-legged friends, a travel document is mandatory for travel within EU countries and can be requested from the veterinary services associated with the local health authority (ASL) in your area.
In addition to a passport, dogs, cats, and ferrets can travel to EU member states with their owners, who assume full responsibility for them. Aside from a passport, the only requirement for animals is a microchip.
In which countries can you travel without a passport?
There are many destinations you can reach without a passport. Here are a few:
- Saint Martin
- Aruba
- Guadeloupe
- French Polynesia
- French Guiana
- New Caledonia
