An Italian passport (passaporto) is issued only to a citizen of Italy, so "getting a passport" actually means first becoming a citizen and then applying for the document itself. You cannot buy it through investment: any offer of a "turnkey EU passport for money" is a scam. That said, the Italian passport is one of the strongest in the world — consistently top 3–4 for freedom of movement, with simplified entry to nearly 190 countries. For someone who is already a citizen, issuing the document costs around €116, and the passport is valid for 10 years. Below we break down how a passport differs from citizenship, what it grants, and how to obtain it in Italy and abroad, including passports for children and replacements.
Italian Passport and Citizenship: What's the Difference
This is where to start, because this is where the main confusion lies. A passport is not a way to obtain citizenship — it is a document that confirms citizenship you already hold. It is issued only to those who have already become citizens of Italy.
So the order is this: first a person becomes a citizen, and only then applies for a passport. Citizenship is obtained by descent (Italian roots), by marriage, or by naturalization through long-term residence. All the grounds, timelines and requirements are covered in detail in a separate article on how to get Italian citizenship. This article is about the document itself: what it grants and how to obtain it.
The key takeaway is simple. Without citizenship you cannot get a passport, and you cannot buy it for money either. Everything that follows applies to those who already hold citizenship or plan to reach it.
What the Italian Passport Grants
The Italian passport is one of the strongest in the world. In freedom-of-movement rankings it consistently stays in the top 3–4, opening simplified or visa-free entry to roughly 186–189 countries. The exact number and ranking position change from year to year, but the order of magnitude stays the same.
But it's not only about travel. The Italian passport confirms the status of a citizen of the European Union, and that means broad rights:
- Living, working, studying and doing business in any of the 27 EU countries without a visa or work permit; freedom of movement also extends to the EEA countries and Switzerland.
- Consular protection: in a non-EU country where Italy has no embassy, you can turn to the embassy of any other Union country.
- The right to take part in municipal elections and European Parliament elections at your place of residence in the EU.
It is precisely these rights, not just the stamps in the passport, that make Italian citizenship valuable.
Passport or Identity Card: What Each Is For
A subtlety that almost no one explains. For travel within the EU and Schengen, an Italian citizen does not need a passport at all: an electronic identity card (carta d'identità) is enough, provided it is valid for foreign travel.
The difference is in purpose. The identity card works for movement across the European Union and a number of neighbouring countries, while the passport is needed for travel outside the EU: to the USA, Canada, Japan and the rest of the world, often together with a visa. If the card is marked "non valida per l'espatrio", you cannot use it to travel abroad.
How to Apply for a Passport in Italy Step by Step
For a citizen who already holds the status, the procedure looks like this.
- Book online. Booking goes through the state passport portal (passaportonline.poliziadistato.it), logging in with SPID or the electronic CIE identity card.
- Choose a location. The passport is issued at the questura (ufficio passaporti) or the police commissariat of your place of residence. Since 2024 the application can also be submitted at post offices under a project for small towns.
- Gather the documents: a valid identity card and its copy, one photograph in 35×45 mm international-standard format, payment receipts, and the old passport if you have one.
- Complete the biometrics. At the office they take fingerprints (from age 12) and a digital signature. Personal presence is mandatory.
- Collect the finished passport. Production usually takes from a few working days to a few weeks. Paid home delivery is available.
One point worth keeping in mind: biometrics are taken only by the police, so even when applying via the post office you will still have to come to the questura or commissariat for fingerprints.
How Much It Costs and How Long It Is Valid
Issuing the passport costs roughly €116. The sum consists of an administrative fee (a stamp duty of the new type) of €73,50, bought at a tobacco shop, plus the cost of the passport booklet itself, around €42,50. The former annual passport duty no longer exists — it has been abolished. From the end of 2025 the payment for the booklet is made through a new state payment platform rather than the old postal receipt.
Validity depends on age. Adults are issued a passport for 10 years, children aged 3 to 18 for 5 years, and infants under 3 for 3 years. An important detail: the Italian passport is not renewed. When its validity expires, the pages run out or the data changes, a new document is issued through the usual procedure.
Passports for Children
Special rules apply to a minor's passport. The consent (assenso) of both parents is required, signed before an official, along with the personal presence of the child. If one parent cannot attend, their signed consent with a copy of their ID is attached. If one parent refuses, the matter is decided by the guardianship judge.
And here a widespread outdated myth should be dispelled. Previously, a parent of minor children needed the consent of the other parent or a judge's authorization to obtain their own passport. Since 2023 this requirement has been abolished: such consent is no longer needed for your own passport. The consent of both parents remains mandatory only for the child's own passport.
One more detail: it is no longer possible to include a child in a parent's passport — each person must have their own document.
How to Apply for a Passport Abroad
Italian citizens living outside the country apply for a passport through the consulate. The procedure is the same as in Italy: booking, documents, biometrics and payment, but the process usually takes noticeably longer.
There is a mandatory condition. For the consulate to accept the application, you must be registered in the register of Italians residing abroad (AIRE). Without this registration you will not be able to obtain a passport at the consulate. Appointments are booked through the consular booking system Prenot@Mi.
What to Do If It Is Lost, Stolen or Runs Out of Pages
If the passport is lost or stolen, the procedure is as follows. First you file a report of the incident (denuncia) with the police, and then you apply for a new passport, attaching the report of this statement to the document package.
In all other cases — when the pages for visas have run out, the validity has expired or personal data has changed — the Italian passport is neither filled up further nor renewed; instead a new one is issued through the standard procedure. For urgent situations a temporary passport is provided, valid for up to 12 months.
Can You Buy an Italian Passport Through Investment
The short answer: no. There is no direct "citizenship or passport for investment" in Italy. The investor visa from €250.000 grants only a residence permit, but not citizenship and not a passport. Any offer of a "turnkey EU passport for money" is a scam, and buying a forged document is a criminal offence.
There is only one legal path to a passport, and it runs through citizenship, while citizenship is granted for years of legal residence. The scheme looks like this: first a residence permit, described in the article on how to get an Italian residence permit; after five years permanent status opens up, covered in the material on how to get Italian permanent residence; and after ten years, citizenship, and with it the right to a passport.
At Law Honor we build this entire path: we arrange an Italian residence permit on a turnkey basis as the first step and support the client all the way to permanent residence and citizenship, after which issuing the passport itself becomes a formality. And one more thing. Italy allows dual citizenship — you do not need to renounce your previous passport, although you may be required to notify the authorities of your country about the second citizenship.
What's Next
If your goal is an Italian passport, start with an honest assessment of the path to citizenship. Those with close Italian roots or a citizen spouse have a shorter road; for everyone else the real path is legal residence and naturalization. Law Honor lawyers will help you choose a basis, arrange a turnkey residence permit and guide you through the whole path to citizenship. A first consultation can be obtained free of charge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get an Italian passport without citizenship? No. The passport is issued only to citizens of Italy; it is a document confirming citizenship you already hold. To get a passport you must first become a citizen: by descent, by marriage, or by naturalization through long-term residence.
Can you buy an Italian passport through investment? No. There is no direct citizenship or passport for investment in Italy. The investor visa grants only a residence permit. Any offer of a "turnkey EU passport for money" is a scam, and a forged document is a criminal offence.
How long is the Italian passport valid? Adults are issued a passport for 10 years, children aged 3 to 18 for 5 years, and infants under 3 for 3 years. The Italian passport is not renewed; when it expires a new document is issued.
How much does it cost to obtain an Italian passport? Around €116: an administrative fee (stamp duty) of €73,50 plus the cost of the booklet, around €42,50. The former annual duty no longer exists.
Where do you book a passport appointment? In Italy — through the state passport portal (passaportonline.poliziadistato.it), logging in with SPID or CIE; it is issued at the questura, the commissariat, and since 2024 also at post offices in small towns. Abroad, the passport is made through the consulate by appointment in the Prenot@Mi system, provided you are registered in AIRE.
Do you need a passport for travel within the EU? No. For movement within the EU and Schengen, an Italian citizen only needs an electronic identity card valid for foreign travel. A passport is needed for travel to countries outside the European Union.
How do you apply for a child's passport? The consent (assenso) of both parents is required, along with the personal presence of the child. If one parent objects, the matter is decided by the guardianship judge. A child's passport has a shorter validity: 5 years for children aged 3 to 18 and 3 years for infants under 3.
What do I do if my passport expires while I am abroad? If you are an Italian citizen living abroad, a new passport is issued through the consulate, provided you are registered in AIRE. For urgent cases a temporary passport is provided, valid for up to 12 months.
Does Italy allow dual citizenship? Yes. Italy permits dual and multiple citizenship — you are not required to renounce your previous passport when obtaining the Italian one. That said, you may need to notify the authorities of the country of which you are already a citizen about the second citizenship — this depends on its laws.