Digital ID in Italy: SPID, CIE and the IT-Wallet
How to prove who you are online in Italy: SPID, the electronic ID card CIE and the IT-Wallet in the IO app, plus where the EU wallet stands in October 2026.
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In Italy you identify yourself online with SPID, a login from an accredited provider, or with the CIE, the electronic identity card. Both feed into the IT-Wallet in the public IO app, which is Italy’s route to the EU wallet. This page explains how these parts fit together as of October 2026.
At a glance
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| National eID or ID card with eID function | Electronic identity card CIE (3.0), used online through its chip |
| Mobile or app solution | CieID app for the CIE; IO app with the IT-Wallet; SPID provider apps |
| Bank-ID | Not the main route; some banks and post offices are among SPID providers |
| eIDAS notification and level | SPID and CIE both notified; levels range from substantial to high, so check the official EU list for the exact mapping |
| EUDI wallet, October 2026 | IT-Wallet live in the IO app; alignment with EU certification continues |
| Responsible body | AgID for SPID accreditation, Ministry of the Interior and the state mint (IPZS) for the CIE, PagoPA for the IO app |
The national system
SPID (Sistema Pubblico di Identità Digitale) lets you access public administration and many private services with one set of credentials. Accredited providers, which include postal and telecoms companies, check your identity and issue the credentials. It has several security levels, from a password up to a second factor, and was the first privately run eID scheme to receive eIDAS notification. The way trust levels work is explained in levels of assurance.
The CIE is the chip-based identity card, rolled out since 2016 and now the standard replacement for the paper card. It identifies you online either through a phone app that reads the chip over NFC or with a card reader. Political discussion has pointed to a gradual shift from SPID towards the CIE, but both were live in October 2026.
How to get it and use it
For SPID, choose a provider, register with your tax code, a valid document and a mobile number, and complete the identity check online, by video or in person. Some providers charge for certain methods, so compare the conditions. For the CIE, apply at your municipality; the card arrives by post, and you set up the digital functions with the codes provided, then use the app to log in. Foreign residents can obtain a CIE if registered in a municipality, and SPID if they hold an Italian tax code and an accepted document.
The EU wallet in Italy (October 2026)
Italy’s path is the IT-Wallet, accessible through the IO app, which you activate with the CIE or SPID. It holds documents such as the driving licence, the health card and the disability card. Reports speak of more than 10 million activations and over 17 million documents loaded, and wallet use is optional. Two implementing decrees were published in summer 2026: from August 2027 municipalities and public bodies must act as authentic sources of attestations, and from February 2028 the state mint is to issue electronic attestations of personal identification after identity verification. These dates sit behind the EU timeline, under which wallets are due by the end of 2026 and mandatory acceptance starts at the end of 2027.
Independent trackers in September 2026 list the IT-Wallet system as an announced project with a public sandbox. For the general picture see the EU Digital Identity Wallet and the guide to the mobile driving licence.
Use abroad and by foreigners
SPID and CIE are notified, so connected services in other member states can in principle accept them; coverage varies, see using your national eID in another EU country. Neighbouring models differ: France uses an ID-card app with a login hub, Austria uses ID Austria and Switzerland is preparing its own state eID.
What to do now
If you already have SPID, you can sign in to the IO app with the CIE or SPID and activate the IT-Wallet; decide which documents you want to add. If you have nothing yet, you will usually apply for the CIE at your municipality first or choose a SPID provider with a free identity check. Keep an eye on deadlines if your SPID provider changes its conditions, and keep the CIE codes in a safe place.
Privacy and security
With SPID your provider knows which services you use, while the CIE reveals data only to the service you approve. Keep the CIE codes secret, use the second factor, and be wary of emails or texts that imitate SPID providers or the tax agency and ask you to enter credentials through a link.
Official sources: SPID, the CIE portal and the IO app.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between SPID and CIE?
SPID is a set of credentials issued by accredited private providers after an identity check, and it works through a login with several security levels. The CIE is the electronic ID card itself, which can authenticate you online through its chip with a phone app or a card reader.
Do I need an Italian tax code for SPID?
In practice yes: SPID is built around the Italian tax code and a valid identity document, and the identity check can be done online, by video or in person depending on the provider. Check the provider conditions and the official SPID pages.
Is SPID going away?
There has been political discussion of a gradual shift towards the CIE and the IT-Wallet, but SPID remained usable in October 2026. Check the official pages for any change before you rely on it for a deadline.
Is the IT-Wallet the EU wallet?
It is Italy's path to it. The IT-Wallet system is live in the IO app and is being aligned with the EU rules, with key implementation dates in 2027 and 2028. In October 2026 it is not yet a fully certified EUDI wallet.