According to an official report from the Italian government, released last week, the number of Italian citizens residing abroad has surpassed 7,3 million. This data was presented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during a meeting of the General Council of Italians Abroad (CGIE) in Rome.
The information is contained in a document signed by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. The meeting took place between September 29th and October 3rd. The text defines guidelines for policies aimed at Italian communities worldwide.
The Secretary General of CGIE, Maria Chiara Prodi, highlighted the significant growth of the Italian population abroad. "Undersecretary (Giorgio) Silli provided us with the updated figures for those registered with AIRE, which are 7 million and 300 thousand. The speed at which this number is growing is impressive," she stated. She believes joint action by institutions is necessary to address the challenges this volume poses.
Growth in emigration and consular reinforcement
The government reaffirmed its commitment to the Italian diaspora and reinforced the role of the CGIE as an institutional partner. The document also details measures to improve consular services, such as access to civil documentation and the promotion of Italian culture and language.
Between January and August 2025, Italian consulates issued approximately 400 passports. The number of offices with the capacity to issue the new Electronic Identity Card (CIE), currently available at 174 consulates, also increased. The goal is to reach the entire network by December.
Starting August 3, 2026, old paper ID cards will no longer be valid. To support this transition, the government has allocated an additional R$4 million to consulates, distributed proportionally to the number of passports issued.
Another new feature is the introduction of the new Emergency Travel Document (ETD), aligned with European Union regulations.
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