How to book an appointment at the Italian Consulate 

General overview

To book an appointment at an Italian Consulate outside of Italy, it is mandatory to create and account with the Prenot@Mi online portal.

Appointment slots are often very limited, released at specific times, and filled within minutes, sometimes seconds. The Prenot@Mi booking portal has been reported as technically unstable, highly time-sensitive, and difficult to navigate, with multiple verification steps that must be completed rapidly. As a result, casually or periodically checking the system may prove ineffective, and even well-prepared applicants may face repeated unsuccessful attempts. In some cases, browser back buttons or links do not function properly, making it necessary to log out and clear the browser cache and cookies before attempting to access the system again. Delays of weeks or months in securing an appointment are not uncommon, and persistence is often required.

Account Registration

Before starting, ensure that the following information and documents are readily available: 

1. Valid/current passport: required for each applicant; 

2. The name of the competent Italian Consulate, based on the applicant’s place of residency; 

3. Valid phone number; 

4. Active email address, which will be used to access the system and to receive official communications. 

Once you have the above information, access the Prenot@Mi portal and select Register your account. After you create and verify your account you can access the booking page.

Booking an Appointment 

On the booking page, the immigration appointment options are not particularly intuitive. It generally displays two broad visa categories based on the intended length of stay.

–Schengen Visa: for a stay in Italy for up to 90 days (e.g., for tourist reasons from a country that is not part of the Italian visa waiver program); 

–National Visa: for stays exceeding 90 days (e.g., Digital Nomad, Remote Worker, Elective Residency, Family, Student, Medical, etc.).

Select the appropriate option. In the image below, you can see how they appear on the booking page:

Appointments scheduled using the incorrect category will not be accepted (applicants will be required to rebook the appointment accordingly).  As an additional recommendation, we advise our clients to indicate the specific type of visa in the appointment notes as this additional information assists the Consular Office in identifying the purpose of the appointment from the outset and helps prevent any potential misunderstanding during the scheduling process.

It is important to check all email folders (including spam) for receipt of any emails, including those for the account activation and booking confirmation.

Booking Page, Confirmation and Potential Issues

As said above, unfortunately, the booking area can be unstable and may not display the calendar consistently. In some cases, reloading the page several times may be necessary for the calendar to appear. Once it loads, the calendar displays both available and booked time slots, allowing you to select the date and time of the appointment.

Usually it is possible to book only up to three months in advance. However, in some cases, you might find the option to book further into the future.

Shortly after your selection, a confirmation email will be sent to the email address you provided.

The appointment will also be visible in the Prenot@Mi account under the section “My appointments.” 

Confirmation  

Appointments need to be confirmed 3-10 days prior to the scheduled date through the Prenot@Mi account per the information you received from the booking platform confirming the appointment. If not confirmed, the appointment might be automatically cancelled.

Potential Issues and Alternative Options

If no appointment options are available, or if the portal is not functioning properly, we recommend taking a screenshot of the “no booking available” message and continuing to monitor the booking system periodically. Properly documented screenshots and evidence of repeated unavailability may be relevant in assessing whether your application can be pursued through alternative channels. For example, in the context of Italian citizenship, persistent lack of available appointments or excessively long waiting time may, in certain circumstances, allow an application to be filed directly before the Italian courts, without the need to travel to Italy. If you find yourself in that situation, please contact us for assistance in evaluating and pursuing available alternatives.

Appointment Location 

The system is configured to send appointment reminders by email. However, the address of the appointment location is not included in those messages. The location of the appointment is the Consulate’s main office address, displayed on the Consulate website.