Starting from January 1, 2026, Poste Italiane has implemented an annual fee of 6 euros for its digital identity service. This innovation mainly concerns those who have already had a digital identity active for more than twelve months, while new users will pay from the second year onwards.
For those who stay free
The service remains free for some categories: minors, those over 75, residents abroad and those who use Spid for professional use will continue to access without paying anything.
The choice to make the service paid is not an isolated one: in recent times other private operators such as Aruba, InfoCert and Register.it have also abandoned the completely free formula. The main reason, according to Assoutenti, lies in the delays in the disbursement of state contributions which previously financially supported these services.
Method of payment of the contribution
Users have three different options available to pay the annual fee:
Digitally: by accessing your reserved area on the Poste Italiane portal you can proceed with the payment independently
Via a dedicated portal: there is a specific section where you just need to enter your data (tax code and email address) to complete the transaction
At the counters: for those who prefer the traditional method, simply show up at any post office with your tax code
Consequences of non-renewal
Anyone who chooses not to pay the fee will not have their account permanently deleted. The system instead provides for a suspension of the service: the digital identity remains formally active in the archives for a period of two years, but is completely unusable for accessing online services.
During this suspension phase, the user retains the possibility of reactivating the SPID at any time by simply regularizing their position by paying the due fee. Once 24 months have passed without any payment, only then is the profile definitively removed from the system.
Free options still available
Although the panorama is narrowing, there are still several possibilities for obtaining a digital identity without spending anything. However, it is important to make a distinction: many operators maintain free access only for certain identity verification methods.
Generally, activation remains free of charge when using:
In contrast, identification via video call or webcam usually involves a payment.
Free Spid providers
Here are which operators still offer free options (updated January 2026):
Lepida ID – no cost, except for webcam verification
Sielte ID – free if you use CIE, CNS or digital signature
Etna ID – same system: free with electronic documents, paid with video identification
InfoCamere ID – completely free
Intesi Group ID – free limited to recognition methods with digital documents
TeamSystem ID – same policy as the other providers with a mixed formula
For those wishing to compare the costs of the paid options, the rates vary considerably: they start from a few euros per year up to even 70 euros for the most expensive services. Detailed information is available on the official websites of each operator accredited by the Agency for Digital Italy.
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