From 1 Jan. 2026, the Poste Italiane's SPID is a paid service.After years of free access, the company introduces a annual fee of 6 euros for renewal digital identity, aligning itself with other providers such as Aruba and Infocert. This innovation affects millions of Italians who use the digital authentication system to access online services from public administrations and many private companies. Here's who it is free and which alternative for free are available.
Why Poste Italiane's SPID is becoming a paid service: how much it costs and when it expires.
The decision to introduce a cost for SPID is not a coincidence. In recent years, the platform management costs have increased, while public funding for providers was suspended between 2023 and 2025. Although the government allocated €40 million in 2025, operators were requesting €50 million to cover expenses. Consequently, Poste Italiane required private users to pay to ensure the continuity and reliability of the service.
From this year, the renewal of the digital identity will have a cost of 6 euros per year (VAT included), while for new members the first year will remain free. deadline It can be consulted directly in the PosteID app, in the section dedicated to account management. Poste will also send a email reminder 30 days before renewal, with all payment instructions.
Who can continue to use Spid for free?
Not all users have to pay. The service remains Free for some categories such as minors, over 75, residing abroad and who uses Spid for professional reasonsi. For all others, the fee starts when the digital identity expires first after January 1st.
How to pay the Poste Italiane SPID (Italian Postal Service)
SPID renewal can be done either online, directly from your PosteID account or through the dedicated page, or by visiting a post office with your tax code. Those who choose not to pay do not immediately lose their digital identity: the SPID is suspended for 24 months and remains technically active, but unusable, until payment is made to reactivate it.
Free alternatives to Poste Italiane's SPID: what are they?
For those who do not want to pay the fee, there are several free alternativeYou can cancel the PosteID service within 30 days of notification at no cost. Some Spid providers continue to offer the service without fees, at least for now. The most immediate solution, however, remains Cieid, the system digital identity based on the Electronic Identity CardCompletely free and managed by the state, it allows access to the same online services as public administration without relying on private providers, and its activation takes just a few minutes via a dedicated app.
The impact of the new license fee on Italian users
SPID represents one of the most significant successes of Italy's digital transformation, with over 41 million adult users and an 82% penetration rate among the adult population. With Poste Italiane managing approximately 30 million digital identities, the change affects a large portion of the country. The €6 per year fee is low and designed to ensure the sustainability of the service, but those wishing to continue using their digital identity at no cost can turn to free alternatives such as Cieid or other SPID providers.
