Consulate General of Italy in Toronto: Consular Services issued in 2024 at a glance

Main activities carried out by the Consulate General in Toronto: 2024 results

Taking stock of the year 2024, the overall outcome in terms of consular services issued to users confirms the positive trend established in 2023, testifying to the effectiveness of the internal reorganization and digitization processes initiated in the second half of 2022, despite the persistence of staff shortages (to give an idea: in 2003, 41 people composed the staff of the Consulate; currently, 24 people are on duty).  All improvement targets set for 2024, given the human resources available, were achieved and even exceeded, particularly with reference to those services that are most requested.

The community of Italians (including those with other nationalities) registered in the Registry of Italians Abroad (AIRE) for the jurisdiction of the Consulate is still growing, rising from 75,497 people as of Dec. 31, 2023 to 76,892 residents (+2 %) as of Dec. 31, 2024. Below is a table on AIRE trends in recent years:

2024 Statistics– AIRE

With reference to the main services provided (which are only a part, albeit the most significant proportionally, of the various services delivered to users):

• PASSPORTS for Italian citizens: 6,000 passports were issued during the year, which represents the new highest ever peak in the past twelve years (the previous “record” was in 2023). The following tables document the results.

• We also highlight the sharp increase of the complex applications received for recognition of Italian Citizenship by Descent: 701 in 2024. The new appointment calendar for 2025 will be open soon and it will offer a slight increase in available slots (tailored on the Consulate’s actual handling capacity). However, the reality is that in the second half of 2024 we saw an average of 250 requests per day for appointments, well beyond the Consulate’s capacities in terms of staff. Indeed, the potential number of applicants is enormous: almost one million Canadians of Italian origin (data from the last Canadian census) live in Ontario alone.

• In 2024, the issue of visas (for stays up to 90 days = Schengen; for stays over 90 days = National), the last service we reorganized, also saw sharply increasing numbers.

In 2025, the Consulate General in Toronto will focus on consolidating those positive results and, within the existing human resources, will aim at further improvements in the level of services rendered to users also in other important areas such as, for example, electronic identity cards.

We will also continue to plan events and initiatives in the field of economic promotion and to expand interest in Italian language and culture.

We remind that the Consulate’s website ( consotoronto.esteri.it ) is the main source for up-to-date and detailed information on services, how to obtain them, and whether or not it is necessary to book an appointment online at the PRENOT@MI portal.

The switchboard operator can assist the user in locating information on the website, but  he/she cannot book appointments on behalf of callers, nor is he/she able to provide consultancy on personal files or applications.