A coalition of approximately 50 Italian associations in Switzerland has launched a petition to address persistent, long wait times at Italian consulates. Despite public assurances of improvement from Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado following reports in 2024, residents continue to face significant delays, including overloaded phone lines and limited availability on online booking platforms. Protests are scheduled for early September in front of the consulate in Basel to increase pressure on the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Persistent Administrative Delays for Italian Citizens
The current frustration echoes complaints voiced by the Italian diaspora two years ago, when many reported waiting months for appointments to renew passports or identity cards. While Ambassador Cornado previously attributed these delays to staffing shortages—noting at the time that a single employee was responsible for more than 7,000 Italians—he had pledged to resolve the bottleneck through additional personnel and the deployment of mobile teams for fingerprinting. Despite these promises, many residents report that the situation has reverted to previous, difficult conditions.
Did You Know? Two years ago, Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado acknowledged that consulate staff were significantly overextended, with one employee handling the needs of more than 7,000 Italian citizens living in Switzerland.
Public Protest and Calls for Reform
Leo Gentile, a 68-year-old co-initiator of the petition, states that the community has reached a breaking point. According to Gentile, the online booking system remains largely ineffective, and obtaining an appointment within six months is often impossible. The petition, which has already gathered thousands of signatures, aims to compel the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide adequate resources. Gentile emphasizes that the issue lies with the volume of requests rather than the performance of individual consulate employees.
Uncertainty Surrounding Future Operational Changes
While the leadership of several Italian consulates in Switzerland has changed over the past three years, it remains unclear if these personnel shifts were directly linked to the previously announced improvement measures. As of now, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Italian Embassy in Bern have not responded to requests for comment regarding the latest allegations of service failures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Italian associations launching a petition?
The petition was launched due to ongoing, long wait times for passports and identity cards, as well as inaccessible online booking systems and overloaded phone lines at Italian consulates in Switzerland.
What was the response to previous complaints in 2024?
Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado apologized publicly and promised improvements, including more staff, mobile fingerprinting teams, and an increase in the number of travel documents issued.
What is the goal of the planned demonstrations in Basel?
The organizers intend to put pressure on the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address the chronic understaffing and administrative inefficiencies currently affecting the Italian diaspora.
How would you describe your experience with consular services in Switzerland?
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