Dear compatriots,
we are living through a particular time, with the difficulties one can imagine and of which we are fully aware.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, this Consulate has strengthened its telephone lines and e-mail stations in an effort to cope with the many requests from our Italian community. In truth, we have also answered a great many requests coming from citizens of other neighbouring countries.
On our website and on social media, we have published as many as 14 telephone numbers for the offices, which are operational on all working days from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, in addition to two emergency numbers that answer every day (including Saturday and Sunday, but not for appointments) from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm.
Starting from this past 4 May, the office has slowly reorganised access, on the basis of national and local provisions and with the help of a reference physician specially appointed for the COVID-19 emergency to protect both the public and the consular staff themselves.
From 8 June, on the basis of the provisions of decree 34/2020, in particular its article 263, as well as of local law, the recommendations of the supervising Ministry and of the reference physician himself, new provisions were issued for public access to the Consulate and for the procedures for granting appointments, promptly made known to the community. In view of the rescheduling and reduction of access to the office, a front-office capacity 50% greater than pre-Covid conditions was offered.
Access to the Consulate for services that necessarily require the presence of nationals in the offices (passports, identity cards, notarial matters, civil status, etc.) takes place by telephone and/or e-mail appointment (and it could not be otherwise), following a check of the registry and civil-status situation which, where necessary, must first be regularised in order then to receive the appointment.
The public offices most in demand have been strengthened as far as possible, considering that this Consulate has 18 staff, including the Consul, serving more than 105,000 nationals.
This effort and this challenge, despite enormous difficulties due to the strong demand from the community and the aforementioned access limitations at the office for health-safety rules, have allowed us, in less than a month, to achieve satisfactory results:
• Passports issued: 327;
• Identity cards: 93;
• Registry/civil-status procedures: 614.
There is still much to do, counting above all on your understanding: we know that there are still inconveniences for many nationals, but we are working to improve consular activities as a whole day after day, with enthusiasm and perseverance, in order to provide the best of services.
A truly heartfelt thank you to all of you and to the colleagues of the consular office for the commitment and professionalism they have shown!
Wishing you good health!
Pietro Maria Paolucci
Consolato d'Italia Basilea
Schaffhauserrheinweg 5
4058 Basel
Tel. +41 61 690 98 26
Tel. +41 61 690 98 29
segreteria.basilea@esteri.it
www.consbasilea.esteri.it
