Greece bans old police ID cards for travel from Aug 3, 2026

Greece police ID cards travel restrictions new identity card EU security standards

From 3 August 2026 the old blue Greek police identity cards will no longer be accepted as travel documents for trips abroad, including the Schengen area. Citizens must use the new‑type police ID card, which contains a machine‑readable zone and meets EU security standards, or a valid passport.

The new cards can be obtained by booking an online appointment, providing a digital photograph and paying a €10 fee plus a €0.50 police stamp (reduced to €5 for large families). Issuance takes about seven days. The deadline to obtain a new card is 25 September 2027; after that date the old cards remain valid only for domestic identification and transactions until September 2027. Over 4.15 million new IDs had been issued by 31 July, after the Ministry of Citizen Protection increased appointment slots by 28 % and cut processing time from 22 to 14 minutes.

Entities

European Union · European Union Regulation 2019/1157 · Greece · Greek Ministry of Citizen Protection · Greek Ministry of Interior · Greek Police · Greek citizens · Greek government · Greek national ID card · Greek passport · Greek police identity card · Hellenic Police

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 29 SOURCES] From 3 August 2026 the old blue Greek police identity cards will no longer be accepted as travel documents for foreign travel, including the Schengen area. flamis.gr · pellasimera.gr · www.tromaktiko.gr · e-thessalia.gr · www.lykavitos.gr · +19 more
[● 22 SOURCES] Police stations in northern Greece experienced long overnight queues as citizens rushed to obtain passports before the deadline. www.alfavita.gr · www.gazzetta.gr · www.madata.gr · www.newmoney.gr · flamis.gr · +14 more
[● 29 SOURCES] The fee for a new ID is €10 plus a €0.50 police stamp; large families pay €5 plus the stamp. flamis.gr · pellasimera.gr · www.tromaktiko.gr · e-thessalia.gr · www.lykavitos.gr · +19 more
[● 29 SOURCES] Old blue IDs remain valid for domestic transactions and identification until September 2027. flamis.gr · pellasimera.gr · www.tromaktiko.gr · e-thessalia.gr · www.lykavitos.gr · +19 more
[● 29 SOURCES] New IDs are issued after an online police appointment, a photo taken on‑site or submitted electronically, and are delivered in about seven days. flamis.gr · pellasimera.gr · www.tromaktiko.gr · e-thessalia.gr · www.lykavitos.gr · +19 more
[● 29 SOURCES] Citizens may apply for the new ID until 25 September 2027. flamis.gr · pellasimera.gr · www.tromaktiko.gr · e-thessalia.gr · www.lykavitos.gr · +19 more
[● 29 SOURCES] The new Greek identity cards contain a machine‑readable zone (MRZ) and meet EU security standards. flamis.gr · pellasimera.gr · www.tromaktiko.gr · e-thessalia.gr · www.lykavitos.gr · +19 more
[● 29 SOURCES] Citizens who do not obtain a new ID by the deadline must travel with a passport; old IDs cannot be used for passport applications after 3 August 2026. flamis.gr · pellasimera.gr · www.tromaktiko.gr · e-thessalia.gr · www.lykavitos.gr · +19 more