Paper ID cards lose EU travel validity in Italy and Greece from Aug 3, 2026

From 3 August 2026 the paper identity cards issued in Italy and Greece can no longer be used for travel abroad, including within the European Union. The change follows the introduction of higher‑security European standards and a decree law (n. 108/2026) that requires citizens to hold an electronic identity card (CIE) or a valid passport for any trip outside the country.

Domestic use of the old paper IDs is still permitted until 31 January 2027 for essential services such as health care, banking, social security and interactions with public administration. Municipalities are accelerating the rollout of electronic cards: Bergamo (Italy) has opened extra appointment slots, and Trento (Italy) urges citizens to book early. The new electronic cards include biometric data, a personal number and require a digital photograph, fingerprint scans and a modest fee.

The transition aims to complete the replacement of all paper documents across the two nations and to ensure compliance with EU Regulation 2019/1157, which prohibits paper IDs for international travel after the August deadline.