Italian government extends paper ID card validity past Aug 3 2026

On 16 June the Italian Council of Ministers approved a delay to the planned disappearance of paper identity cards. While the transition to the electronic Carta d’Identità Elettronica (CIE) remains mandated by EU regulations, any paper card that has not yet expired will continue to be accepted for "certain purposes and in relations with public administrations and public‑service providers" until its natural expiry date, even after the original 3 August 2026 deadline.

The postponement aims to ease the workload of municipal registry offices, which have struggled with a surge of CIE requests and reduced summer staffing, and to prevent citizens from being left without valid identification. Municipalities may also issue temporary identity documents when a CIE cannot be provided promptly. The EU Regulation 2019/1157 and the 2025 Regulation 1208 require member states to adopt secure, machine‑readable ID documents, driving the overall shift to the CIE.

Poste Italiane announced that from 3 August 2026 the paper card will no longer be accepted at its counters, and travel authorities will treat it as invalid for crossing EU borders, even if the card’s printed expiry date is later. Citizens are advised to obtain a CIE or use other valid ID (passport, driver’s licence) for such purposes.