Italy imposes Aug 3 deadline for paper identity cards, mandates electronic CIE
A decree converted into law on 29 July 2026 sets 3 August 2026 as the date when Italy’s paper identity cards cease to be accepted for travel abroad and for many public and private services. The documents will still be usable domestically for certain purposes until 31 January 2027, such as opening insurance contracts or accessing some public‑administration services.
Citizens aged 70 years or older who obtain a new electronic identity card (CIE) will receive it with unlimited validity, while younger holders must renew it periodically. Municipal offices across the country – including Mazara del Vallo, Fasano, Napoli and Rome – organised special “open‑day” sessions on 1‑2 August 2026 to allow rapid replacement of paper cards.
Rome’s demographic services reported issuing 230 000 CIE between 1 January and 31 July 2026 and project nearly 400 000 by year‑end, a 60 % drop in paper cards to 140 000. Italians registered abroad (AIRE) may apply for a CIE at any Italian municipality from 1 June 2026 and receive the card by mail.
The transition is part of a broader digital‑identity push, but unrelated initiatives such as the IT‑Wallet for licences and digital voting are separate programmes.
Entities: Electronic Identity Card (CIE) · Francesca La Marca · Italian Government · Italian Ministry of the Interior · Italy · PNRR decree‑law n. 19/2026 · Rome Capitale
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Electronic identity cards issued to citizens aged 70 years or older have unlimited validity. (Parliamentary documentation cited in media reports)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Paper identity cards will remain valid for certain domestic purposes until 31 January 2027. (Italian decree converted into law on 29 July 2026)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Rome issued 230 000 electronic identity cards between 1 January and 31 July 2026 and expects about 400 000 by year‑end, while paper cards fell to 140 000, a 60 % reduction. (Rome Capitale demographic services data)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The transition rules are part of a decree converted into law on 29 July 2026. (Italian legislative process)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Paper identity cards will no longer be valid for travel abroad starting 3 August 2026. (Italian decree converted into law on 29 July 2026)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Italians registered abroad (AIRE) may apply for a CIE at any Italian municipality from 1 June 2026 and receive it by mail. (Senator Francesca La Marca (PD) statement)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Municipal offices in Mazara del Vallo, Fasano and Napoli held special opening days on 1‑2 August 2026 for CIE issuance. (Local municipal communications)