Italy to cease validity of paper identity cards on August 3

From 3 August, Italy will no longer accept paper identity cards as valid documents within the country or across the European Union. The only acceptable form of identification will be the electronic identity card (Carta d'Identità Elettronica, CIE).

The Department for Digital Transformation of the Presidency of the Council, together with the Ministry of the Interior and the Department for Information and Publishing, has launched an information campaign titled “If it’s not electronic, it’s not valid”. The campaign, produced by the State Printing Works and Mint, uses radio and TV spots and social‑media content to illustrate everyday situations where the CIE is required, such as boarding a commercial flight, conducting a banking transaction, or age verification for entry to nightclubs. Citizens are urged to apply for a new electronic card at their municipality well before the deadline.

The move is presented as a step toward further digitalisation, enhanced security standards and modernisation of Italy’s identification system.