[REVISION HISTORY]

EU digital ID transition and rollout

Updated 19 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-29 11:12 UTC → 2026-09-04 10:52 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The EU’s revised eIDAS framework continues to drive national shifts from paper to electronic identity documents. In Italy, the transition from paper to Electronic Identity Cards (CIE) has accelerated. Following the August 3, 2026, loss of international travel validity for paper cards, Italian Prefectures have begun distributing six-month provisional documents for urgent travel. While paper cards remain valid for domestic services ~~like healthcare and social security~~ until 31 January 2027, they are no longer valid for SPID ~~(Public Digital Identity System)~~ access. ~~This requires users, particularly those using PosteID,~~ New regulations for Italian CIEs issued after July 30, 2026, grant citizens aged 70 and older unlimited physical validity to ~~update profiles~~ simplify administrative processes. However, the digital authentication certificate for online services will still expire every 10 years, necessitating a new card for continued digital identity use. Amidst these transitions, Italian authorities have reported a growing trend of individuals intentionally tampering with electronic IDs. In Baiano, a ~~CIE, passport, or driver’s license to maintain access~~ man was referred to ~~portals like INPS and the Revenue Agency. To manage demand, Rome has scheduled extraordinary open days~~ judicial authorities for material forgery after surgically removing the microchip from his CIE ~~issuance~~ to evade digital tracking and ~~renewal~~ bypass automated verification at airports, banks, and public offices. In Switzerland, revisions to identity document ordinances will introduce biometric identity cards on ~~August 29–30,~~ November 1, 2026. These ~~sessions, held at locations including Municipio VII~~ cards will feature a microchip containing a facial image and ~~Municipio III, aim to facilitate processing for citizens, including those reporting theft or loss. Mandatory appointments must be booked via the Ministry of~~ two fingerprints. Swiss citizens can request these starting November 2, 2026. The update also replaces the ~~Interior’s portal.~~ term “provisional passport” with “emergency passport”. In Greece, the implementation of EU regulation 2019/1157 on 3 August 2026 ended the use of old blue police identity cards for international ~~travel because they lack a Machine Readable Zone (MRZ).~~ travel. While ~~these cards remain~~ valid for domestic transactions, citizens must manually update ~~their~~ details with ~~banks, insurers, telecommunications, and utility~~ private providers to avoid service ~~disruptions, as private sector updates are not always automatic via the National Citizen Registry.~~ disruptions. Other regional developments include Hungary’s ~~ongoing~~ transition ~~from booklets~~ to eSzemélyi.

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