A decree-law (n. 108/2026) published in the Official Gazette and reported by expatriate association “Bellunesi nel Mondo” on 3 July extends the domestic validity of Italy’s old paper identity cards beyond their original 3 August 2026 expiry. Municipalities may therefore keep recognising the document for health-care registration, banking and other on-shore services until its natural printed date. Crucially, the extension does not cover international use: from 3 August onward only the electronic identity card (CIE) or a passport will be accepted at EU and Schengen borders.
![Paper ID cards get last-minute Italian extension—but remain invalid for travel]()
For travelers who now need to secure a CIE, renew a passport, or determine whether a visa is required for their next destination, VisaHQ can simplify the paperwork. Its Italy-specific portal offers interactive checklists, step-by-step application support and optional courier delivery, saving time for individual citizens, mobility managers and HR teams alike.
The Interior Ministry hopes the grace period will ease queues in town halls struggling to issue CIEs but is urging citizens—including nearly six million Italians registered with AIRE abroad—to apply immediately. Italian consulates, notably in Barcelona, London and Buenos Aires, have announced extra Saturday openings to handle the surge. Airlines have started warning passengers that check-in agents will refuse paper IDs for outbound flights after the deadline. HR mobility managers should circulate reminders to assignees and dependent family members: holding a paper ID will no longer suffice for business trips, even within the EU. Companies that sponsor non-EU employees for intracompany transfers should verify that residence-permit renewals are filed with travel documents acceptable post-3 August or risk assignment delays. Travel-management providers meanwhile recommend adding ID-expiry checks in online booking tools to catch outdated documents automatically.
For travelers who now need to secure a CIE, renew a passport, or determine whether a visa is required for their next destination, VisaHQ can simplify the paperwork. Its Italy-specific portal offers interactive checklists, step-by-step application support and optional courier delivery, saving time for individual citizens, mobility managers and HR teams alike.
The Interior Ministry hopes the grace period will ease queues in town halls struggling to issue CIEs but is urging citizens—including nearly six million Italians registered with AIRE abroad—to apply immediately. Italian consulates, notably in Barcelona, London and Buenos Aires, have announced extra Saturday openings to handle the surge. Airlines have started warning passengers that check-in agents will refuse paper IDs for outbound flights after the deadline. HR mobility managers should circulate reminders to assignees and dependent family members: holding a paper ID will no longer suffice for business trips, even within the EU. Companies that sponsor non-EU employees for intracompany transfers should verify that residence-permit renewals are filed with travel documents acceptable post-3 August or risk assignment delays. Travel-management providers meanwhile recommend adding ID-expiry checks in online booking tools to catch outdated documents automatically.
