Airports and airlines operating out of Belgium issued an urgent notice on 22 July reminding Italian and Greek nationals living in Belgium that their old paper identity cards will cease to be accepted as travel documents from 3 August 2026. The clamp-down stems from an EU Regulation aimed at standardising security features; only electronic biometric cards (EICs) will remain valid for cross-border travel. Charleroi Airport, a key low-cost hub for southern-Europe flights, said passengers presenting the paper cards will be denied boarding. With thousands of southern-European expatriates due to fly home in August, consulates fear a last-minute rush for appointments. Italian municipalities started overseas EIC issuance on 1 June, but appointment backlogs average six weeks; Greek residents must renew in Greece, complicating matters further. The policy also affects HR departments that use foreign ID cards for right-to-work checks in Belgium. Employers are advised to update onboarding procedures and inform staff of the impending change to avoid stranded returnees or missed project deadlines. Travel insurers note that passengers barred at security for invalid documents have no automatic right to compensation under EU261 rules, shifting the onus onto travellers and their employers.
Source: The Brussels Times
