Paper identity card expiring, it will be valid for a short time only

From August 2026, the old paper identity card will no longer be sufficient to cross European borders. EU Regulation 1157/2019 introduces the obligation to have the electronic version, complete with optical reading zone MRZ , to ensure faster and safer checks. What seemed like a distant adjustment is instead coming five years early, making approximately 5 million paper documents still in circulation unusable for expatriation.

For those who live in small municipalities, where the diffusion of the Cie began after 2016, the countdown has already begun. It is advisable to make an appointment at the registry office immediately to replace the paper card with the electronic one. In addition to avoiding long waits during the summer, it also opens the way to abandoning the Spid in favor of the new CieD credentials, with the added advantage of safer and more immediate access to the online services of the Public Administration.

Goodbye to the paper identity card: the regulation

The heart of the change lies in the implementation of European security requirements: from 3 August 2026, every paper identity card will lose its validity for travel abroad because it lacks the MRZ. This section, consisting of three lines of monospaced characters, allows machines to automatically read the name, surname, date of birth and document number, increasing the reliability and speed of checks.

Although the regulation allows until 2031 to adapt the formats of all States, the absence of the MRZ accelerates the expiry of the Italian paper version by five years. According to recent estimates, when the validity ends, approximately five million paper cards will still be in use, mostly issued by Municipalities that introduced the Cie only after 2016.

How to request the CIE

In order not to be left without a valid document for expatriation , it is advisable to immediately book an appointment at the registry office of the Municipality of residence. It is necessary to present a passport photo compliant with ICAO standards, the old paper identity card (or, in case of loss, the relative report) and the tax code.

For minors, however, the presence of both parents with an identity document is required. After paying the cost of 22 euros , preferably by debit card, the Cie is delivered within six working days directly to your home or collected at the Municipality.

Those who adopt the electronic card will also be able to gradually abandon the use of Spid , switching to CieD credentials to access the online services of the Public Administration. This upgrade, in addition to ensuring greater safety when traveling, simplifies interaction with government portals, marking a further step towards the digitalization of public services.