From 30 July 2026, the Electronic Identity Card (Carta d’Identità Elettronica – CIE) issued to citizens aged 70 or above will have unlimited validity. It will remain valid for travel abroad. This means that citizens aged 70 or over, whose CIE was issued on or after 30 July 2026, will no longer be required to renew their identity card periodically.
This was established by Italian Ministry of the Interior Circular No. 15483 of 24 July 2026.
The above Circular clarifiesthat the card’s unlimited validity does not apply in the following cases:
- Digital identification using the Electronic Identity Card. This will continue to be subject to the standard 10-year validity period. Citizens aged 70 or over will therefore need to renew their card when the 10-year period expires if they wish to continue accessing online public services using their Electronic Identity Car.
- Automated e-gates in airports. In this case too,the Electronic Identity Card will remain valid for 10 years. Once this period has expired, the card can only be used at border crossings if it is inspected manually by border officials.
All Italian Consular Officeswill be able to issue the abovementioned type of Electronic Identity Card from Thursday, 30 July 2026.
For further information, please refer to the notice published on the website of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation:
Paper identity cards: validity for travel abroad ends on 3 August– Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
