The paper identity card will not become completely unusable from August 3, 2026. A few weeks before the deadline set by European regulations, the government introduced a transitional regime to prevent citizens still waiting for the electronic identity card, the Cie, from being left without a usable document to access essential services.
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The exemptions are contained in decree law number 108 of June 26, 2026, published in the Official Gazette and currently under parliamentary conversion. The provision does not interrupt the gradual abandonment of the old format but temporarily maintains its validity only for certain expressly indicated operations.
Usable for essential services
Paper cards not yet expired can continue to be presented in Italy, until January 31, 2027, to obtain health, social security, welfare, and insurance benefits. They will also be accepted in dealings with public administration and public service providers. The extension also concerns operations carried out at banks, post offices, and other financial intermediaries, pension and mail collection, notification of judicial acts, and other essential services of similar importance provided by law.
This is not, therefore, a general extension of validity. From August 3, the paper document can only be accepted in cases identified by the transitional provisions, while its replacement with the Cie will continue.
Existing contracts preserved
Different rules apply to contractual relationships, public or private, initiated by August 3, 2026. When the parties have already been identified through the paper card, the document will continue to be considered valid, until the expiration date shown on the back, for obligations related to that specific contract. The exemption may concern, for example, a notarial deed or another legal relationship already finalized. However, the old card cannot be used indiscriminately to start new contracts after the deadline set by European regulations.
No extension for travel abroad
From August 3, 2026, the paper identity card will in any case lose validity for travel abroad, even when a later expiration date is indicated on the document. It cannot therefore be used as a travel document to reach countries that allow entry with only the identity card. To address the most urgent situations, the decree allows municipalities to issue, in case of justified need or temporary inability to produce the Cie, a provisional identity document in paper format. It can be issued until December 31, 2027, will have a maximum duration of six months, and must be returned when the definitive electronic card is delivered.
However, the actual issuance requires further ministerial guidelines on the model, procedures, and operational methods. Also, before traveling, it will be necessary to verify that the destination country recognizes the provisional document as a valid entry document. Meanwhile, many municipalities have increased appointments and organized extraordinary openings to speed up the transition to the Cie.
The recommendation remains to request the new electronic document without waiting for the expiration of
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