Temporary identity card for travel abroad: new developments and restrictions until 2027

Millions of Italians still carry a paper identity card in their pockets. From 3 August 2026, that document will no longer be valid, pursuant to EU Regulation 2025/1208, and the rush to local council offices to obtain the electronic identity card (CIE) has led to queues for appointments in many municipalities that are unlikely to be cleared within a few weeks. For this reason, at the end of June, Decree-Law 108/2026 came into force, granting an extension for the old documents. However, these will not be valid for travelling abroad. This is why the introduction of a provisional identity card is crucial.

The mayor may issue it, in urgent cases, until 31 December 2027. It is therefore not a permanent but a temporary measure, linked to the transition period to the Cie. The document is issued in paper form, is valid for a maximum of six months and is not renewable. Upon receipt of the Cie, the provisional document must be returned to the local council. The citizen is responsible for the costs.

From a legal perspective, the document is classified as a security, in accordance with Law No. 559/1966, and is produced by the State Printing Works and Mint through the company Valoridicarta S.p.A. The standard format will be laid down by a decree of the Ministry of the Interior in conjunction with the Ministries of the Economy and Public Administration.

The provisional document is also valid for travel abroad, in accordance with the Consolidated Act on Public Security. However, there is a warning that the decree expressly imposes at the time of issue: the document may not be accepted by certain foreign states for the purposes of entry into their territory. In essence, the measure advises those who need to travel abroad to carry out a specific check on the country in question.