The Sports Decree has become law: the deadline for paper identity cards has been postponed – what happens next?

Amidst provisions on sports justice and funding for football, the Sports Decree – which has just been passed into law – also includes a measure affecting millions of citizens that has nothing to do with sport: the extension of the validity of paper identity cards.

The provision, which the government had already included in the original text of 16 June, addresses a practical problem: the transition to the electronic identity card (CIE) is proceeding at a varying pace across the country, with some local authorities falling behind in issuing them and citizens left without a valid identity document.

The paper identity card may be used, pending the issue of the Cie, until 31 January 2027. Permitted uses include the exercise of fundamental rights; access to healthcare, social security and insurance benefits; dealings with the public administration and with bodies providing public services; the delivery of post and court documents; and the withdrawal or deposit of money at banks, financial institutions or post offices.

For contractual relationships, whether public or private, entered into by 3 August 2026 using a paper identity card to identify the parties, the document remains valid until the natural expiry date specified in the contract already signed: anyone who has signed a mortgage, an insurance policy or an employment contract using the old identity card will therefore not need to worry about any disputes regarding the validity of their identification.

There is one significant issue that is not covered by the extended identity card: travelling abroad. For this reason, mayors will be able to continue issuing, pending the issue of the Cie, a provisional paper identity document – which is non-renewable and valid for no more than six months – in accordance with a model to be defined by decree of the Ministry of the Interior, in consultation with the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry for Public Administration. The provisional document is treated as a security document under Law 559/1966; it remains valid for travel abroad — with the caveat that some foreign states may not recognise it — and must be returned to the local council upon collection of the definitive Cie.