Italian ID card no longer expires for over-70s

CIE cards issued from 30 July 2026 to people aged 70 or over stay valid for life, though digital uses keep ten-year limits.

What changes from 30 July

From 30 July 2026, an Italian CIE issued to a person aged 70 or older will have unlimited validity. Age is checked when the person asks for the card.

The CIE is Italy's electronic identity card, called Carta d'Identità Elettronica in Italian. It remains valid for espatrio, meaning the holder can use it to leave Italy.

Who is covered

This rule covers Italian citizens who are at least 70 years old when they ask for the CIE. It applies to CIEs issued from 30 July 2026.

The official notice sets the age at the time of the application. It does not announce a general change for other identity documents.

What unlimited means

In practical terms, the physical card you carry does not expire for this group. It remains usable for travel outside Italy.

The digital part still has time limits. This creates two exceptions to the unlimited validity.

Two ten-year exceptions

Online services

Digital identification through the CIE remains valid for ten years. This is the function used to access online services.

If you want to keep using those services after ten years, you'll need to ask for a new document. The previous document must be revoked first, meaning officially cancelled.

Airport gates

Using the CIE at automatic electronic gates in airports also remains valid for ten years. After that period, you can cross the border only through visual checking of the identity card.

The physical card does not become invalid after ten years. Only its use at those automatic gates ends.

What you need to do

For a covered CIE, you don't need a new card because the physical card has no expiry date. You do need a new document if you want to continue using CIE online identification after ten years.

The official notice does not give other application steps. It only says that the new document follows revocation of the previous one.

Separate from Spanish paperwork

This rule concerns the Italian CIE only. It does not replace Spain's empadronamiento (municipal registration) or the tarjeta de identidad de extranjero (TIE, foreigner identity card).

It is also separate from booking a SEPE appointment with Spain's public employment service.

Official notice

You can read the official notice from the Consulate General of Italy in Barcelona, published on 30 July 2026.