Italy has approved a model for a new temporary identity document intended for citizens who need to travel abroad but cannot wait for the issuance of the Carta d'Identità Elettronica (CIE).
The document will be issued on paper by Italian municipalities only in proven emergency situations. It will be valid for a maximum of six months and cannot be renewed.
The measure attempts to resolve a problem created by the retirement of old paper identity cards For international travel. Since August 3, 2026, these documents have ceased to be valid for leaving Italy, even when the printed expiry date has not yet passed. The rule stems from European Regulation 2025/1208, which establishes minimum security standards and requires a machine-readable zone on documents used for international travel.
Document for urgent cases
The possibility of issuing the provisional document had already been created by Decree-Law No. 108, of June 26, 2026What was missing was the official model needed for municipalities to effectively produce it.
The Supreme Court reaffirmed: citizenship is born with the person.
- New legal front opened
- Processes can still be filed.
- Individual assessment before any decision.
The format was approved by the Ministry of the Interior in a decree dated August 4th. The State Printing and Mint Institute has begun producing the forms and distributing them to municipalities through the City Halls. The first shipment is expected to arrive between August 6th and 12th, according to Corriere della Sera.
A temporary document may be granted when the citizen demonstrates a need that does not allow them to wait for the normal production and delivery times of the CIE (Foreigner Identity Card). An imminent trip, for those who do not have a passport or other valid document for travel abroad, may fall under this situation.
Issuance will be possible until December 31, 2027.
Upon receiving the definitive CIE (Foreigner Identification Card), the citizen must return the provisional document to the municipality.
Validity abroad has a caveat.
Under Italian law, the new document constitutes a valid title for "espatrio," meaning it can be used to leave the country.
However, this does not mean that its acceptance abroad is automatically guaranteed.
The decree itself stipulates that citizens must be informed that some countries may not recognize the provisional document for entry into their territory. Therefore, before traveling, it will be necessary to verify the requirements of the destination country.
For those with a valid Italian passport, it remains the safest option.
And what about the old paper identity card?
The old Italian identity card did not disappear completely on August 3rd.
Decree-Law 108/2026 maintained the validity of unexpired paper documents for certain uses within Italy, such as dealings with public administration, public services, healthcare, social security and insurance benefits, as well as some banking and postal operations. This transitional use may continue until January 31, 2027.
For international travel, however, the rule is different: since August 3rd, the old paper ID is no longer valid as a travel document.
The change also affects Italians residing abroad. Since June 1, 2026, citizens registered with AIRE can apply for the CIE in any municipality in Italy, in addition to the possibility of it being issued through the consular network.
