Court rules old ID photo cannot block passport renewal

Greece’s Council of State has ruled that the police passport directorate cannot refuse a passport renewal solely because an identity card photo is outdated.

The case concerned a citizen whose passport renewal request was rejected after police argued that his police-issued ID card, dating back to May 1972, had to be replaced because identification had become “impossible.” His initial appeal was dismissed by police authorities.

The citizen then turned to the Council of State, citing irreparable harm, including his inability to travel abroad to visit his daughter and newborn grandchild and to accompany his wife, a university professor with health issues, on work-related trips.

The court granted a stay on the police decision, allowing the passport renewal to proceed.