Greece ends use of old ID cards for international travel

Greek citizens will no longer be able to use the old blue identity cards for international travel from Monday, with only valid passports or the country's new biometric identity cards accepted for travel abroad.

The change aligns Greece with European security standards, as the old police-issued identity cards do not include the machine-readable zone and enhanced security features now required for travel documents, including travel within the Schengen Area.

Demand surges ahead of deadline

The transition triggered a surge in applications for the new biometric identity cards, prompting the Ministry of Citizen Protection to increase appointment availability by 28% and reduce processing times from 22 minutes to 14 minutes.

More than 4.15 million new identity cards had been issued by July 31.

Old IDs remain valid domestically

Although no longer accepted for international travel, the old identity cards will continue to serve as valid proof of identity for transactions within Greece.

Authorities said the issuance of new biometric IDs will continue, with an average processing time of about seven days from application to collection.

Government digital services, including the gov.gr Wallet and tax authority records, are updated automatically once a new ID is issued. However, citizens are required to update their identification details separately with private institutions such as banks, mobile phone providers and employers.