Greece’s old-style blue national identity cards are no longer accepted for international travel as of August 3, including for journeys within the Schengen Area.
The change means travelers must now use either Greece’s new national identity card or a valid Greek passport when traveling abroad.
The older identity cards have been phased out as travel documents because they do not meet current European security standards, lacking modern security features and the machine-readable zone required for international travel.
The new rule has prompted thousands of people to visit police stations in recent weeks to obtain the updated identity card, leading to a sharp increase in demand for appointments.
To accommodate the surge, the Ministry of Citizen Protection expanded staffing at identity card issuance offices and extended their operating hours. According to ministry data, available online appointments have increased by 28% since July 4, while the average processing time has fallen from 22 minutes to 14 minutes. By July 31, more than 4.15 million new identity cards had been issued.
The ministry emphasized that the old blue identity cards remain valid as proof of identity for all transactions within Greece. The change applies only to their use as travel documents for international travel.
How to Obtain the New Identity Card
Applications for the new identity card are made by scheduling an online appointment through id.gov.gr. Applicants may choose any identity card issuance office in Greece, regardless of where they live, and can also modify or cancel appointments through the same platform.
Before attending their appointment, applicants must obtain the required electronic fee vouchers and provide a digital photograph. The photo can either be taken at the police office or uploaded to the government’s myPhoto system by a certified photographer for electronic retrieval during the application process.
Applicants complete and sign the required application forms at the police office, while civil registry information is retrieved electronically through the Ministry of the Interior’s Citizens Registry system, eliminating the need to submit additional certificates.
The standard issuance fee is €10, covering production, personalization, printing, and secure delivery of the card. Large families pay a reduced fee of €5, while all applicants must also pay a €0.50 Hellenic Police stamp fee.
According to the Ministry of Citizen Protection, the estimated time from application to receiving the new identity card is about seven days. Once issued, the new ID automatically updates connected public services, including the tax authority and the gov.gr Wallet. Holders must separately update their identification details with private organizations, such as banks.
