by InTrieste
Italy has updated its passport regulations for the first time in nearly 60 years, introducing a series of modifications aimed at aligning its bureaucratic procedures with international travel standards.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement on Friday, described the changes as “not substantial” but rather “small adjustments” to modernize the 1967 law and ensure its consistency with contemporary global travel requirements.
One of the key updates involves the formal abolition of a now-outdated provision allowing the renewal of expired passports without issuing a new booklet. While this practice had already been discontinued due to the requirement that passports be machine-readable at airports, the legal framework has now been officially adjusted to reflect that reality.
Under the revised rules, all passports will be valid for a fixed 10-year period, eliminating the previously available five-year renewable option. The ministry emphasized that passports will continue to have a non-renewable validity once issued.
Scrapping of Collective Passports
Among other changes, Italy has officially done away with the collective passport—a document previously issued to groups of five to 50 people traveling together for cultural, religious, sporting, or tourism-related purposes. The ministry noted that the document had not been in use for years, as it failed to meet international security and identification standards.
For Italian citizens residing abroad, the updated regulations provide additional clarity. Consular offices will now be explicitly authorized to issue travel declarations for minors when required by the destination country. This measure is intended to facilitate smoother international travel for families navigating foreign entry requirements.
Additionally, Italians who lose or have their passports stolen while abroad must report the incident to local police authorities. However, if this is not possible, consular offices remain authorized to issue replacement passports at their discretion.
The legislation also reaffirms the validity of Italy’s carta d’identità (national identity card) for travel outside the European Union, provided the destination country has a bilateral agreement with Italy permitting its use.
The changes mark a significant update to Italy’s travel documentation policies, streamlining existing regulations while maintaining compliance with evolving international standards.
