Covid-19: Italy confirms new extension for expired ID documents
The Italian government has further extended the validity of expiring ID cards, passports and driving licenses due to ongoing coronavirus restrictions. Here's what you need to know.
As renewals and other official processes continue to take longer than usual, Italy has allowed a further automatic extension to the validity of many essential documents, including Italian identity cards and passports.
This is an extension of an already-existing grace period on expiring driving licenses and other identity documents which was brought in by the Italian government in March, and has now been prolonged several times.
While many government offices have now reopened, most offices are still working under reduced opening hours or with fewer staff, many processes are moving online, and officials are still facing a large backlog of paperwork.Renewing official documents has become more difficult since coronavirus restrictions were first introduced in March 2020.
READ ALSO: 19 bits of Italian bureaucracy you can now do online
Many documents will now remain valid until April 30th, though not for all purposes.
Here's a look at the new deadlines for renewing your documents.
Passports and identity cards issues by Italian authorities and expiring from January 31st, 2020 will remain valid until April 30th, 2020.
You won't be able to use an expired Italian ID card (carta d’identità) or passport when travelling abroad, however. They will only be accepted for ID purposes within Italy.
Driving licenses issued in Italy which expire between February 1st and August 31st, 2021 are also valid in other EU countries for the seven months beyond the expected expiry date under a continuing EU-wide agreement.
Driving licenses issued in Italy which expire between January 31st, 2020 and April 30th, 2021 remain valid until July 29th, 2021, within Italy only.
Car tax and safety inspection
The deadline for renewing your car tax (bollo auto) has also been extended, as detailed by a circular issued by the Transport Ministry on January 21st.
The new deadline depends on regional rules.
For example, in Lombardy and Piedmont: car tax expiring in April 2021 must be renewed by May 31st.
In Emilia Romagna, you have until March 31, 2021 to pay the tax if it expired in December 2020 or January 2021.
In Veneto, car tax payments due between January and May 2021 are postponed until June 30th, 2021.
Check with you local questura (police station) for details of the extensions in your area.
The car safety inspection (revisione auto) is also expected to be further extended, but no new deadline has yet been confirmed.
If your revisione expired between October-December 2020, it remains valid until February 28th, 2021.
However, if your safety check documentation needs to be renewed from January 2021, no extension has yet been confirmed.
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As renewals and other official processes continue to take longer than usual, Italy has allowed a further automatic extension to the validity of many essential documents, including Italian identity cards and passports.
This is an extension of an already-existing grace period on expiring driving licenses and other identity documents which was brought in by the Italian government in March, and has now been prolonged several times.
While many government offices have now reopened, most offices are still working under reduced opening hours or with fewer staff, many processes are moving online, and officials are still facing a large backlog of paperwork.Renewing official documents has become more difficult since coronavirus restrictions were first introduced in March 2020.
READ ALSO: 19 bits of Italian bureaucracy you can now do online
Many documents will now remain valid until April 30th, though not for all purposes.
Here's a look at the new deadlines for renewing your documents.
Passports and identity cards issues by Italian authorities and expiring from January 31st, 2020 will remain valid until April 30th, 2020.
You won't be able to use an expired Italian ID card (carta d’identità) or passport when travelling abroad, however. They will only be accepted for ID purposes within Italy.
Driving licenses issued in Italy which expire between February 1st and August 31st, 2021 are also valid in other EU countries for the seven months beyond the expected expiry date under a continuing EU-wide agreement.
Driving licenses issued in Italy which expire between January 31st, 2020 and April 30th, 2021 remain valid until July 29th, 2021, within Italy only.
Car tax and safety inspection
The deadline for renewing your car tax (bollo auto) has also been extended, as detailed by a circular issued by the Transport Ministry on January 21st.
The new deadline depends on regional rules.
For example, in Lombardy and Piedmont: car tax expiring in April 2021 must be renewed by May 31st.
In Emilia Romagna, you have until March 31, 2021 to pay the tax if it expired in December 2020 or January 2021.
In Veneto, car tax payments due between January and May 2021 are postponed until June 30th, 2021.
Check with you local questura (police station) for details of the extensions in your area.
The car safety inspection (revisione auto) is also expected to be further extended, but no new deadline has yet been confirmed.
If your revisione expired between October-December 2020, it remains valid until February 28th, 2021.
However, if your safety check documentation needs to be renewed from January 2021, no extension has yet been confirmed.
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