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Greece to Stop Accepting Old ID Cards for EU Travel Aug. 3

Friday, 10 July 2026/Source: CretaOne/1 min read

Starting August 3, 2026, old Greek national identity cards without a machine-readable zone (MRZ) will no longer be accepted as valid travel documents within the European Union. This affects Greek citizens traveling to and from Crete and other EU destinations using outdated ID cards. Greek nationals who hold an older ID card without the MRZ strip must apply for a new one before the deadline. Applications require an appointment at a local police station (astynomia), a recent passport-style photo, proof of residence, and payment of the applicable fee. Processing times vary, so early booking is strongly advised given expected demand ahead of the August cutoff. For tourists visiting Crete, this change has no direct impact, as non-Greek visitors travel on their own national passports. However, Greek friends or hosts may be affected and should verify their documents before any summer travel plans.

Read original article → CretaOne