Can you travel with an ID card over 10 years old?
Verified 14 June 2022 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
In 2014, the validity period of an identity card for an adult increased from 10 to 15 years.
Concretely, your identity card is automatically extended and remains valid for an additional 5 years if you complete the following 2 conditions :
- You were major at the time of issue
- The map was still valid on 1er january 2014
We present the rules according to the year of issuance of the identity card:
Date of issue | Effective Date | Age-related condition | |
|---|---|---|---|
Date entered on the card | New Date | ||
2006 | 2016 | 2021 | Born in 1988 or earlier and be of legal age when issuing the card |
2007 | 2017 | 2022 | Born in 1989 or earlier and be of legal age when issuing the card |
2008 | 2018 | 2023 | Born in 1990 or earlier and be of legal age when issuing the card |
2009 | 2019 | 2024 | Born in 1991 or earlier and be of legal age when issuing the card |
2010 | 2020 | 2025 | Born in 1992 or earlier and be of legal age when issuing the card |
2011 | 2021 | 2026 | Born in 1993 or earlier and be of legal age when issuing the card |
2012 | 2022 | 2027 | Born in 1994 or earlier and be of legal age when issuing the card |
2013 | 2023 | 2028 | Born in 1995 or earlier and be of legal age when issuing the card |
To travel abroad, you need to check on the site Travel advice (Entry/Stay section) what is the identity document required by the country you are traveling to.
If you have a valid passport, it is preferable to use it.
If you do not have a passport, and you are traveling to a country that accepts the identity card, you can request its early renewal by producing a proof of upcoming trip.
If the country accepts that the date on your card does not correspond to its actual expiry date, you can submit a translated factsheet to foreign authorities.
FYI
here is a step-by-step guide for the renewal of an identity card for an adult and the one to follow for a minor.
FAQ
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Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
Ministry of the Interior
Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs