Old residence cards and ID cards in the EU expire on August 3, 2026
Poland, 
Hungary, Denmark, 
Greece
In short. From August 3, 2026, old non-biometric residence permits and ID cards in EU countries will expire and are subject to mandatory replacement.
- From August 3, 2026, old non-biometric residence permits and ID cards in the EU will expire.
- In Poland, this applies to documents issued before August 2, 2021.
- From April 27, 2026, Poland fully transitions to online application submission via the MOS 2.0 portal.
- In Denmark and Hungary, residence permits of family members of EU citizens issued during specific periods before August 2021 are subject to replacement.
- Old national ID cards of Greece and Hungary also become invalid for travel and identification.
On August 3, 2026, a key stage of EU Regulation 2019/1157 comes into effect, requiring the mandatory replacement of old formats of residence permits and national ID cards. Documents that do not contain biometric data or a machine-readable zone (MRZ) will become invalid, even if they indicate a later expiration date or were issued indefinitely.
EU: General requirements of Regulation 2019/1157
According to European legislation, residence permits of family members of EU citizens (who are not EU citizens), as well as national ID cards that do not meet modern ICAO security standards, will expire on August 3, 2026. This applies to old-style documents in many European countries, in accordance with EU Regulation 2019/1157.
Poland: Replacement of residence cards and launch of MOS 2.0
In Poland, all residence documents issued before August 2, 2021, will expire after August 3, 2026. Holders of such documents must contact the Voivodeship Office (Urząd Wojewódzki) to replace them with new biometric cards. In addition, from April 27, 2026, Poland will fully transition to electronic submission of applications for residence cards via the MOS 2.0 portal.
Denmark: Free replacement of old cards
In Denmark, the replacement requirements apply to permanent residence permits for family members of EU citizens (from third countries). Cards issued in the periods from 1998 to 2011 and from August 3, 2016, to August 3, 2021, will become invalid on August 3, 2026. An application for a new card must be submitted to the SIRI agency, and the procedure is free of charge, as reported by the official portal Ny i Danmark.
Hungary: Residence permits and old ID booklets
The National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (OIF) of Hungary announced that permanent residence cards issued to family members of EEA citizens between August 3, 2016, and August 2, 2021, will expire on August 3, 2026. Also from this date, old Hungarian ID cards in the form of a booklet will become invalid. For citizens over 70 years old, new cards are issued free of charge.
Greece: Cancellation of old ID cards
Greece is also completing the transition to new standards. Old Greek ID cards that do not have an expiration date and a machine-readable zone will be canceled on August 3, 2026. Without new cards, citizens will not be able to travel within the EU using an internal document, which is confirmed by European directives.
In brief: all changes
| Country | Document | Who is affected | Deadline / Date of changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU (general) | Old ID cards and residence permits without MRZ/biometrics | EU citizens and their family members from third countries | August 3, 2026 |
| Poland | Residence cards issued before 02.08.2021 | Foreigners with old-style residence permits | August 3, 2026 |
| Poland | Submission of applications for a residence card | All applicants (transition to the MOS 2.0 online portal) | April 27, 2026 |
| Denmark | Residence permits issued 1998-2011 and 2016-2021 | Family members of EU citizens with the right of permanent residence | August 3, 2026 |
| Hungary | Residence permits (2016-2021) and ID booklets | Family members of EEA citizens and Hungarian citizens | August 3, 2026 |
| Greece | Old ID cards without an expiration date | Greek citizens | August 3, 2026 |
Rules change frequently — before taking action, always check the current requirements on the official government source provided above.
Related guides
Official sources
Questions
- Do I need to replace my residence card in Poland if it indicates an expiration date of 2028?
- If the card was issued before August 2, 2021, it will expire on August 3, 2026, regardless of the date indicated on the document itself. It must be replaced.
- How do I apply for a new residence card in Poland in 2026?
- From April 27, 2026, all applications for residence cards in Poland are submitted exclusively in electronic form via the new MOS 2.0 portal. Paper applications are no longer accepted.
- Is there a fee for replacing an old residence permit in Denmark?
- No, the replacement of an old permanent residence permit for family members of EU citizens in Denmark (through the SIRI agency) is free of charge.
- What will happen to old ID cards in Hungary and Greece?
- Old paper ID cards (booklets in Hungary and old cards without a machine-readable zone in Greece) will become invalid on August 3, 2026. They must be replaced with new biometric documents.