Old Croatian ID cards to become invalid on 3 August

(Photo: MUP)

ZAGREB, 6 June 2026 – More than 13,000 Croatian citizens who still hold identity cards issued before 1 January 2003 with a “permanent validity” designation will need to replace them before 3 August, when the documents officially cease to be valid.

Authorities are urging affected citizens to check the issue date on their identity cards and begin the replacement process in time to avoid difficulties with identification and access to services.

Citizens whose documents are affected will receive notification letters at their home addresses explaining how to obtain a new identity card.

After receiving the notice, they will be required to submit an application at their nearest police station.

According to officials, the change is being introduced for security reasons rather than administrative purposes. The European Union has determined that older identity cards no longer meet modern standards for protection against forgery and document fraud, HRT reported.

The Agency for Commercial Activity (AKD), which produces Croatia’s identity documents, says today’s identity cards are significantly more advanced than those first introduced in the early 1990s.

Modern cards contain enhanced security features and electronic components that provide a higher level of protection.

AKD currently produces between 50,000 and 60,000 identity cards each month and up to one million documents annually. The agency says its production capacity is sufficient to handle any increase in demand resulting from the replacement process.

Most citizens have already replaced their older identity cards over the years, leaving a relatively small number of holders of the pre-2003 permanent documents.

Authorities are advising anyone with a permanent-validity identity card issued before 1 January 2003 to verify the issue date and arrange a replacement before the 3 August deadline. After that date, the documents will no longer be recognised as valid forms of identification.