Over 13,000 Old ID Cards to Expire Starting Monday, Fines Up to €590
Citizens holding permanent-validity ID cards issued before 2003 must replace them urgently, with fines for non-compliance.
Citizens holding permanent-validity ID cards issued before 2003 must replace them urgently, with fines for non-compliance.
More than 13,000 Croatian citizens will no longer be able to use their old ID cards starting Monday, August 3, 2026. According to information from the 023.hr portal, these are documents with permanent validity issued before January 1, 2003, which automatically expire in line with new security standards.
The replacement obligation stems from the application of the European regulation on strengthening security standards and protection against forgery. Documents older than two decades no longer meet modern biometric and technical criteria, which is why they are being withdrawn from use.
The Ministry of the Interior (MUP) has urged all citizens who still hold such ID cards to initiate the replacement process as soon as possible to avoid administrative blocks and significant fines.
To obtain a new ID card, you must appear in person at the nearest police administration or station. You need to bring your old ID card and a photograph measuring 3.5 x 4.5 centimeters. For individuals who cannot appear in person due to health conditions or limited mobility, the MUP has organized field visits, police officers will come to your home address to collect the application and deliver the new document.
The cost of issuance depends on the type and speed of the process. A standard ID card with electronic certificates costs €13.27. Citizens over 70 years old who opt for a permanent card without certificates pay €9.29. For those needing the document urgently, the expedited process with a ten-day production time costs €25.88, while the emergency process, with production within three working days, is priced at €66.36.
The law stipulates a 15-day deadline for submitting an application for a new ID card after the old one expires. Missing this deadline incurs a fine of €66.36. Even higher fines apply to citizens who do not possess a valid document at all, in that case, the fine ranges from €390 to €590, as reported by 023.hr.
The MUP therefore urges citizens not to delay the replacement, as fines are several times higher than the cost of issuing a new document.
