Changes in passport regulations in effect as of 25 November 2009

25/11/2009 - In application of the new Community passport regulations, on 25 November there will be two major changes in the current legislation on passports: individual for minors will be obligatory and validity of passports will be differentiated according to age. The principle of “one person–one passport” is introduced with the entrance into effect of the European Parliament and Council Regulation no. 444/2009 containing provisions on biometric passports. The new provisions respond to a need strongly felt by the Italian Foreign and Interior Ministries to ensure the better identification, and consequent protection, of travelling minors. It will no longer be possible for parents (or other legally designated guardians) to list minor children on their own passports, and a differentiated timeframe will require updating the child’s photo in relation to changes in appearance. Soon there will also be provision for fingerprints for minors over the age of 12. Beginning on 25 November Italian passports will therefore have a validity of 3 years for minors from 0 to 3 years of age, and of 5 years for minors between the ages of 3 and 18.

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