The Identity Agency is currently in the process of renewing 160,000 identity cards for Maltese citizens issued ten years ago that are due to expire this year. To date, 119,679 identity cards have been renewed across Malta and Gozo.

To make the process more accessible, the service is now being offered through various local councils across the islands. Approximately 72,000 identity cards remain to be renewed.

Thanks to a direct service provided by local councils, the renewal process in Gozo has already been completed. This initiative is part of ongoing efforts to streamline the process and bring services closer to citizens.

Significant improvements have also been made to the Identity Card Section, including extended opening hours and the creation of a “one-stop shop” system. Additional customer service desks have been set up, supported by temporary and part-time staff to manage higher volumes efficiently.

At this year’s EXPO, the Identity Agency recorded 860 identity card renewal applications, marking an increase of over 60% compared to last year’s event.

Identity cards are valid for ten years, and it is the responsibility of each citizen to ensure that expired or soon-to-expire cards are renewed at the Identity Card Section in Gattard House, Blata l-Bajda, or through local councils around Malta.

During the launch of the local council renewal service, Minister for Home Affairs, Security, and Labour Byron Camilleri stated, “Unlike in the past, when many Maltese and Gozitans had expired identity cards, the Identity Agency now prioritises efficient and effective card renewals. This has been made possible through significant investment in both technology and human resources, bringing the service closer to the people, within their local councils.”

Identity Agency CEO Edric Zahra added that extending the service to localities allows the public to access it more conveniently, with fewer queues, in response to the growing demand for Identity Agency services.

The local council service will cover card renewals only. Citizens requiring changes to personal details, such as surname or address, or in cases of lost identity cards, must visit the Identity Card Section at Gattard House and make an appointment through the agency’s online portal: https://eidbooking.identita.gov.mt/v2/.

Identity cards became legally mandatory 49 years ago for those turning 18, and today the requirement applies from the age of 14. The new identity cards feature enhanced security measures designed to protect personal identity and make them more resistant to fraud.

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