A long-awaited breakthrough is about to revolutionize air travel from Italy to Europe: boarding a plane without a document becomes reality. For domestic flights and those to Schengen area countries, It will no longer be mandatory to show an identity card or passport at the gate. The boarding pass alone will be enough to board the plane. The innovation, introduced by’ENAC (National Civil Aviation Authority) and approved by Ministry of the Interior, aims to speed up procedures and reduce waiting times at the airport.
What the new rule provides: a boarding pass is enough
Until now, every passenger was required to show identification upon boarding, in addition to their boarding pass. This visual check, performed by airline staff, was used to verify that the name on the document matched the name on the ticket.
With the new measure, boarding a plane without a document It will be possible on domestic flights and to Schengen countries. It will no longer be necessary to show any documents at the gate, provided you have already passed through security and have your boarding pass.
According to ENAC, this change does not compromise safety levels: checks at the gates and screening devices remain active and guarantee the indirect identification of the passenger.
Where is air travel without a passport valid?
The new rule applies to:
- To the Italian domestic flights
- To direct flights to the Schengen Area Countries, that is, 25 of the 27 member states of the European Union, plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein
The following are excluded:
- Ireland and Cyprus, which do not fully apply the Schengen rules
- All flights extra-Schengen (e.g. UK, US, Türkiye)
- Routes towards sensitive destinations for irregular immigration, where the Ministry will still be able to request document checks
It is important to remember that, even if it doesn't have to be shown at the gate, A valid identity document must always be carried with you. It will be required for airport check-in (if not done online), for any random checks, and for returning to Italy.
@todacanarias From July 2025, flights in Italy and Europe (Schengen) will be possible without an ID card: a boarding pass will suffice. 📌 Documents only for spot checks. A measure by ENAC and the Ministry of the Interior is designed to speed up checks. But is this really a step forward... or a security risk? #todacanarias #isolecanary #news
♬ Original sound – Canary Islands | Toda Canarias
More comfort, but also some doubts
According to ENAC, boarding a plane without a document may reduce up to 50% gate control times. President Pierluigi Di Palma explained that the document control was a superfluous step compared to other security systems already in place. The aim is also to make flying more accessible and faster, a bit like what happens with train journeys.
The measure has already been successfully tested, as on the Ryanair flight of 6 July 2025 from Bergamo to Menorca: passengers were able to board without showing any documents, only with boarding pass.
However, some consumer associations (like Codacons and Assoutenti) have raised doubts: they fear that the absence of document control could compromise safety, allowing the use of other people's boarding passes or false identities. The associations are calling for a discussion with the institutions and the integration of technologies such as facial recognition, already adopted in some European airports.
Conclusions: positive news, but be careful with details
The elimination of the requirement to show an identity card for domestic and Schengen flights marks a paradigm shift in Italian airport controls. This is a step towards the simplification of air transport, which could involve over 51 million passengers by the end of 2025.
For travelers, this is good news: less stress, fewer queues, more fluidity. However, it is essential continue to travel with a valid document, to avoid problems in case of checks or travel to countries where this measure is not recognized.
Pending the final entry into force, it is recommended to always check the airline's instructions and stay updated on any limitations or exceptions.
