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Date Published: 25/09/2024

Spain ID card refused at EU border over expiry date snafu that makes holder 'immortal'

The unbelievable figure is believed to be a forgery by other European countries

A certain fear has arisen for over six million Spanish citizens over the age of 70 as it has been revealed that recent ID cards issued to those that have crossed the threshold of seven decades show an expiry date of the year 9,999. This unbelievable figure has baffled border security agents and created a host of complications for travellers from Spain when entering other European countries.

All this came to a head recently during a routine check in a Nordic country, the police refused the entry of a Spanish citizen into the country. Not believing that document could be anything but a forgery with such an extravagant date of expiry, problems ensued.

Luckily for the tourist, despite the panic of the situation, they had their passport at hand and the police were able to verify the validity of the document, allowing the traveller to pass into the country.

But for many Europeans, such a document does not exist, leading to much confusion when crossing into another country where the date appears implausible.

The document’s scarcely believable expiration date – which has granted no less than eight millennia of life expectancy to holders – has understandably led to many doubtful situations at borders with other countries.

Once upon a time, Spanish citizens over 70 were granted an ID with the words “permanent validity” in the expiration box, but the change to 9,999 has brought about much confusion.

The somewhat bizarre idea of granting near-immortality to all Spaniards over 70 may create more specific problems in other areas. Roughly six and a half million Spaniards are entering or are already within this age range, and have received these permanent ID cards, with many struggling to obtain things like treasury reference numbers on their digital system because it could not recognise the expiration date of 01-01-9999.

The fact that the Ministry of the Interior wants to grant all Spanish people over 70 an almost indefinite ID expiry has the best of intentions. However, the problems that have arisen from such a system is creating a mass of problems for the elderly of the county.

Maybe a little more thought should go into the next reconfiguration of the ID expiry dates that should take place after this fiasco!

Image: Infoperiodistas

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