Electronic ID applications begin 27 January

Applications for the issuance of an electronic identity will commence on Monday, 27 January, with eligibility limited to Cypriot citizens over the age of 18 who hold a biometric identity card.

The government will be subsidising 100,000 electronic identities (eIDs); the first 30,000 eIDs will be provided free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis, while the remaining 70,000 eIDs will be available at a final cost of €15 per citizen.

Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy, Dr Nicodemos Damianou, held a press conference to present the National Electronic Identity, which was also attended by the Deputy Minister to the President, Irini Piki, who emphasised the government’s commitment to digital transformation.

The eID serves as the unique, secure identification of every citizen in the online world. It allows authentication for public and private online services while enabling users to electronically sign documents with full legal validity, equivalent to a handwritten signature.

The National eID of Cyprus, registered under the name IDMe.cy, has already been approved by the European Commission at the highest level of security and recognition (“High Assurance”) under the eIDAS Regulation. As a result, it can be used for cross-border electronic transactions within the EU.

This initiative is a significant tool for both citizens and the economy, forming part of the government’s "Digital Citizen" programme. Through the programme, the government has progressively been offering a range of useful digital solutions to citizens, businesses, and professionals, focusing on the key principles of speed, security, and convenience.

During the press conference, Damianou stressed that the use of the eID and its connected electronic signature is not limited to interactions with the state but can also be utilised for private and professional purposes.

Highlighting the importance of this tool for the growth of the digital economy, he encouraged businesses and professionals to leverage the electronic identity system to further digitise their interactions with clients, expand their business reach, reduce operational and administrative costs, and enhance efficiency.

Implementation in the public sector

Regarding the public sector, the Deputy Minister outlined the initial applications of the electronic identity system and the next steps for its gradual expansion.

In the first phase, citizens who obtain their electronic identity will be able to access government systems via CY Login, using their eID credentials. Additionally, the electronic signature functionality has already been integrated into the "Ippodamos" system and is planned to be gradually incorporated into other government systems, such as those of the Department of the Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property and the Department of Road Transport, which are currently in the implementation phase.

Expansion of digital services implementation

As part of the ongoing rollout of digital services, several applications that are currently available only in paper form will soon be accessible in digital format. Citizens will be able to complete these applications online, sign them electronically, and submit them via email to the relevant government departments.

In the initial phase, this capability will apply to 21 applications related to the Social Insurance Services, with further expansion planned to include additional government departments in the near future.

For more information about the electronic identity, supported mechanisms, usage methods, and application procedures, a dedicated website has been created: www.idme.gov.cy.