Applications now open for 100,000 subsidised electronic IDs (eIDs)

Starting today, Monday, January 27, 2025, applications are open for the issuance of 100,000 government-subsidised electronic IDs.

As noted in an announcement from the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, the first 30,000 eIDs will be provided completely free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis, while the remaining 70,000 will be available at a final cost of €15 to citizens.

The Electronic ID (eID) is valid for three years and can be renewed. Eligible applicants are Cypriot citizens over the age of 18 who hold a valid biometric ID card.

To obtain an eID, citizens must submit an online application through the portal of the Approved Electronic ID Service Provider and then schedule an appointment for in-person verification at the Citizen Service Centers (KEP). During their visit to the KEP, applicants must bring their biometric ID and a printed copy of their application to be signed on the spot in the presence of a KEP officer.

Please note that the PIN codes set during the issuance process are essential for using the electronic ID. In case of loss or forgetting the PIN, citizens must visit a KEP again for in-person verification.

For detailed instructions on the eID acquisition and usage process, please visit the website www.idme.gov.cy.

For support, citizens can contact the Provider's call center directly at +357 22868500 (available 24/7).

The electronic ID is the only secure identity for citizens in the online world. It enables the secure authentication of users for accessing public and private information systems, as well as the electronic signing of all types of documents with the same legal validity as a handwritten signature.

It is important to note that the electronic ID (eID) should not be confused with the digital version of the citizen's ID card, which has been integrated into the "Digital Citizen" application and is used for in-person identification purposes.