New Greek IDs and Personal Number System Bring Changes for Citizens

Greece is transitioning to new national identity cards and implementing a Personal Number system, marking a significant change from the older blue police IDs, which are no longer recognized as valid travel documents abroad. This shift requires citizens to undertake several steps to ensure their identification is up-to-date across various sectors.

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The old type blue police IDs are no longer recognized as travel documents for abroad, while the issuance of the new identity card is accompanied by a series of actions that citizens must complete.

Upon receiving the new identity card, individuals must promptly inform organizations and companies they interact with. Failure to do so could lead to delays or disruptions in banking transactions, contractual agreements, and standing orders. Key entities requiring notification include banks, employers, insurance companies, mobile and internet providers, and utility companies like DEH and EYDAP, especially if these services are linked to standing payment orders. Payment applications such as Viva Wallet and Revolut also require updated information, typically by uploading a photo to the user's profile.

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After receiving the new identity card, citizens must immediately inform the organizations and companies they cooperate with. Failure to inform may cause delays or malfunctions in banking transactions, contracts, and standing orders.

The new identification process also includes an expiration date on the cards. This addition aims to bolster personal data protection and simplify interactions with both public and private sector entities. By incorporating an expiry date, Greece aligns its identification documents with European security standards, thereby increasing the reliability of its identity verification processes.

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The addition of an expiration date aims to protect personal data and facilitate transactions with banks, public services, and private entities.

Public services are being automatically updated. The police automatically inform the National Citizen Registry with each new ID issuance, allowing interconnected public services to receive updated details in real-time. The process for obtaining a new ID begins with an electronic appointment via the id.gov.gr platform. Citizens select an Issuing Authority based on their residence and availability. Information is automatically drawn from the Citizen Registry and the National Communication Registry. Appointments can be modified or canceled up to one hour prior. Lost or stolen IDs require immediate reporting to the issuing authority. The cost includes a 10-euro electronic fee (5 euros for large families) and a 0.50-euro Hellenic Police stamp. Photos must be taken by a certified photographer and uploaded to myphoto.gov.gr, with a code linking the photo to the individual's tax number. This photo remains valid for other state processes for twelve months.

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The process begins with an electronic appointment via the platform id.gov.gr.