This morning (May 26), Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis led an interministerial meeting to unveil the Personal Number and its integration into national ID cards.
For the first time, citizens will have a single identification number for all governmental interactions, replacing various sector-specific numbers such as the Tax Identification Number (TIN), AMKA (social security), and national ID number.
The Personal Number will be unique and immutable for the duration of a citizen’s life. It aims to enhance public service delivery and solve long-standing issues related to the connectivity of government registries that have caused inefficiencies for citizens.
This new system will also rectify inaccuracies in essential state registries, including the Civil Registry from the Interior Ministry, the Tax Registry from the Independent Authority for Public Revenue, the National AMKA Registry, the Police Identity Registry, and the National Communication Registry.
A “Key” to Access Public Sector Services
“I want to extend my congratulations to everyone who contributed to the digital launch of the Personal Number. While it may seem like a technical update, it represents a major leap in modernizing the state. The Personal Number will effectively serve as a ‘key’ to facilitate any transaction within the public sector,” the Prime Minister stated following the presentation.
He added:
“Our aim is for citizens to remember just one personal number, which they will help create, simplifying interactions with the state. This is also a great opportunity to amend many inaccuracies in state registries that have persisted since their establishment, ensuring all data about Greek citizens is completely accurate.”
The process for issuing the Personal Number was clarified: it will be featured on the new national ID cards. The older blue ID cards will soon be phased out to comply with EU directives. In partnership with the Ministry of Citizen Protection, efforts are underway to lessen wait times for the issuance of new IDs.
The new ID card symbolizes Greece’s progress, and citizens are encouraged to apply promptly. Initiatives are currently underway, particularly in Athens and Thessaloniki, to expedite the process and minimize wait times.
Issuance via the gov.gr myInfo App
The Personal Number will facilitate data sharing among public services, leading to improved efficiency and more accurate statistics.
Citizens will be able to obtain their Personal Number through the myInfo application on gov.gr, where they can also check and correct their personal information if needed. The configuration of the number will involve citizen input, making it genuinely personal.
The platform is set to launch in early June.
The Personal Number will be printed on the back of the new national ID cards, functioning as the unique digital identifier for each person—similar to how the ID number and photo establish identity in the physical realm.
Statement from the Minister of Digital Governance
Minister of Digital Governance Dimitris Papastergiou remarked:
“The Personal Number serves two primary purposes: it assists citizens facing errors in public registries—both literal and metaphorical—and it organizes these registries. From now on, citizens will rely on just one number for services across the public sector—and eventually the private sector. This marks a true transformation in Greek public administration.”
The Personal Number was officially introduced by General Secretary of Information Systems and Digital Governance, Dimosthenis Anagnostopoulos.
Over 1.7 Million New ID Cards Already Issued – Now Available Outside Permanent Residence Areas
Minister of Citizen Protection Michalis Chrysochoidis provided an update on the rollout of the new national ID card, noting that over 1.7 million new ID cards have been issued across 371 offices nationwide.
“Every year, 1 million ID cards are issued by the Hellenic Police’s Crime Investigation Departments across every region and prefecture in the country. Our current focus is to enhance these departments with more personnel and extend their working hours, including Sundays, to better serve citizens,” Chrysochoidis explained.
He also advised that citizens traveling for holidays may apply for a new ID card at regional security offices, where availability and service speed are generally higher.
Ask Me Anything
Explore Related Questions
