Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis chaired an interministerial meeting on Monday morning (May 26), where the Personal Number and its integration into national ID cards were presented.

For the first time, the Personal Number gives citizens the ability to use a single identification number for all interactions with the public sector. It replaces existing sector-specific numbers such as the TIN (for tax matters), AMKA (for social security), and the national ID number.

This new number will be unique and unchangeable throughout a citizen’s life. It aims to improve the delivery of public services and address long-standing issues related to the interconnection of government registries, which have often led to inefficiency and inconvenience for citizens.

The Personal Number will also correct errors in key state registries (such as the Civil Registry of the Interior Ministry, the Tax Registry of the Independent Authority for Public Revenue, the National AMKA Registry, the Police Identity Registry, and the National Communication Registry).

A “Key” to Unlock Public Sector Transactions

“Congratulations, first of all, to everyone who worked hard to reach the point where we can now launch the Personal Number digitally. While it may seem like a technical change, it represents a significant step forward in modernizing the state. The Personal Number will essentially become the ‘key’ to unlock any transaction with the public sector,” the Prime Minister said after the presentation.

He emphasized:
“Our goal is for citizens to remember only one personal number—in the creation of which they will also participate—to make interactions with the state easier. This is also a great opportunity to correct many of the inaccuracies that have existed in the state registries since their inception, so we can be absolutely sure that all data concerning Greek citizens is completely accurate.”

The issuance process for the Personal Number was also explained: going forward, the number will appear on the new national ID cards. The old blue ID cards, as previously known, will soon become obsolete, as required by EU directives. In collaboration with the Ministry of Citizen Protection, the aim is to reduce wait times for issuing the new IDs.

The new ID card is a major symbol of Greece’s progress, and citizens are encouraged to apply for one as soon as possible. Efforts are underway, especially in Athens and Thessaloniki, to minimize waiting times and ensure a smooth issuance process.

Issuance via the gov.gr myInfo App

The Personal Number will streamline data exchange between public services, improving efficiency and enabling more accurate statistics.

Citizens will be able to receive their Personal Number through the myInfo application on gov.gr, where they can also verify and, if necessary, correct their personal information. Part of the number’s configuration will involve input from the citizen, making it truly personal.

The platform is expected to launch in early June.

The Personal Number will be automatically printed on the back of the new national ID cards and will serve as the unique digital identifier for a person—much like how the ID number and photo verify identity in the physical world.

Statement from the Minister of Digital Governance

Minister of Digital Governance Dimitris Papastergiou stated:
“The Personal Number does two key things: First, it helps citizens who suffer from errors in public registries—both literal and metaphorical—and second, it brings order to these registries. From now on, instead of using four separate sectoral numbers, a citizen will be served across the entire public sector—and eventually the private sector—using just one. This marks a true transformation in Greek public administration.”

The Personal Number was officially presented by General Secretary of Information Systems and Digital Governance, Dimosthenis Anagnostopoulos.

Over 1.7 Million New ID Cards Already Issued – Now Issuable Outside Permanent Residence Areas

Minister of Citizen Protection Michalis Chrysochoidis also updated the meeting on the progress of the new national ID card rollout. So far, over 1.7 million new ID cards have been issued across 371 offices nationwide.

“Each year, 1 million ID cards are issued by the Crime Investigation Departments of the Hellenic Police in every region and prefecture of the country. Our goal now is to strengthen these departments with more staff and extend their working hours, including Sundays, to better serve citizens,” said Chrysochoidis.

He also advised that citizens traveling for holidays may choose to apply for a new ID card at regional security offices, where there is often greater availability and faster service.