Cyprus mulls over digital IDs as electronic signatures

Cyprus is considering going digital after the Transport Ministry is asking for public opinion on introducing electronic ID cards that would also serve as electronic signatures, writes Financial Mirror.

Out of all E.U. member states, Cyprus is one of the few that didn’t legislate a “National Plan for the Issuance of Electronic Identities in Cyprus.” The country now has to enforce eIDAS (Electronic Identification, Authentication and Trust Services) E.U. regulation for electronic identification and services in the European Single Market.

Under eIDAS, entities providing public digital services in E.U. member state must, as of September 29, 2018, have the right infrastructure in place to accept electronic identification.

To introduce electronic identity, Cyprus will have to constitute an institutional and legal framework addressing six comprehensive laws, regulations, decrees and protocols. The e-governance Council started discussing the program a year ago as it was preparing to launch the Deputy Ministry of Research and Innovation.

As per the National Electronic Identity Plan, any authorized electronic identity service provider will be allowed to supply electronic identity cards, providing it is a Cypriot-owned company with no criminal record. Providers will need liability insurance for a minimum of €1,000,000.

The cards will include a bar code with the person’s e-signature and they will be used as identification for online government services. Citizens can apply for e-cards online, as long as they are 18 years old and have a biometric Republic of Cyprus ID card.

In November, Veridos won a contract with the Civil Registry and Migration Department of the Ministry of Interior of Cyprus to upgrade and manage the country’s system for biometric data collection, centralized personalization, and issuance of electronic passports, ID cards and residence permits.

Article Topics

biometrics  |  digital identity  |  electronic-signature  |  EU  |  government services  |  identity document  |  identity verification  |  secure transactions