The rollout of Greece’s upgraded national ID card has been in progress for several months, with plans to make it compulsory for travel within the European Union.
The new digital ID, which is RFID-enabled, incorporates advanced features and includes a QR code, [1] as reported by Greek City Times. Following the issuance of new identity cards, citizens are required to update their information with various organizations to prevent disruptions in daily transactions. The Ministry recommends [2] that citizens intending to travel to the EU after August 2026 make their ID card appointment arrangements at the earliest opportunity. They warn that demand is expected to increase significantly as the deadline approaches. Neglecting to make these updates may lead to challenges with banking services, contracts, or standing payment orders. The overall cost comprises a €10 electronic fee, reduced to €5 for large families, along with a €0.50 stamp from the Hellenic Police. All electronic fees must be settled before attending the appointment at the police station.
The new embedded chip will include biometric data, such as facial recognition and fingerprints of the cardholder, and will be valid for a period of 10 years. Additionally, [3] a 12-digit unique personal identification numbers have been printed on the cards since June, 2025. Authorities announced that the automatic assignment of these numbers to citizens was completed in November 5, 2025 [4] as reported by Ekathimerini.
Greek officials state that the upgrade of the national digital ID, now resembling a bank card, aligns with government initiatives to meet EU standards for the security of digital identity documents. They assert that the new cards will facilitate easier, secure, and convenient identity verification and authentication, enabling access to a range of government and private services for citizens.
Greek citizens [5] can book an appointment for a new digital ID card via the Greek governments official website, officials have recommended that individuals interested in applying schedule their appointments in advance to alleviate the pressure [6] as the August 3 deadline approaches. Several supporting documents have been eliminated from the application process. Applicants are no longer required to provide a copy of their Greek ID, proof of payment for government fees, or certificates pertaining to lost or stolen passports, as this information is now accessed electronically.
In 2022, the Greek government presented digital versions of [7] national identity cards and driving licenses through a digital identity wallet application that can be used on smartphones. “After entering the application environment, the citizen can with a few clicks create and save the digital copy of his ID and/or driving licence, [8] the Ministry of Digital Governance said, “First he chooses which document he wants to issue and then he receives a one-time password via SMS which he enters into the application. Immediately after, the document is created and saved in the application and in the wallet of the mobile phone. The authenticity of each digital copy is verified by its QR code. As soon as someone scans a citizen’s QR code through the same Gov.gr Wallet application, the latter receives a notification from the application in order to give approval to the controller in order to verify their information.”
The announcement comes after an update to Greece's Covid Free GR Wallet app. This new feature allows citizens to create and present a partial digital ID certificate that includes their name, date of birth, and photograph, [9] which can be used for identity verification when showing their Covid-19 vaccination certificate is necessary. Kyriakos Pierrakakis who [10] was the Minister of Digital Governance until 2023 said, “The case of the Covid Free GR Wallet is a very good example of how one service creates the conditions for the next.” Our initial thought was to get rid of the obligation to always have the Covid certificate with us in printed form or in non-easy-to-use digital, ie in a photo or saved file. Gradually, we were asked about not showing our police ID every time with the risk of it being lost or stolen. We have thus added the certificate of identity to the application and that has already been used by about one million citizens. Our design provides for identification to gradually move from documents to our mobile phone. This is an international best practice, simpler for the citizen and safer for transactions.”