Cyprus removes parental names from new biometric identity cards

As of July 2026, the Republic of Cyprus has discontinued the practice of printing the names of a citizen's parents on new biometric identity cards. The change was implemented quietly following an amendment to the government's contract with the document printing provider, based on a proposal by the Civil Registry and Migration Department. This update aims to align national practices with broader European trends, citing EU Regulation 2025/1208 and standards from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Interior ministry sources clarified that the ID card is intended exclusively to verify the identity of the holder. The decision follows years of deliberation, including discussions in the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights as early as 2020 and 2022, where a majority of lawmakers supported removing the fields. While the move has sparked public reaction, the government maintains that the information is unnecessary for identification purposes, as parental data remains accessible through official birth certificates and national population registries.

The ministry has confirmed that there are no plans to reverse this policy. The new biometric cards continue to display essential personal data, including the holder's name, photograph, birth date, nationality, gender, height, signature, and personal number.