Marking a significant shift in how citizens interact with state services, the issuance of the Citizen Personal Number began on Tuesday, as the country moves to reduce bureaucracy and improve digital services.
The Personal Number replaces four separate identification systems previously used by citizens, aiming to eliminate chronic gaps in state registry connections that have long frustrated residents and limited service efficiency. The alphanumeric identifier consists of three prefix characters plus the citizen’s existing tax registry number (AFM).
Announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during a ministerial meeting last month, the Personal Number is intended to become a universal identifier for citizens across all public services.
“The new Personal Number that will be assigned to every citizen becomes the ‘key’ for unlocking any transaction with the public sector. It comes to complement the existing numbers that…are already [there],” said the Prime Minister.
“Our ambition is that, from now on, each citizen will only remember a single personal number that they themselves participate in shaping, so that it is a truly personal number, in order to facilitate their communication with the public sector,” Mitsotakis said.
What the Personal Number does
The number will appear on identity cards issued from June 3, 2025 onward and will be integrated into the digital Gov.gr Wallet application within June. Citizens can obtain their Personal Number through the myinfo.gov.gr platform using Taxisnet credentials, or visit Citizen Service Centers (KEP) and consular offices starting on June 23 for those lacking digital access or skills.
The new number is envisaged to cover all uses for which the various numbers currently issued by state agencies are used, such as the tax office registration number (AFM), the AMKA social security number, and the police ID number.
The system implements data protection measures
The Personal Number will be unique and won’t change throughout an individual’s lifetime. It ensures that the four basic state registries maintain identical, verified, and correct data for each citizen. The system implements data protection measures designed from the outset, complying with strict Personal Data Protection Authority regulations.
For the first three months, citizens can choose two of the three alphanumeric prefix characters. After September 5, numbers will automatically be assigned to those who haven’t obtained one.
Citizens with existing new-type identity cards without the Personal Number can continue using them until they are replaced or expire. Those who would like immediate updates can request new cards through the standard procedures.
The reform targets Greece’s decentralized identification model, wherein each agency maintains separate registries, resulting in inconsistencies and issues with updates.