Cyprus is ready to Go Live with pilot phase for new national ID documents produced by Veridos Matsoukis in Greece
Athens/Berlin, 18 June 2026 – The Republic of Cyprus will launch the pilot phase of its new national identification system by the end of June, marking a major milestone in the modernization of the country’s identity documents. The project is being implemented by Veridos following the award of a new long-term national contract last year. All official Cypriot identity documents – including identity cards, passports, residence permits and residence certificates – are produced by Veridos Matsoukis in Athens. The company is one of the world’s largest and most advanced production facilities for high-security identification documents.
The pilot phase will cover all electronic machine-readable travel documents (eMRTDs), which include residence permits (eRPs), electronic residence cards (eRCs), identity cards (eIDs) and electronic passports (ePPs), with both a nationwide and an international deployment starting by the end of August 2026. The phased rollout ensures a smooth transition, reliable operations and uninterrupted services for citizens and residents.
Veridos successfully implemented the new project while ensuring the current system worked in parallel until the new deployment was completed worldwide - across embassies and consulates.
The complete contract comprises the continuous modernization of Cyprus’ personalization systems and official identification documents, integrating the most modern technologies and advanced security features across all document types. Veridos is also upgrading the country’s biometric data capture and processing infrastructure, including hardware and software for enrollment, personalization, issuance, stock management and operator management. All ID documents are fully compliant with European legislation and ICAO standards and are already designed to meet future regulatory and technological requirements expected from 2028 onward.
A cornerstone of the project is Veridos Matsoukis, the Veridos production unit based in Athens. The facility exports high‑security identification documents to more than 40 countries and ranks among the largest worldwide for the production of passports, ID cards, driving licenses and other secure documents. Producing all Cypriot official identification documents in Greece ensures the highest levels of security, quality and reliability.
The implementation of the modernized ID system in Cyprus is carried out in close cooperation with GCC Computers Ltd, which supports the smooth operation of the new infrastructure and provides local technical support and maintenance.
“Our cooperation with the Republic of Cyprus reflects the trust placed in Veridos to deliver highly secure and efficient identification solutions,” said Bernd Kümmerle, CEO of Veridos. “By combining advanced technologies with the longstanding production experience of Veridos Matsoukis in Greece, we are actively contributing to the digital transformation of public administration in Cyprus.”
“We are proud of our long-standing partnership with Cyprus,” said Dimitrios Matsoukis, Managing Director of Veridos Matsoukis. “Being entrusted with the modernization of the national ID system is both an honor and a responsibility, highlighting our strong expertise in secure document production. This project underscores our commitment to the highest quality standards and our strong regional presence.”
“We are very pleased to work with Veridos,” said Dr. Elikkos Elias, Director General of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Cyprus. “This cooperation enables us to implement modern identification systems and provide high‑quality services to our citizens.”
Through the new system, citizens of Cyprus will benefit from stronger document security, faster issuance processes, shorter waiting times and improved public services, reinforcing trust in official identification and supporting the country’s ongoing digital transformation.
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Veridos GmbH
Veridos, a joint venture by Giesecke+Devrient and Bundesdruckerei, is a leading global provider of integrated identity solutions. Governments and public authorities in more than 100 countries rely on the company's unique, comprehensive product portfolio. Veridos offers complete solutions and comprehensive services that are perfectly tailored to each customer's identification requirements. The portfolio ranges from paper, security printing and electrochip components, data capture, identity management systems, personalization and issuance of ID documents to mobile ID and border control solutions, including eGates. The company offers the highest quality identity documents, including passports, ID cards and driver's licenses, and even the production facilities that enable governments to produce them themselves. For more information about Veridos, please visit www.veridos.com. | ||
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