Newsroom
If you've looked at Cyprus' new biometric ID cards and wondered why your parents' names are no longer on them, you're not alone. The change has sparked plenty of debate in recent days, but the Interior Ministry says the decision has been years in the making and wasn't taken lightly.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ministry said the removal of parents' details was based on recommendations from the Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights of the Child, the views of the majority of political parties, and the way identity cards are issued in most European Union countries.
According to the ministry, the issue first came to light as far back as 2012, when the Children's Commissioner raised concerns that the old system could unfairly stigmatize some children.
For example, children with an unknown father or those born to single mothers could end up with a dash next to the father's name on their ID card. The commissioner argued that this amounted to discrimination and could leave children feeling singled out.
The matter was later discussed by Parliament's Human Rights Committee in 2020 and 2022, with most MPs at the time supporting the removal of parents' names from identity cards. The Interior Ministry said Parliament even encouraged it to move in that direction.
However, the change couldn't happen immediately because the existing contract for issuing identity cards did not allow for it. Officials say the issue was revisited when the new biometric ID system was designed for 2025.
The ministry also pointed out that Cyprus is not doing anything unusual. In most EU countries, parents' names do not appear on national identity cards, and neither European Regulation 2025/1208 nor the International Civil Aviation Organization's standards require them.
Officials stressed that an identity card is intended to identify the person carrying it—not their family relationships. They also noted that parents' names do not appear on passports either, while a birth certificate remains the official document used to prove parentage.
Despite defending the decision, the ministry acknowledged that political parties have since changed their positions on the issue. It said it is prepared to discuss the matter with those involved and, if feasible, examine whether the agreement governing the new identity cards and passports can be revised.
For now, however, the new biometric IDs will continue to identify you—not your family tree.
