Uniformed personnel in Greece granted standard civilian ID cards: End of mandatory use of service IDs

In a historic change, Greece is putting an end to a decades-old distinction by allowing all uniformed personnel—military, police, fire service, and coast guard officers—to obtain regular civilian identity cards, eliminating the requirement to exclusively carry service IDs that automatically revealed their profession.

For the first time, this move recognizes the right of uniformed personnel to equal treatment and privacy, enabling them to participate fully in digital and civil life without unnecessary disclosure of their occupation. The measure is the result of coordinated efforts by the Ministries of Digital Governance, National Defence, and Citizen Protection.

From Restriction to Recognition
Until now, uniformed individuals were only issued service identity cards, which had limited recognition outside their agencies. These cards were often rejected by private businesses and digital platforms, and revealed personal professional details even during ordinary activities such as booking a hotel or renting a car.

The new civilian ID aligns with those issued to other Greek citizens. It allows uniformed individuals to conduct everyday transactions without exposing their professional identity, now classified as personal data under privacy regulations.

Continued Use of Service IDs—But Internally
It is worth noting that service IDs are not being abolished altogether. They will continue to be used within military units and security services, where internal identification is necessary. However, in everyday life, personnel can now rely on their civilian ID for official, private, and digital use.

Digital Transformation Benefits
This reform also brings practical digital advantages. Civilian ID cards allow uniformed personnel to access essential public digital services, such as gov.gr wallet and Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures needed for banking and online transactions—services previously inaccessible with only a service ID.

Pilot Program and Implementation
The program launched in pilot form and has already shown strong uptake. As of early July, approximately 8,300 civilian ID cards have been issued to uniformed staff. Of these, around 6,000 include the new “Personal Number”, a key component in Greece’s ongoing digital government transformation. That number continues to grow rapidly as more personnel apply daily.

This change marks a significant step forward in equal civil rights, digital inclusion, and professional privacy for Greece’s uniformed personnel.