Cyprus Interior Ministry Reverses Course on Including Parents' Names on ID Cards
The Cyprus Interior Ministry has reversed its earlier decision to remove the names of parents from biometric ID cards, announcing last week that citizens will now have the option to include this information. This change follows political pressure from parties such as Elam and Disy, who pushed for mandatory or optional inclusion of parental names, arguing it supports family values.
Initially, the ministry removed fields for parents' names in line with EU Regulation 2025/1208 and advice from the Commissioner for the Protection of Children’s Rights, who warned that indicating unknown paternity or single motherhood could stigmatize children. However, the ministry eventually accepted proposals to produce two types of ID cards to accommodate citizen preferences.
Critics argue the ID card's primary purpose is to identify individuals in official and travel contexts, not to serve as a reflection of family background. The ministry's decision to offer choice has been viewed as a misstep, potentially undermining the authority of the state to determine essential identity information.
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