The Cyprus Migration Department has announced plans to issue biometric ID cards for permanent residents, which will eliminate the need for stamps on their passports, replacing them with a separate permanent residence permit and biometric ID card.
The biometric ID card utilizes biometric technology to record human biological characteristics, including fingerprints, voice, facial features, skeletal structure, retina, iris, and DNA, completing the process of verifying and identifying personal identity. These technical features make biometric identity verification methods independent of various artificial and additional items to prove a person's identity, relying solely on the person themselves. Therefore, it cannot be lost, forgotten, and is difficult to forge or counterfeit, making it a “recognition of the person, not the object”, a convenient and secure means of protection.
This is excellent news, addressing concerns about privacy and freedom of movement. Citizenship applicants can also apply for permanent residency while applying for citizenship; with just a simple application, they can confidently hold both a Cyprus passport and a biometric ID card for permanent residency.
