Nicosia: With six new e-services on identity cards and passports and 19 social policy thematic sections on the Digital Assistant, the Government is significantly expanding the digital service capabilities through the Gov.cy platform, said on Tuesday Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis. During a media briefing at the Presidential Palace, Letymbiotis announced enhancements to the list of electronic services provided by the Population Registry, aimed at making life easier for citizens in Cyprus and abroad.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the six new services now available online include the issuance or renewal of identity cards and passports for minors, issuance or renewal of identity cards and passports for adults and minors due to loss or damage, issuance of passports for adults and minors through a fast-track procedure, issuance of refugee identity cards, acquisition of displaced person status, and searches in the Population Registry to locate relatives.
The Spokesperson highlighted that, except for services requiring biometric data collection (identity cards and passports), the rest are fully online, saving time and eliminating the need for in-person visits. Letymbiotis also indicated that the Government is expanding digital services in the area of social policy, significantly enriching the Digital Assistant with 19 new thematic sections related to Social Welfare Services.
He noted the addition of these sections to the existing welfare benefits, allowing citizens to submit queries 24 hours a day. This intervention aims to provide citizens with easy access to information on social issues such as child protection, welfare, sexual abuse, domestic violence, social care, juvenile delinquency, and State Child Care Centres.
The Spokesperson emphasized that the Government’s Digital Assistant is becoming a portal for direct access to information for citizens. With over 90,000 responses to citizens’ questions in just five months, it is proving to be a practical and reliable tool for those seeking quick information without resorting to traditional service channels.
In response to a question, Letymbiotis stated that the Digital Assistant, powered by artificial intelligence introduced by the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy and implemented last January, provides immediate responses. He mentioned the positive citizen feedback and expressed the Government’s goal to continuously add new services, ensuring citizens are informed about relevant plans, benefits, and procedures.