Nearly 10,000 applications have been submitted so far for an electronic identity card (eID), with more than 5,600 already issued, the Cyprus News Agency reported on Saturday.

Appointments at Citizens’ Service Centres are being scheduled, often within a few days, with the highest demand observed at the Nicosia centre.

To obtain an eID, applicants must first submit an online application and then schedule an in-person verification appointment at a KEP.

Regarding age demographics, the highest interest in eID issuance comes from individuals aged 25 to 55, with the largest proportion recorded in the 35-44 age group.

The application process began on January 27.

The deputy ministry of research previously announced the eID is valid for three years and can be renewed. Cypriot citizens over the age of 18 are eligible to apply, provided they hold a valid biometric ID card and own a smartphone that supports biometric authentication.

The first 100,000 eIDs are state-subsidised, with 30,000 offered free of charge and the remaining 70,000 available at a cost of €15 per applicant.

The eID has been described as each citizen’s unique and secure identity in the digital world. The eID allows authentication for both public and private online services while also enabling holders to electronically sign documents with full security and the same legal validity as a handwritten signature.