Citizens can now use their mobile phone for any transaction within Greece, just as they used their police ID and driver’s license until now.
From today, the driver’s license and the identity card are transferred to the mobile phone, through the Gov.gr Wallet application, which was officially presented yesterday by the Ministers of Digital Governance Kyriakos PierrakakisInfrastructure and Transport Costas Karamanlis and Citizen Protection Takis Theodorikakosin the presence of the prime minister Kyriakou Mitsotakis.
The application, which will be gradually available depending on the VAT number, will create, store and control the authenticity of the digital copies of the identity card and driver’s license.
Today the platform was opened for TINs with an expiry date of 2.
The identity card and diploma are moving into the digital age! pic.twitter.com/olXcCiVVSG
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) July 27, 2022
Digital copies have exactly the same validity as paper certificates within the country, with the only exception being international travel. In this way, citizens can now use their mobile for any transaction within them Greecejust as they used their police ID and driver’s license until now.
In addition, through the application they gain the ability to sign digital documents even more easily, quickly and more securely, through docs.gov.gr.
App installation and citizen authentication
The Gov.gr Wallet is already available in the app stores of the iOS and Android software and its use will be possible in parts according to the last digit of the citizen’s TIN, starting today with the number 1, on Thursday the 2 and so on .. Alternatively, citizens can download the application through the wallet.gov.gr page. For secure access to the application, the citizen is first identified with the codes on Taxisnet and then with the entry of a one-time password (OTP – One Time Password), which is sent to a mobile phone number that is confirmed to belong to the citizen. For this purpose, the citizen should before entering the application:
• either have registered their mobile phone number in the National Communications Registry (NMR) via notify.gov.gr,
• either to have digitally certified his signature through gov.gr (Responsible Declaration, Authorization, Digital Document Certification, Private Agreement).
Once authenticated, the citizen is asked to give permission to receive notifications from the application, which are necessary for its operation due to the consent mechanism in case of verification of a digital document. In addition, he has the possibility to choose the activation of the possibility of easy access (quick login), which is provided according to the specifications of each device.
Make and save copies
After entering the application environment, the citizen can with a few clicks create and save the digital copy of his ID and/or driver’s license. First he chooses which document he wants to issue and then he receives a one-time password (OTP – One Time Password) via SMS which he enters into the application. Immediately after, the document is created and saved in the application and in the wallet of the mobile phone. The same process is repeated again for each new copy version.
Details of digital copies and authentication
The digital copies of the Gov.gr Wallet include all the information contained in the police IDs and driving licenses respectively. They also incorporate a QR code and a unique document code, through which their authenticity is verified. In particular, regarding the digital copy of the driver’s license, the photo that will be displayed is taken from the Register of Police Identity Cards of the Hellenic Police, therefore it will be the same as that of the police ID and not necessarily the same as that of the driver’s license.
The authenticity of each digital copy is verified by its QR code. As soon as someone scans a citizen’s QR code through the same Gov.gr Wallet application, the latter receives a notification from the application in order to give approval to the controller in order to verify their information. After the citizen approves the check, a six-digit code appears on the screen of the application, which he must dictate or show to the checker, who in turn enters it on his own device. After the process is complete, then and only then the digital copy data is displayed once and only on the controller’s device, without the ability to save.
The ability to quickly verify
The citizen has the possibility to choose the quick verification function (quick scan) whenever he wishes. Through this specific function, the citizen essentially gives “pre-authorization” for the next and only check, as long as it takes place exclusively within the next five minutes. By displaying the quick scan QR code, the check is carried out faster, as the checker gains direct access to the citizen’s details. In this way, the citizen can be served more directly, especially in cases where congestion is observed or speed is required, such as e.g. entrance to concerts, airplanes, etc.
The possibility to sign documents at docs.gov.gr
Finally, through the Gov.gr Wallet the citizen can sign faster and safer documents through docs.gov.gr. Specifically, if the citizen has installed the application on his mobile phone and saved his police ID, he will be able to choose and approve the issuance of a digital document through the application instead of receiving a one-time code (OTP – One Time) via SMS Password).
Loss or replacement of paper certificates and loss of device
If the citizen declares the loss of his police ID either in person at a Police Station or through gov.gr, then automatically and immediately any digital copy that has been issued is cancelled. The same applies if the citizen declares the loss of the driver’s license at a Police Department, a KEP or the Transport Directorate of the competent Region.
In cases where a new ID or new driver’s license is issued for a reason other than loss, then the digital copies of the older paper certificates are automatically canceled and digital copies of the new certificates must be issued, following the same procedure for their original issue.
In case of loss of the device where the digital copies are stored, the citizen can revoke the validity of the stored digital copies through the relevant service at gov.gr.
Revocation of physical copies does not invalidate the corresponding paper certificates.
Necessary clarifications
The issuance of digital copies is only permitted if the citizen legally holds the corresponding paper certificate. Therefore, in cases of temporary or permanent revocation or detention of the identity card and/or driver’s license, the registers operating in the application are automatically updated so that the citizen does not issue, store or use the corresponding digital copies.
A prerequisite for the use of Gov.gr Wallet is the installation of the latest version of the application.
In addition, each citizen can only store digital copies on one device. If you issue and store a digital copy on a second device, then the previous digital copies are automatically revoked.
The digital copies have exactly the same validity within the Greek territory as the corresponding paper certificates. Therefore, as of today, citizens can show them instead of their ID or driver’s license. Exceptionally, with regard to citizens’ transactions with credit institutions, with financial institutions and with providers of fixed and mobile telephony services, digital copies will start to be valid from 1 October 2022.
The digital copy of the identity card does not constitute a travel document. Therefore, it can only be used on domestic flights, but not on international flights or movements within the Schengen area.
Frequently asked questions and answers can be found in the application and at wallet.gov.gr. In addition, citizens can submit service and support requests at wallet.gov.gr/support.
Next additions to the app
In the future, more documents are going to be added to the application, such as registration details, registration fee payment details, Vehicle Technical Inspection (VOT) result and next inspection date, insurance details, etc. Further, future it will also be possible to authenticate on gov.gr through the Gov.gr Wallet.
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