A serious problem in Cyprus's digital government system is stopping asylum seekers from getting important public services. This is according to a strong report from the country's Commissioner for Administration and Human Rights. The official, Maria Stylianou-Lottides, says the issue must be fixed urgently. She found that people asking for international protection cannot use any government websites because they cannot prove their identity online. This digital exclusion cuts them off from basic rights, including finding work, receiving social benefits, and enrolling their children in school.
The main issue is the national identity portal, called CY-Login. This website is the single gateway to all digital public services. To create an account, a person must first prove their identity in person at a government office. The rules require specific documents, like a Cypriot ID card or a valid residence permit. However, asylum applicants do not have these documents. They only have a letter that confirms they have applied for protection. Because of this, they are completely blocked from the first step of the process, which locks them out of the entire online system.
This digital barrier has severe real-life effects. People cannot register for work, apply for necessary permits, or get financial help for things like childcare or illness. One asylum seeker's complaint helped start the investigation. He faced major financial problems because he could not complete the online steps for a work permit. This shows clearly how being excluded online leads to poverty and difficulty.
Government authorities have known about this problem for some time. Different departments met in October 2022 to discuss it. They talked about challenges, such as how some applicants' identities are not fully confirmed when they first apply. Yet, since that meeting, no real solutions or new instructions have been provided.
The Ombudswoman stressed that Cyprus has a duty to solve this. The current situation makes a vulnerable group more marginalized and goes against fairness and inclusion. The move to digital services, which was meant to make things easier, has instead created a major obstacle for those who most need the state's help. Experts suggest one solution could be a special digital ID for asylum seekers, linked securely to their application file. Without action, Cyprus will continue a two-tier system where basic rights depend on passing a digital checkpoint, not on a person's legal status.