Cyprus needs to quickly find a solution to provide asylum seekers with access to all government digital platforms.
This was stated by the Commissioner for Administrative Affairs and Human Rights, Maria Stiglanou-Lottides, after a large-scale investigation that revealed a systemic problem: refugees are unable to register in CY-Login, the main portal of government services, due to identification requirements.
Due to the inability to register in the system, refugees cannot register or renew their registration with employment services, and also lose access to the most important payments - maternity benefits, sick leave, and child benefits. In some cases, problems arise with enrolling children in schools or participating in government subsidies.
The Ombudsman also received an individual complaint from a person who was unable to obtain a work permit because the CY-Login system required a verified digital identity. As a result, the applicant found himself in an extremely difficult financial situation.
The Director of the Department of State Personnel explained that to confirm identity at the centers, a Cypriot ID, an EU citizen registration certificate or a valid residence permit is required. Asylum seekers cannot meet these requirements because confirmation of the start of the asylum procedure does not replace a residence permit.
An additional problem is that when initially applying for asylum, official documents are often missing, and later some applicants correct their personal data (first name, last name, date of birth), which complicates verification.
As a result, on CY-Login, refugees are simply not given a legal opportunity to undergo identification, and access to digital services is blocked for them.
Some departments have already begun to look for solutions:
• Social Security Services accept paper applications from refugees for maternity and sickness benefits. • The Labor Department allowed refugees to be registered manually, even without a residence permit.
However, these solutions remain point-based and not systemic. The CY-Login support team confirms that under the portal's current policy, asylum seekers cannot create digital profiles until they receive an official residence permit.
The Commissioner calls on government agencies to work together - the Department of Migration, the Ministry of Digital Policy, the Postal Service and other departments - to develop a unified mechanism for serving refugees that guarantees safety and security, but does not violate people's basic rights.
Source: in-cyprus.philenews.com
