The change means travelers must now use either Greece’s new national identity card or a valid Greek passport when traveling abroad. The older identity cards have been phased out as travel documents because they do not meet current European security standards, lacking modern security features and the machine-readable zone required for international travel. To accommodate the surge, the Ministry of Citizen Protection expanded staffing at identity card issuance offices and extended their operating hours. The change applies only to their use as travel documents for international travel. Applicants may choose any identity card issuance office in Greece, regardless of where they live, and can also modify or cancel appointments through the same platform.