Identità is going through the process of renewing 160,000 Maltese citizens’ identity cards, the Ministry for Home Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday morning.

The Ministry continued that this is because these identity cards, which were issued ten years ago, will be expiring sometime between this year and the next. It added that over 9,000 people have renewed their identity cards throughout the last two months.

During a visit to the Identità offices, Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri said that the agency is giving absolute priority towards the efficient and effective renewal of identity cards, “as opposed to what happened before 2013”. He commented that this is being done because the agency has invested well in its work tools as well as human resources.

The Ministry for Home Affairs said that the new identity cards have a number of strong security features, including biometric details so that the identity of the individual is protected and made more difficult to manipulate.

An identity card is valid for ten years, the Ministry said, continuing that every citizen is obliged to make sure that they apply for a renewal if their identity card has expired or is about to expire.

Identità CEO Steve Agius said that the agency is extending its working hours so that the public can be served better in light of the increase in requests. Agius continued that those whose identity cards have expired or are about to expire can begin the renewal process by visiting the agency’s offices in Blata l-Bajda, Hamrun, or visiting the agency’s website at https://eidbooking.identita.gov.mt/v2/.