Summary
- The Panhellenic Federation of Photographers’ annulment application concerning new ID cards has been postponed again.
- The hearing has moved from 3 November 2026 to 19 January 2027.
- The Federation expressed disappointment and intends to continue its legal action.
- The postponement does not itself change the current photo-submission procedure.
The Panhellenic Federation of Photographers’ legal challenge concerning the issuance procedure for Greece’s new police identity cards has been postponed again by the Council of State, with the next hearing set for 19 January 2027.
The case had been scheduled for 3 November 2026. In an announcement issued today, the Federation said the latest delay extends uncertainty over a matter directly affecting photographers’ professional rights. No ruling on the merits of the annulment application has been issued.
The Federation’s statement in full
The following is an English translation of the complete original Greek announcement:
03-11-2026
ANNOUNCEMENT
New postponement at the Council of State – Next hearing on 19 January 2027
The Panhellenic Federation of Photographers (P.O.F.) informs its member associations and all professional photographers in the country that the hearing of its application for annulment before the Council of State, concerning the procedure for issuing the new police identity cards, has been postponed again.
According to the official case-tracking information, the hearing originally scheduled for 3 November 2026 has been postponed until 19 January 2027.
The repeated postponements of the hearing understandably cause concern and disappointment within our profession, as they prolong the uncertainty surrounding an issue that directly affects the practice of professional photography.
The Panhellenic Federation of Photographers continues its institutional and legal efforts consistently and resolutely, with the aim of defending photographers’ professional rights and ensuring conditions for equal professional activity.
The prolonged uncertainty neither diminishes the importance of our request nor weakens our claim.
The Federation is closely monitoring developments in the case, remains in cooperation with its legal representatives and will continue to keep associations and fellow professionals responsibly informed of any further developments.
We remain firm in our positions and committed to defending our profession.
Sincerely
The President
Dimitris Kontsidis
The General Secretary
Evi Fanidou
Why this matters to professional photography businesses
The dispute is not about whether new identity cards should exist but how they are issued and what role professional photographers have in the process. Earlier discussions centred on photographs taken at police offices and the myPhoto platform. The rules governing submission of identity photographs via myPhoto have long been important to photography businesses.
The Greek Police’s current guidance provides two routes: having the picture taken at the issuing authority or using a certified professional photographer, who uploads the image through myPhoto. This is the administrative procedure described by the Police; today’s postponement does not change it.
The wider campaign over myPhoto
In 2026, the Federation also intervened in discussions about a new information system for security documents, seeking written assurances that professional photographers would continue supplying photographs through myPhoto. That intervention focused on clarifying how images would be created and transferred to the planned system.
A subsequent update on the Police’s response to the Federation stated that the technical requirements for the relevant procurement process were to be specified at a later stage. This is a related professional issue, not confirmation that the procurement and the postponed annulment application are the same legal proceeding.
What we think
For a professional photography studio, identity portraits are not a trivial add-on. They are part of everyday business, involving equipment, technical requirements, customer service and revenue that helps sustain small studios.
That is why repeated postponements have a real cost. The profession is still waiting for judicial scrutiny of an issue affecting its work, while the day-to-day identity-card system continues operating. Photographers need clear rules and a dependable framework rather than a case that keeps moving from one hearing to the next.
The Federation intends to pursue its legal challenge. The priority now should be for the case to actually be heard and for the issues it raises to receive a clear answer, so that both professionals and citizens know where they stand.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next court hearing?
It is scheduled for 19 January 2027, according to the Federation’s statement dated 3 November 2026.
Has the court ruled on the photography procedure?
No. The statement announces a postponement of the annulment application hearing, not a judgment on the merits.
Can citizens still use a professional studio for their new ID photo?
Yes. The Greek Police continues to describe the option of a certified professional photographer uploading the photograph through myPhoto, alongside photography at the issuing authority.
