Abstract: A method in a system for personalizing portable data carriers includes a personalization data providing unit and a plurality of personalization units and further is associated with a corresponding data providing unit and the personalization system. The data providing unit receives a request for personalization data from a first personalization unit and transmits personalization data to the first personalization unit. A data preparation parameter is received from the first personalization unit and the personalization data is prepared to be transmitted in accordance with the received data preparation parameter.