The holders of Soviet-type passports by September 1, 2014 can obtain identity cards without paying the mandatory state tax under a simplified regime and even at home, as provided by a bill adopted by the Government, IPN reports.

The persons will be able to change the Soviet-type passports for an identity card without presenting the required civil status document, if the personal data of the holder remained unchanged. The blood group certificate will be issued free.
In the case of sick persons or persons confined to bed, the passports will be changed with the help of mobile units that will travel to the applicant’s home, based on lists compiled by social workers, family doctors and the local public authorities.

The persons from state residential institutions will also benefit from this concession. The costs will be covered with money from the state budget.

The Government also approved a bill to exclude the Electoral Code provision enabling voting with Soviet passports from September 1, 2014.

About 220,000 persons now hold Soviet-type passports. Most of them were born before 1945.