For the first time in the Republic of Moldova, the identity card will contain not only data in printed format, but also data in electronic format. It will be as an identification document of the holder on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, but also a travel document for crossing the border under the terms of an intergovernmental agreement, IPN reports.
The Public Services Agency said that the current version of the identity cards of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova was approved in 1994 and hasn’t undergone any viable improvement since then. Today, in 30 years of the appearance of the first identity document of the citizen, with IDNP included, it is necessary to update it. By the European Council’s decision of June 23. 2022, the Republic of Moldova obtained the EU candidate status. One of the objectives of the Association Agenda is to put into circulation new types of identity documents, improved in terms of security.
In addition to serving as an identification document of the holder on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, the identity card will also be a travel document for crossing the border, in accordance with an intergovernmental agreement. Currently, the citizens of the Republic of Moldova can travel based on their identity card to Ukraine and Turkey. When the new identity card that will meet the minimum security standards and will include biometric data is put into circulation, it will be possible to extend the list of states in which Moldovan citizens could travel freely based on this identity document, which will also serve as a travel document.
The identity card will also be an electronic identification document in the information systems of public institutions, which will enable to benefit from various electronic public services and to also sign official documents, applications or statements without having to go to the offices of public institutions.
In printed format, the identity card will contain the name of the issuing state, in Romanian and English, the name of the identity document, in Romanian and English; series and number; name and surname, gender, date of birth, citizenship and state identification number of the natural person, as well as the date of issuance and the issuing authority, the date of expiry of the validity period; facial image, handwritten signature of the holder, from the age of 14.
The data from the printed format and from the inscribed format, the certificate qualified for electronic signature, in the case of holders with full competence; biometric data of the holder: facial image and, where applicable, fingerprint images will be in electronic format.
The residence will not be written on the electronic identity card. Currently, according to the legislation, the change of residence leads to the nullity of the identity document. So, with the change of residence, the citizens must obtain new identity documents.
With the introduction of electronic identity cards, the citizens will have to notify the authorities of this fact, online, through an electronic statement, at the multifunctional centers of the PSA, at mayor’s office and embassies, but there will be no need to change the identity card. Changes will only be made in the system.
The electronic identity card will have the size of a bank card, internationally standardized. The document will be issued starting with the age of 14. Its maximum validity period will be 10 years. The the electronic identity card was estimated to cost about 280 lei.
The draft law amending the law on identity documents in the national passport system was given a first reading by Parliament. After it is given a final reading, the production of electronic identity cards and their issuance will start, beginning with the first half of 2025.
