About 23,000 people ask for issuance of new-type identity cards in Moldova

About 23,000 people have asked for the issuance of the new-type identity card within eight days after the application process began. Director of the Public Services Agency (ASP), Mircea Esanu, today unveiled figures to this effect at event on the presentation of the new identity cards. President Maia Sandu became the first citizen to receive the new type of identity card.

Mircea Esanu said that the new identity card was a complex product containing more than 30 state-of-the-art security elements, ensuring the document's integrity. The first million identity cards will be issued for free to the people requesting the document for the first time, with an issuance period of 20 working days.

‘’Moldova has not updated its current identity card for over ten years. Not that it hasn't fulfilled its duties, but it exceeds expectations both in terms of security, interoperability, exchange of data. Besides, there are many new opportunities that the new card brings,’’ Mircea Esanu noted.

During the event, Mircea Esanu handed the first new-type identity card to President Maia Sandu.

‘’Madam President Maia Sandu, to mark the official launch of the new identity card, I hand over to you, as head of state and as a driving force in our EU integration process, the first identity card. We hope that in the next iteration of the identity card, the EU flag will appear on the national document of Moldovan citizens,’’ Mircea Esanu said.

The head of state noted that the new identity card was aligned with EU standards and would provide the Moldovan citizens with numerous benefits.

‘’It is a joy to participate in the launch of the new identity card for Moldovan citizens - an identity card aligned with European standards, which will be much more credible in relation with all our partners. (...) I encourage citizens to learn about all benefits and possibilities offered by the new document, to avoid standing in queues and to solve most problems online, using the saved time more efficiently. We all need to make efforts, so that this card soon also features the EU flag, allowing us to move freely in the EU, based on this identity card.

Applications for the new identity card can be submitted to ASP offices and to the 45 consular sections of Moldova’s embassies abroad.

‘’I am also pleased that our fellow citizens in the Diaspora will be able to get this identity card, which represents a shorter path to public services and lower costs for them. These are the projects and programs we work on every day, and we aim, through these projects, to simplify citizens' lives and raise everyone's standard of living,’’ Maia Sandu also said.

At the event, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Moldova Daniela Gasparikova said that, with the launch of electronic identity, Moldova was moving forward to have solid public services and reliable elections.

‘’Providing modern services requires up-to-date and accurate data on residence and identity. The existence of an electronic identity is extremely important for having fair elections. This is a step forward for the entire country, for its citizens, and will help us update registers, use electronic authentication and align with European standards. Electronic identification is a convenience for the Diaspora, as it will allow citizens to update their data and identity cards more easily. At the same time, citizens abroad will be able to benefit from public services and ASP will provide services to citizens, regardless of their residence. I believe this target of one million citizens with electronic identity will be reached soon and easily,’’ said Daniela Gasparikova.

The identity card will be the size of a bank card, measuring 85.6 mm by 53.98 mm. It will contain printed data, such as the issuing state's name in Romanian and English, the identity document's denomination, series and number, holder's name and surname, gender, birth date, nationality, national identification number, issuance date and authority, expiration date, facial image and handwritten signature from the age of 14.

Also, the new identity card will include electronic data: all details from the printed and inscribed format, qualified electronic signature means, the holder's biometric data (facial image and, where applicable, fingerprint images).

The identity card will not contain information about the holder's domicile and temporary residence, eliminating the need to replace it whenever the holder changes his/her residence.

At the same time, identity cards will include the electronic signature. Thus, holders will be able to authenticate in public institution information systems, in order to ask for various electronic public services (banking, tax, social, financial, educational, etc.) without standing in queue at the counter.

Holders of the identity cards will authenticate in the following information systems: MSign, MPower, MPass, MNotify, MCabinet, eVMS, e-Reporting, e-Declaration, e-Invoice, e-Licensing, e-Civil Status, e-Procurement, etc. Citizens will be able to sign documents, applications, or official declarations without coming to public institutions' offices.

Over time, identity cards will gain extended utility and may be used as travel documents in countries that recognize them (for example, European Union member states).

The new identity cards will be issued to Moldovan citizens who have reached the age of 14. Upon request by the legal representative, the document can be issued before reaching 14 years of age.

According to the Public Services Agency, in the first month following the project's launch, identity cards cannot be requested under the emergency procedure. Citizens needing an identity card urgently will receive provisional identity cards, which have the same legal value as permanent documents on the territory of  Moldova. The provisional identity document will be issued free of charge on the date of request.

Citizens with a valid identity card are not required to get a new identity card. The identity cards remain valid until their expiration.

After the free issuance of one million identity cards, citizens will pay 290 lei for document issuance within 20 working days.