VIDEO // Moldova to introduce new passport model as of October 15; document to feature more than 100 security elements

The Public Services Agency (ASP) will put a new model of the passport of a citizen of the Republic of Moldova into circulation starting from October 15. The document has a completely new design and more than 100 security elements, while all current passport models will remain valid until the expiration of the period for which they were issued. The new model today was presented by the ASP leadership during an event dedicated to the institution’s activity report for the past five years.

ASP Director Mircea Esanu said that the new passport was the most complex security document developed by the institution to date and that the exact number of security elements would not be made public.

“When we speak about how secure the document we are presenting publicly today is, as it is scheduled to enter production on October 15, we are talking about the passport of a citizen of the Republic of Moldova. This new document contains more than 100 security elements. We will not disclose the exact number, precisely so that potential counterfeiters cannot count or identify them, but it is by far the most advanced document in terms of security ever issued by the Public Services Agency. It is the most complex and most difficult to counterfeit of all the documents we issue,” Esanu said.

According to him, the new passport complies with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), while the periodic updating of documents is necessary, in order to keep pace with counterfeiting technologies.

“We meet all ICAO standards. This is the UN agency responsible for standards for these types of documents, and it recommends renewing them every five to seven years, precisely to prevent potential counterfeiting,” the ASP director explained.

One of the main technical innovations is the data page, which will be made entirely of polycarbonate. According to the ASP, the new document will incorporate more than 100 security elements, while its security concept is designed as a continuation of the one used for other modern documents issued by the institution.





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Mircea Esanu noted that the process of modernizing identity documents had been also applied to driving licences and vehicle registration certificates.

“The other two documents launched relatively recently—the driving licence and the vehicle registration certificate—were both brought into line with all European directives, regulations and standards. The driving licence includes a QR code, not to mention the increased level of security of these documents. The first driving licence issued by the Republic of Moldova had 40 security elements. Today, these documents exceed 40. The driving licence is generally approaching 50 security elements,” the ASP director said.

The new passport also comes with a graphic concept different from the one of previous models. While earlier editions included architectural elements and images associated with historical symbols of Moldova, the new design is built around the themes of ecology and biodiversity.

“The new passport design comes with a radical, completely new concept. In previous iterations and editions of the passport, whether they were extremely simple, featuring the coat of arms of Moldova, or included graphic or architectural elements of the country—often repeated, such as the statue of Stephen the Great appearing several times, or the Triumphal Arch or the Old Arch—today all the pages of the new passport have a distinct graphic appearance, adopting ecology as their central theme,” Mircea Esanu said.

The ASP director noted that the choice of an ecological theme aimed to associate the travel document with the natural heritage of Moldova.

“The passport is not merely a document that we issue as a country; it is also a part of the corner of the country you come from. We believe that the ecological agenda, which is so important globally today, represents us as well. The climate changes taking place can be extremely dramatic, and I believe this is another testament and encouragement to protect fauna and biodiversity,” Esanu said.

According to the ASP director, the new graphic concept and security elements were developed by specialists from the Public Services Agency.

“You will see similar elements, continuing the design of the identity card and passport that we issue. We are extremely proud that the entire conceptualization of Moldova’s new travel document, along with all documents mentioned earlier, was conceived and developed entirely by my colleagues here at the Public Services Agency,” he said.

The change will affect not only the passport of a citizen of Moldova, but the entire set of passports issued by the ASP. This includes diplomatic and service passports, as well as passports for refugees and stateless persons.

“The new models concern not only the citizen’s passport, but also the other five types of passports, including diplomatic and service passports and the ones issued to refugees and stateless persons. We are changing the entire set of documents. Apart from the citizen’s travel document, the documents for stateless persons and service passports have not been renewed for 11 or even 12 years. They were completely outdated, and I am pleased that, starting October 15, the entire set of documents will be changed,” Mircea Esanu said.

He emphasized that the introduction of the new model does not require citizens to replace the passports they already hold.

“All passports that are currently valid will remain valid until their expiration date. The new documents do not invalidate or automatically cancel the other valid documents,” the ASP director said.

Regarding the cost of the new document, Esanu said that the price would be 140 lei higher than the one of the current passport. According to him, the increase is prompted by the costs of the new security and production elements, while the ASP is not seeking to make a profit from issuing the documents.

“The price is 140 lei higher than the one of the previous or current passport. This price consists exclusively of new market prices and the multitude of security elements. The price of this passport includes the paper, holograms, inks, transportation and the human resources involved in issuing these documents. The Public Services Agency is not an organization seeking profit. It is a cost that actually covers the document’s expenses,” Mircea Esanu also said.

According to the ASP, the new passport meets the most rigorous international standards in the field and features a data page made entirely of polycarbonate. At the same time, the color distinction of the covers for diplomatic, service and refugee or stateless-person passports will be maintained.

The new passport was presented during the ASP’s activity report for the 2021–2026 period. According to data unveiled by the institution, during this period historical bank debts of approximately 125 million lei were settled, and the institution’s debt level reached zero.

On the same period, the ASP transferred more than 355 million lei to the state budget and invested more than 405 million lei in physical infrastructure and information technologies.

The institution says that approximately 35 per cent of the more than four million services it provides annually are offered free of charge or at subsidized prices. They include the issuance of birth and death certificates and the issuance of the first identity card when a person turns 14.

At the same time, 81 of the 96 public services managed by the ASP are available in a fully digital format, according to data presented at the event. Digitalization has also been expanded to driving licence examinations, where new vehicles, video monitoring and an electronic appeals submission system have been introduced.

The new passport model will be put into circulation as of October 15.