“The simple identity card is not a travel document.” What did a video statement said on Friday morning on the MIA Facebook account
From April in Bucharest and then, gradually, in the country, the new identity cards began to be released. Romanians can opt for an identity card with a chip or a simple one. At the same time, most Romanians still have the classic identity card, without a chip. On Friday, the Ministry of Internal Affairs posted an announcement that sparked reactions.
“Did you know that the new electronic identity card is also a travel document? This means that you can use it in all the Member States of the European Union. (…) Attention!
“Yes, you heard good!”, The young woman continues, in the video posted on Friday morning. The announcement can be interpreted, however, as if there is no travel document than the new electronic identity card, with CIP, according to the public reactions on the MIA account.
But this is not true. It can still be traveled with “identity card” in old format. The “old” identity card should not be confused with the simple identity card, without a chip.
What does the video actually say? All current “bulletins” expire in August 2031. Even the ones he actually writes, as is the case with several elderly.
In 2031 the transition period is concluded at the new format of identity documents of the EU, according to a statement of the Romanian authorities.
The bulletins on the old format are no longer released from April, when only the current identity cards began to be released – with chip or without chip.
“If you have a simple book, you will need to have the passport”
Those with chip will be used outside the borders, those without chip will only be identification documents on the territory of Romania.
Thus, “if you have a simple book, you will have to have the passport. That is why the electronic book is more useful,” explains Bogdan Despescu, Secretary of State in May, in a dialogue with Hotnews, after being contacted to clarify the video announcement.
Until 2031, however, you can also travel with the identity card, the one in “large” format.
He emphasizes: “Only the electronic book (n.red. The one with CIP) can be used as a passport in the Union, plus Turkey, the Republic of Moldova,” adds the Secretary of State.
What identity cards can be used for without CIP
Asked if the new simple identity cards, without CIP, will be able to be used abroad for legitimation, for example, Bogdan Despescu said no.
Otherwise, he says that those who will have identity card without a chip will have to have, outside the borders, another identity card, respectively the passport.
No bulletins are not issued in “large” format
Currently, in Romania, old identity cards are no longer issued. “At the national level we have the operational system for the new model. At all the records of persons in the country. These structures are at the level of local authorities.
He also says that the introduction of new identity cards “with so many safety elements” comes as a result of a European regulation. “There are conditions imposed by the EU,” says Despescu.
Asked about the differences between the old format of identity cards and the new ones, with CIP, Bogdan Despescu says that both the old ones, the “model 1997” and the new ones who do not have a chip, do not have the safety elements on the electronic book.
“They cannot be at the level of electronic ones, because there are other mechanisms, other systems, special technique,” he says.
How much does the new ID cards cost
“The cost of the passport is three times higher. The passport has CIP, like the electronic book. So there is no difference between the passport and the book, in terms of the safety elements, the way of taking the data,” says the Secretary of State.
The fee for simple identity cards (CIS) is 38 lei, while electronic ones (CIE) costs 68 lei. Comparatively, the passport tax is 265 lei.
