Almost 900,000 Romanians already have an electronic identity card (CEI), but many discover at counters that they cannot prove their domicile because most institutions do not have readers for the new documents.
The General Directorate for Persons’ Records (DGEP) within the Ministry of Internal Affairs confirms that the address, exclusively moved to the electronic chip, is one of the most common issues reported.
In a response sent to HotNews, the institution specifies that numerous complaints have been registered regarding "the lack of necessary infrastructure at the level of public institutions and private law for reading the information regarding domicile," as well as difficulties in using the certificate for advanced electronic signature. DGEP states that, in cases reported by citizens, it has sent "specific messages of accountability to the respective institutions, emphasizing the importance of proper equipment and the need not to transfer their own obligations to the citizen."
How can you prove your domicile
To avoid blockages, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has introduced temporary solutions. Domicile can be proven through the electronic certificate generated on the HUB MAI platform, through the "RO CEI Reader" mobile application, which only requires entering the PIN, or through the physical certificate issued by the Population Registry.
However, the application gives errors, and a user complains: "No one accepts it outside (brokers, banks, no one) as proof of address, because they don't know what the hell it is and what it says!! Write the same text in English."
- The electronic identity card can be requested from any population registry service in the country
- Those who have electronic identity cards can authenticate and electronically sign documents
Issues also arise in the relationship with state institutions. The Ministry of Internal Affairs confirms that "in relation to the National Agency for Fiscal Administration (ANAF), holders of electronic identity cards are not recognized/accepted for documents signed with advanced electronic signature certificates," but claims that discussions are ongoing to resolve the situation. At CFR Calatori, proof of domicile is required for student subscriptions and travel fines, and the company only uses the mobile application or physical document.
The National Health Insurance House and the Pensions House also require a document attesting to the electronically stored address, however, on the other hand, the Ministry of Labor states that "citizens who have electronic identity cards do not encounter problems" in accessing its services, even if there are no readers, as the application provided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs is used.
To interconnect systems, the General Directorate of Population Records announces discussions and protocols with the National Agency for Cadastre and Land Registration (ANCPI), the Ministry of Justice, the National Trade Register Office (ONRC), notaries, insurers, and private pension administrators. However, the Ministry of Internal Affairs acknowledges that it does not have responsibilities regarding equipping institutions with readers, although these "have the obligation to take the necessary measures to adapt their own infrastructure."
The problem is that the law does not provide sanctions for institutions that do not do so, and the difficulties are currently borne by citizens.