New law transforms civil status registration in Moldova
Paper-based documents are nearing obsolescence. The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a bill that radically reforms civil status registration, cutting bureaucracy and digitizing the process.
Prime Minister Dorin Recean emphasized that digital public services must also be adopted by the private sector and not restricted to state institutions.
Key changes to civil status services include:
- Civil status records (e.g., birth, marriage, divorce, name change, death) will be electronically registered, with extracts issued digitally. Paper copies will be provided upon request.
- The traditional requirement of visiting the Public Services Agency to collect paper certificates has been eliminated. Information will now be accessible to public and private institutions via the electronic platforms MConnect and SIC Access-Web.
- Notaries will be authorized to officially register marriages, offering citizens a faster and more convenient alternative.
- Citizens will be able to request and receive civil status documents online or at any local office, irrespective of their place of residence.
- New provisions include greater flexibility in naming children, an expanded list of grounds for name or surname changes, and the elimination of mandatory visits to the Public Services Agency for birth or death certificates.
- The expanded use of digital signatures, including by the private sector, will eliminate the need for traditional ink stamps.
This project, led by the Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the Public Services Agency and the Electronic Governance Agency, aims to streamline applications and reduce bureaucracy. Citizens will benefit from more efficient services and smoother interactions with authorities.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
