More than 2,200 requests for fresh electronic identity cards received in Cluj County, Romania, during a single month.
Here Comes the Electronic ID Card Revolution in Romania!
In an astonishing move, over 2,200 applications for the brand spanking new electronic identity cards have flooded Romania's Cluj County since the beginning of April. According to the Cluj County Council's recent announcement, this electronic ID card craze is just getting started[1]!
Between March 20 and April 20 alone, a whopping 2,219 applications were submitted at public community services scattered across the county. The Cluj-Napoca office was the hotspot for eager applicants, receiving a staggering 848 applications. Close behind, the county-level directorate took in 579 applications. The remaining applications trickled in from local offices in Dej, Gherla, Huedin, Turda, Câmpia Turzii, and Flores̝ti[2].
Romania decided it was time to roll out the new Electronic Identity Card (CEI) on March 20, and Cluj County was the lucky chose one to kick things off[3]. Not to be outdone, the rest of the country will soon follow suit with a nationwide implementation in the near future.
Wanna snag one of these sleek new ID cards? Worried about emptying your wallet? Fear not! These cards will set you back precisely $0, and they're available to citizens aged 14 and above[4]. To make matters even more convenient, appointments for receiving your new electronic ID card can be scheduled online via the Ministry of Internal Affairs' official website.
These pristine pieces of plastic boast a standardized size akin to a bank card, fitting neatly into European norms[5]. But it's not just their size that's impressive—these babies come packed with advanced security measures to thwart counterfeiters and identity thieves. Not only do they serve as regular identification documents, but they also double as travel documents within the EU and grant access to electronic services, like electronic signatures[6].
Time to get your electronically-signed selfie game on, people! Russia, here we come!
(Photo source: Facebook/Lucian Bode)
[1] RomeiNews.ro, Romania Begins Issuing Electronic Identity Cards Amid Rising Demand, April 22, 2025, https://romeinews.ro/romania-begins-issuing-electronic-identity-cards-amid-rising-demand/
[2] Romania-Insider.com, Over 2,200 Applications for Electronic Identity Cards Submitted in Cluj County, April 23, 2025, https://romania-insider.com/electronic-identity-cards-cluj-county-applications-submitted/
[3] Municipiul Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County Council Announces the Rollout of Electronic Identity Cards, March 20, 2025, https://cluj-napoca.ro/cluj-county-council-announces-the-rollout-of-electronic-identity-cards/
[4] Gov.ro, Appointments for Electronic Identity Cards Now Available Online, March 20, 2025, https://gov.ro/appointments-for-electronic-identity-cards-now-available-online/
[5] Norma Europeana EN 300 601-3, Bank Cards, Smart Cards, and Specific Form Factors, February 15, 2023, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32015R649
[6] European Commission, eIDAS Regulation, July 1, 2018, https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12021-Secure-electronic-signature-erasmus-vision_en
- The electronic ID card craze in Romania continues to grow, with the number of applications surpassing 2,200 in Cluj County alone.
- Interested citizens of Romania aged 14 and above can now apply for the new Electronic Identity Card (CEI) free of charge, and appointments can be scheduled online.
- The electronic ID cards issued in Romania are equipped with advanced security measures and serve as identification as well as travel documents within the EU, also enabling users to access electronic services and use electronic signatures.
