The Government has today announced the imminent launch of the Gibraltar Electronic Identity Card. This new e-ID Card is validated as a travel document which will be recognised at points of entry throughout the EEA, eliminating problems previously experienced by some carriers of the current Gibraltar ID cards at certain points of entry within EU Member States.

With its many enhanced security features, the e-ID Card will form the backbone of the Government’s e-Gov initiative and, once the e-ID Card has been widely issued, holders will have the security to access the many e-Gov services which are being planned. For example, in the near future, the new card will provide the necessary security to enable card-holders to complete their tax returns on line.

The first e-ID cards will be issued at the end of June. During the switch-over, the new e-ID Cards will be issued without cost for a limited period of time but there may be a charge for the new card once the introductory period is over. This will help encourage a timely transition to the updated model, keeping parallel running to an absolute minimum, if possible. The existing, laminated ID cards, will be phased out of use over the course of this year.

The Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, said: "This is a hugely exciting project which we set out in our manifesto at the last election. I asked Paul Balban to assist me in delivering this project given the relationship and the expertise he and his department developed in the roll out of the new EU format driving licences. He has done a magnificent job, ably assisted by the excellent team of civil servants from the immigration, transport and IT departments of the Government to deliver an excellent new ID card which our people will be proud to show-off as a state of the art product with the latest and most avant-garde security features. The problems experienced by travellers using their ID cards should as a result be a thing of the past! Our thanks also go to the team at the Home Office who have assisted us in communicating the format of the new ID card to all member states and who have advised on how best to roll-out the new cards and to Mulbhauer, the company delivering the product in conjunction with us."

Minister Balban has just returned from Copenhagen where he delivered a presentation on Gibraltar’s improved e-ID Card to ‘The Passports and High Security Printers’ meeting, which focused on security aspects of passports, ID Documents, currency and the world of fraud and counterfeiting. All presentations had been carefully selected by a committee of experts and gave Gibraltar the chance to be involved in discussions of the latest trends in the ID world.

The Minister for Transport, Traffic and Technical Services, Paul Balban, said:

“The updated Electronic Identity Card will simplify the holder’s use of Government services, both on and offline. The e-ID will be immediately valid for travel within EEA Member States and will provide holders with added advantages which may include free access to Public Parking, free access to Public Transport, access to future e-Government services, and many other initiatives that are currently being planned. Our present ID Card has served us well since 1995 when the current version was introduced as an EU travel document but now needs to be brought in line with modern technology including the enhancement of its security features to the most sophisticated available within the world. All in all, we present Gibraltar with an identity card we can all be proud of.” 

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