DSI five-year plan to renew 43,000 old ID cards

The Identification Services Bureau (DSI) has announced a five-year plan that will include the introduction of online applications and the renewal of 43,000 old identity cards for senior citizens, TDM reported.
Within five years, residents in need of official personal background documents, such as criminal records, will be able to complete the request for those documents at home. Moreover, an online payment platform will be available in order to settle the associated service bills.
In 2014, the DSI launched self-service kiosks with machines so that it would be easier for residents to renew their electronic identity cards and apply for Macau SAR passports. DSI Director, Ao Leong U, said that, over time, “additional functions would be added, for instance, a change of address could be reported to DSI via the kiosks.”
According to Ao Leong, 688,000 people hold local identification cards, out of whom 345,000 have obtained the contactless electronic identity cards. Furthermore, 43,000 senior citizens are in possession of cards without a validity date.
“The DSI is going to make arrangements for the renewals of these cards”, promised Director Ao Long. She also acknowledged that the contactless cards have been preventing fraud. “So far, we haven’t found any fraudulent ID cards in the form of the new version. Between 2005 and 2015, with respect to the old version of the card, 1,500 fake cards were detected”, she added. Moreover, she said that they are currently working on the third generation of the MSAR Passport and are considering adding further security features to it.  Staff reporter