Urgent services suspended for new BIR

The process to urgently request a new Macau Identification Document (BIR) will be suspended, except for very special cases, during the launch of the new BIR card Dec. 15, Identification Services Bureau (DSI) director Chao Wai Ieng, told a press conference yesterday.

According to Chao, replacement the old BIR card means urgent services (issuance of the new document in 3 working days) will be disrupted and generally suspended except in very special and justified cases.

This suspension will end Jan. 12, 2024.

The new BIR will have new security features to tackle forgeries as well as the removal of some information such as the date of first issuance from the visible part of the document, with this and other data to be stored in the card’s chip.

Chao said citizens not currently in Macau can apply for a BIR renewal via the Macao One Account (as those in Macau can also do) as long as their account is active and has a passport photo in the One Account. However, they will still have to physically collect the new card in Macau.

To renew BIR’s, driving licenses and other documents, citizens need a QR code provided by a specific network of photography shops.

The government requires the QR Code because it prevents people from reusing old photos when renewing documents because it expires one year from the upload of the photo.

In the first year, the DSI estimates the new model will replace about 50,000 BIRs (due to their expiration date).

The major uptake of the new card will be between 2024 and 2026 when DSI estimates there will be some 400,000 replacements cards.

Chao also said residents with lifetime BIRs (Senior Citizens) do not need to replace their cards with new ones.

He expressed hopes that citizens will not rush to get the new BIRs and, in doing so, tie up the system and cause delays and other issues for those who need to renew them due to expiration.