Use of Identity cards and Residence documents in the EU (EU citizens) Fields marked with * are mandatory. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK As an EU citizen, you have a number of rights. For example, you can: vote in local and European elections work and live freely in any EU country (and your relatives can join you, even if they are not EU nationals). But if you and your family move to another EU country, you may have difficulty getting your documents accepted. For example, when: you're travelling in the EU you need to prove your identity to buy goods or services We d like to find out more about these difficulties and your experiences of them. Your answers to this questionnaire will help us assess the scale of the problem, and find ways to solve it. Your input will be used for an impact assessment, which could lead to the EU taking action in this area. Who should fill in this questionnaire? 1
This questionnaire is for EU citizens and nationals of countries in the European Economic Area ( rway, Liechtenstein, Iceland). If you are not an EU citizen or a national of rway, Liechtenstein or Iceland, please fill in the questionnaire for non-eu citizens. Background In 2013, the Commission published the EU Citizenship Report. In the report, it committed itself to working on solutions to remove the obstacles faced by some EU citizens (and their family members) in getting identity and residence documents accepted when they move to another EU country (see Action 3 of the report). In addition, ID cards play an important role for a secure identification of a person for administrative and commercial purposes. This has been stressed by the Commission in its Communication adopted on 14 September 2016 "Enhancing security in a world of mobility: improved information exchange in the fight against terrorism and stronger external borders" and in the " Action plan to strengthen the European response to travel document fraud" adopted 8 December 2016. The necessity to improve the security of these documents has also been highlighted in the EU Citizenship Report 2017. This consultation relates to: national identity documents issued by EU countries for their own nationals registration certificates and residence documents issued to EU citizens (and their family members) who move to another EU country. Your contribution matters! Answering this questionnaire should take you about 3-10 minutes, depending on your experience. We want to hear from EU citizens for this public consultation. But if you represent a business, civil society organisation, academic/research institution or authority, please contribute your views using the special separate questionnaire. public The questionnaire is accessible in, and replies can be submitted to it in, all official EU languages except Irish. 2
Questions about this consultation? Please email: JUST-CARDS-CONSULTATION@ec.europa.eu Deadline 5 December 2017 We ll publish a report on the replies we receive on the website of the Commission. Please note that this consultation document does not prejudge the final form of any decision to be taken by the Commission. Please read the privacy statement for information on how your personal data and replies will be handled. Start the questionnaire. ABOUT YOU * Are you responding on behalf of an organisation or as an individual? Individual a business a business organisation (e.g. a trade association) a civil society organisation an academic/research institution a public authority This is not the right questionnaire for you. Please fill in the questionnaire for businesses and other organisations. First name Name Email 3
Your reply: te that, whatever option chosen, your answers may be subject to a request for public access to documents under Regulation (EC) N 1049/2001 can be directly published with your personal information (I consent to publication of all information in my contribution in whole or in part including, where applicable, my name/the name of my organisation, and I declare that nothing within my response is unlawful or would infringe the rights of any third party in a manner that would prevent publication) can be directly published provided that I/my organisation remain(s) anonymous (I consent to publication of any information in my contribution in whole or in part (which may include quotes or opinions I express) provided that this is done anonymously. I declare that nothing within my response is unlawful or would infringe the rights of any third party in a manner that would prevent publication) 4
* What is your country of nationality? More than one choice possible Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands rway Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden UK Other 5
What is your country of residence? Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands rway Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden UK Other If you only hold the nationality of a non-eu country, please fill in the questionnaire for non-eu citizens. If you hold at least one of the nationalities listed above, please fill in this questionnaire. * What is your age group? Under 18 18-30 31-45 46-65 Over 65 6
* Do you or a member of your family have a visual impairment? * Have you ever visited another EU country?, never, for personal reasons (e.g. tourism, shopping, visiting family/friends, for medical treatment), for work (e.g. commuting, business trip, volunteer work), to study Other () * How often do you travel to another EU country? Never Rarely Once a year Several times a year Every month More frequently * You are an EU citizen. Do you have a national identity card? (these are cards issued by your country of nationality) EU citizens holding an identity card You can use your identity card (issued by authorities in your country of nationality) as proof of identity th roughout the EU. You can also use it to travel inside the EU. You can use it to leave and re-enter the EU. But whether you can enter or leave the non-eu country you re travelling to this depends on bilateral agreements. We want to hear out about your experience of and views on using your identity card as a travel document and getting through border controls at or between EU countries. These questions do not concern border controls in non-eu countries. 7
* Have you ever used your identity card to travel in the EU? Have you ever used your identity card to leave or enter the EU? * Have you ever had difficulty using your identity card for travel? Tell us more here: * Did you know that you can use your identity card as a travel document in the EU? * Why haven t you used your identity card as a travel document? I didn t need to show any documents I used my passport I used another document (not my identity card or passport) Other () here The following questions are about your experience of using your identity card as identification in another EU country * Have you ever used your identity card as identification in an EU country outside the one that issued the card? 8
Where? administration dealing with non-nationals/foreigners local authority/municipality tax office social or health services election office post office water/electricity company bank shop air carrier insurance company medical institution (hospital or pharmacy) other organisation () here * Have you ever had difficulty using your identity card as proof of identity?, I didn t have any difficulty, my card was not accepted as proof of identity, my card was not accepted as proof of age, my card was not accepted as it did not have the right security features, my card could not be linked to the e-identity for online use, I had other problems (): * Why haven t you ever used your identity card in another EU country? I never needed to prove my identify I used other means of identification I didn t know I could I thought I would have problems using it in another EU country Other (): here 9
Passport security features are the same across the EU. But national identity cards and their security features are different in each EU country. In this section, we ll ask you about the security features, design and price of identity cards. Security features reduce the risk of document fraud and identity theft. On the other hand, security features have a cost. So the more secure a document is, the more expensive it is to make. * An identity card can be used for travel and identification purposes throughout the EU. Which of the following statements do you agree most with? Strong security features are unnecessary. I m not worried about document fraud or identity theft. Strong security features are essential to reduce the risk of document fraud and identity theft. The strongest possible security features are needed to reduce the risk of document fraud and identity theft. * Who should pay for the increased costs of security features? Costs should be borne by the national budget. Costs should be shared by the national budget and applicants. All costs should be paid by the applicant. * What is a reasonable price to pay for an identity card? You can assume that the identity card would be valid for as many years as your current one (usually around 5 to 10 years). Free less than 15 15 50 50 100 the same as now the same as for a passport Please state the amount (optional) Any other comments? 10
What additional functions would you be willing to pay more for (e.g. allowing you to pass through electronic border control gates)? optional * Do you think identity cards should look exactly the same in all EU countries? Don t know opinion * Should identity cards have special features so that people who are visually impaired can recognise them easily (e.g. braille)? Please describe any special features you d like to be introduced: optional Any other comments? EU citizens not holding a national identity card National identity cards allow EU citizens to travel in the EU and to prove their identity to public authorities and private companies. Some EU countries do not issue identity cards. In this section, we d like to find out about your experience if you do not hold an identity card. * Why don t you have a national identity card? My EU country does not issue identity cards I have a passport I have other means of identification I don t need one as I never travel abroad I am not eligible () Other (): 11
* How do you prove your identify if required to do so in another EU country? I use my passport I use my residence card I use my driving licence I ve never had to prove my identify in another EU country Other (): * Which factors might make you want an identity card? Cheaper than applying for a passport Easier to carry better size and shape Easier to obtain Valid longer More widely accepted in other EU countries I don t want one Other (): In which situation(s) would you like to be able to use an identity card? to travel in the EU to prove my identity to public authorities to prove my identity to companies (e.g. banks, shops, insurance companies) as proof of age (e.g. in shops) other (): 12
* Do you think identity cards should look exactly the same throughout the EU? opinion Mobile EU citizen * Are you currently living (or have lived in the last five years) in another EU country than your country of nationality? 13
In which other EU country do you live or have lived in the last five years? Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands rway Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden UK * Which document(s) do you (or did you) hold during your stay in that other EU country? Identity card (issued by your country of nationality) or passport Registration certificate for EU citizens (a card or a paper document entitled registration certificate ) Residence card (a residence card issued in the first 5 years of your stay it may look like and be called an identity card. Issued by the EU country you live in) Permanent residence card ( issued after 5 years of residence) EU citizens living in another EU country who hold a registration certificate 14
Since 2004, EU citizens who move to another EU country for more than 3 months no longer need to apply for a residence card. However, under EU law, you may have to register in the country. If registration is necessary, the EU country issues you with a registration certificate (showing your name and address and the date of registration). A registration certificate (card or paper document) should have the words ' registration certificate' on it. Registration certificates must be issued immediately and free of charge (or for a fee that is not higher than that charged to nationals for issuing of similar documents, e.g. identity cards). We d like to find out your views about the registration certificate (not your residence card, if you have one). * Did you have to register in the EU country where you live (or lived)? Don't know Any other comments? * What was (or is) your registration certificate like? It s a paper document It s a formal card but is not like a residence card or identity card It looks like a residence card or identity card It s a card but I am unable to compare it to other cards Other (): * In what ways is your registration certificate useful? I am known to the national authorities where I live I have a document to show that I am a legal resident When I go back to my own country, I can show that I was legally residing in another EU country After 5 years, I can apply for a permanent residence card It s not useful Other (): 15
* Have you encountered difficulties when using your registration certificate? * Should you be able to use your registration certificate to: prove your identity prove your residence status to national authorities prove your residence status when you go back to your own EU country prove your residence status when applying for a other (): permanent residence card * What would be the advantages if all registration certificates looked exactly the same in all EU countries? Easier to carry better size and shape Easier for national authorities to recognize Easier for shops/private companies to recognize particular advantages Other (): Any other comments? EU citizen holding a residence card 16
Since 2004, EU citizens moving to another EU country for more than 3 months no longer need a residence card. However, some EU countries may still issue residence cards to EU citizens. Sometimes, these cards can be used as a substitute for a registration certificate. It may be called a residence card or sometimes even an identity card. It s issued by the EU country you live in. In this section, we want to find out your views as a holder of an EU residence card. * Did you apply for a residence card in the EU country where you live (or lived in the last five years)?, the EU country I live in doesn't issue residence cards Don't know 17
In which other EU contry do you live or have lived in the last five years? Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands rway Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden UK Any other comments? * Why did you apply for a residence card? I wanted a document to prove I m legally resident I thought it would be useful when I contact public authorities I thought it would be useful when I contact private companies To prove I was legally resident in another EU country when I returned to my own country I was obliged to apply for one Other (): 18
here * Are there any advantages to having a residence card? I am known to the national authorities where I live I have a document to show that I m legally resident I can use it as a substitute for an identity card When I go back to my own country, I can show that I was legally resident in another EU country After 5 years, I can apply for a permanent residence card Other (): here * What does (or did) your residence card look like? It s a paper document It looks like a formal document, but not like an identity card or residence card for non-eu nationals It looks like an identity card or residence card for non-eu nationals (so similar that it s easy to mix them up) It s a card, but I am unable to compare it to other documents Other (): * Have you ever had difficulty using your residence card? (): here optional 19
Any other comments? * In which situation(s) would you like to be able to use your residence card: prove your identity prove your residence status to national authorities prove your residence status when you go back to your own EU country prove your residence status when applying for a permanent residence card other (): Any other comments? * What would be the advantages if all residence cards looked exactly the same in all EU countries? Easier to carry better size and shape Easier for national authorities to recognize Easier for shops/private companies to recognize particular advantages Other () comments if any EU citizen holding a permanent residence card 20
After 5 years of continuous legal residence in another EU country, you are entitled to live there permanently. This right is granted directly by EU law. It is demonstrated by a permanent residence certificate. You are not obliged to apply for this certificate, but you might find it helpful if you need to prove your status as a residence card. permanent resident. Member States issue such a certificate in the form of a permanent If you hold a permanent residence card, we d like to hear what you think about it. * Why did you apply for a permanent residence card? I thought it would be useful for proving my residence status I thought it would be useful for proving my identity I don't remember applying for it other (): * In what ways is your permanent residence card useful? I am known to the national authorities where I live I have a document to show that I m legally resident I can use it as a substitute for an identity card When I go back to my own country, I can show that I was legally resident in another EU country It s not useful Other (): * What is (or was) your permanent residence card like? paper document a formal document that does not resemble a residence card or identity card It looks like a residence card or identity card Other (): 21
* In which situation(s) would you like to be able to use your permanent residence card: proof of identity proof of legal residence with national authorities proof of legal residence upon return to your own EU country proof of legal residence when applying for a permanent residence card other (): * What would be the advantages if all permanent residence cards looked exactly the same in all EU countries? Easier to carry better size and shape Easier for national authorities to recognize Easier for shops/private companies to recognize particular advantages Other (): Any other comments? You have reached the end of the questionnaire Would you like to share any evidence reports or studies with us? Upload them here, specifying your name and nationality (optional): THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME! 22
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