Last week, the Ministry for IT and Investment launched an all inclusive digital personal data, that is, the e-ID. The e-ID is the electronic version of the current National identity card that allows all Maltese citizens to securely access and use eGovernment services from the comfort of their homes or offices. Thanks to the eGovernment services, the volumes of paperwork required to get things done is now a thing of the past. With the introduction of the e-ID the logistical nightmare of proving who we are is too a thing of the past e.g. proof of birth, proof of citizenship, proof of current status, proof of residency, employment and much more. Nowadays where information is vital, proof of existence is a prerequisite to enter to dot.com society.
Conveniently, from under the huge amount of paperwork, not to mention the administrative costs involved, a solution materializes, simplifying and restructuring the whole once bureaucratic system. The birth of e-ID is an all inclusive electronic solution providing a world of possibilities.
Registering for your e-ID is no complicated task, designed only for techies and the IT savvies. It's easy but nonetheless highly secure, with the appointment of a separate body -- Accerta, which will be responsible for the registration and authentication of the electronic identities.
The Registration Process involves the following simple steps:
- Citizen goes to any Area Office with ID card
- Registration Officer collects citizen's data and registers new user into system
- Registration Officer prints and produces form to citizen for signature. Then files copies of registration form and ID card
- Registration Administrator verifies citizen data and accepts or rejects application
- Citizen is notified via email with status of his/her application and a password
- Citizen receives a letter with login credentials (activation key) to access the e-ID services
- Citizen can login on Gov.mt portal to activate his/her e-ID
Consequently, the deployment of the electronic identity will lead to the availability of specific e-Government services including:
- VAT related services -- Verification and payment of VAT balances
- Tax related services -- Verification and payment of Inland Revenue services
- Company related services -- End-to-end registration of a company
- Social services -- Verification of NI contributions and other personal information on social benefits
- M-Government services -- Users will be able to register and receive an end-to-end service via their mobile phone, without using computer equipment in any of the interim processes
Quelle: di-ve, 10.04.2004
