Original passport or ID card remains mandatory during traffic stops

The clarification follows reports circulating on social media claiming that, from July 1, electronic versions of passports, ID cards, driver's licenses, and more than 15 other documents had become fully equivalent to their physical counterparts and could be presented through the MyGov application.

The digital document system was introduced under a Cabinet of Ministers resolution adopted on December 27, 2024, on implementing the social card system for social support.

In response to the reports, the Road Safety Service said the new rules do not fully apply to inspections carried out by traffic patrol officers on public roads.

According to the agency, motorists are legally required to present the original biometric passport or ID card when requested by a traffic police officer while operating a vehicle.

At the same time, the agency noted that, under the Cabinet resolution, digital versions of 17 types of documents have been officially recognized since July 1, 2025. As a result, paper copies of those documents are no longer required when dealing with banks, notary offices, airports, railway facilities, or government agencies. The same rules also apply at administrative practice centers and vehicle registration and driver examination departments.

However, the Road Safety Service stressed that Article 135 of the Code on Administrative Responsibility requires drivers to carry and present an original identity document, either a passport or an ID card, during roadside inspections.

The agency also clarified that once a driver's identity has been verified using an original passport or ID card, there is no requirement to carry separate physical copies of a driver's license, vehicle registration certificate, documents confirming ownership or the right to use the vehicle, an insurance policy, or a permit for tinted windows.