Residents of Ghent who are unable to visit the city office due to illness or limited mobility can now apply for an identity card from their homes.
The city of Ghent has introduced a mobile counter, where a city employee will visit residents with a portable kit to complete the application process.
"By coming to their homes, we remove barriers and make our services more accessible than ever. Residents no longer need to rely on authorisations or help from others to manage something as fundamental as their identity card," said councillor for Civil Affairs, Burak Nalli.
Nalli described the mobile service as a logical step towards inclusive service delivery. "We have started with two mobile devices," he explained. "We are currently testing this in practice. Depending on how many residents use it, we will consider expanding the number of devices. We aim to roll out this system further if there is enough demand."
Ghent currently has 270,473 residents. An identity card is valid for ten years for adults between 18 and 75, and for six years for young people. For those aged 75 and older, the card is valid for thirty years.
Ghent is not the only city with a mobile counter. Residents in Bruges, Ninove, Damme, Beernem, Knokke-Heist, Zedelgem, and Oostkamp can also apply for an identity card from their homes.
Residents who wish to use the mobile counter in Ghent can email identiteit@stad.gent with a brief explanation of why they are unable to visit the city office. An appointment for a home visit will then be scheduled.
