diff --git a/src/app/api/eterra/rgi/download-doc/route.ts b/src/app/api/eterra/rgi/download-doc/route.ts
index 6352e90..7179e98 100644
--- a/src/app/api/eterra/rgi/download-doc/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/eterra/rgi/download-doc/route.ts
@@ -8,8 +8,9 @@ export const dynamic = "force-dynamic";
  * GET /api/eterra/rgi/download-doc?workspaceId=127&applicationId=X&documentPk=Y&documentTypeId=Z
  *
  * Downloads an issued document from eTerra RGI.
- * 1. fileVisibility check — if 404, document not available
- * 2. loadDocument/downloadFile — actual download
+ * Tries server-side download first. If that fails (some documents are
+ * restricted to the current actor), returns a direct eTerra URL that
+ * works in the user's browser session.
  */
 export async function GET(req: NextRequest) {
   try {
@@ -17,7 +18,6 @@ export async function GET(req: NextRequest) {
     const applicationId = req.nextUrl.searchParams.get("applicationId");
     const documentPk = req.nextUrl.searchParams.get("documentPk");
     const documentTypeId = req.nextUrl.searchParams.get("documentTypeId");
-    const checkOnly = req.nextUrl.searchParams.get("check") === "1";
 
     if (!workspaceId || !applicationId || !documentPk) {
       return NextResponse.json(
@@ -34,43 +34,46 @@ export async function GET(req: NextRequest) {
 
     const client = await EterraClient.create(username, password);
 
-    // Step 1: fileVisibility — check if document is downloadable
+    // Try fileVisibility first (fast check)
+    let available = false;
     if (documentTypeId) {
       try {
-        await client.rgiGet(
+        const vis = await client.rgiGet(
           `rgi/appdetail/issueddocs/fileVisibility/${workspaceId}/${applicationId}/${documentTypeId}`,
         );
+        if (vis && typeof vis === "object" && (vis as Record<string, unknown>).msg === "OK") {
+          available = true;
+        }
       } catch {
-        // fileVisibility failed — document not available for server-side download
-        return NextResponse.json(
-          {
-            error: "Document indisponibil pentru download server-side",
-            available: false,
-            eterraUrl: `https://eterra.ancpi.ro/eterra/api/rgi/appdetail/loadDocument/downloadFile/${workspaceId}/${documentPk}`,
-          },
-          { status: 403 },
-        );
+        // Not available server-side
       }
     }
 
-    // Check-only mode: just verify availability
-    if (checkOnly) {
-      return NextResponse.json({ available: true });
+    // If fileVisibility passed, try download
+    if (available) {
+      try {
+        const { data, contentType, filename } = await client.rgiDownload(
+          `rgi/appdetail/loadDocument/downloadFile/${workspaceId}/${documentPk}`,
+        );
+        if (data.length > 0) {
+          return new NextResponse(new Uint8Array(data), {
+            status: 200,
+            headers: {
+              "Content-Type": contentType,
+              "Content-Disposition": `attachment; filename="${encodeURIComponent(filename)}"`,
+              "Content-Length": String(data.length),
+            },
+          });
+        }
+      } catch {
+        // Fall through to redirect
+      }
     }
 
-    // Step 2: Download
-    const { data, contentType, filename } = await client.rgiDownload(
-      `rgi/appdetail/loadDocument/downloadFile/${workspaceId}/${documentPk}`,
-    );
-
-    return new NextResponse(new Uint8Array(data), {
-      status: 200,
-      headers: {
-        "Content-Type": contentType,
-        "Content-Disposition": `attachment; filename="${encodeURIComponent(filename)}"`,
-        "Content-Length": String(data.length),
-      },
-    });
+    // Server-side download not available — redirect to eTerra direct URL
+    // User's browser session (if logged into eTerra) can download it
+    const eterraUrl = `https://eterra.ancpi.ro/eterra/api/rgi/appdetail/loadDocument/downloadFile/${workspaceId}/${documentPk}`;
+    return NextResponse.redirect(eterraUrl, 302);
   } catch (error) {
     const message = error instanceof Error ? error.message : "Eroare server";
     return NextResponse.json({ error: message }, { status: 500 });
diff --git a/src/modules/parcel-sync/services/eterra-client.ts b/src/modules/parcel-sync/services/eterra-client.ts
index 5206aec..beb9f9c 100644
--- a/src/modules/parcel-sync/services/eterra-client.ts
+++ b/src/modules/parcel-sync/services/eterra-client.ts
@@ -217,6 +217,14 @@ export class EterraClient {
     const cookies = await this.jar.getCookies(LOGIN_URL);
     if (!cookies.some((c) => c.key === "JSESSIONID"))
       throw new Error("Login failed / session not set");
+
+    // Activate RGI module context by loading the RGI page
+    // This may set additional session attributes needed for document downloads
+    try {
+      await this.client.get(`${BASE_URL}/`, { timeout: 10_000 });
+    } catch {
+      // Non-critical
+    }
   }
 
   /* ---- High-level parcels --------------------------------------- */