The National Identification Agency (NIDA) has announced that by the end of this month, activities will begin to verify personal information and take photos of citizens in preparation for issuing the new Digital National ID.
According to a statement released by NIDA, these activities will start in three districts located in the Southern Province, Nyanza, Huye, and Gisagara.
NIDA stated that in these districts, the activities will begin on October 28th and continue until November 23rd, 2025, before being extended to all other districts across the country. This marks the first phase of the national rollout of the long-awaited Digital ID system that aims to modernize Rwanda’s identification services.
Citizens participating in this exercise are required to bring their existing national ID and their parents’ ID numbers (if the parents have IDs). Those who are married should also bring their spouse’s ID number, and individuals who have applied for an ID but haven’t yet received it should come with their application number.
For children under the age of 16, they must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians during registration.
NIDA also reminded the public that “the new digital ID will be given to every person starting from birth and will be used throughout their lifetime.” This means that every Rwandan child will automatically be registered in the national identification system right after birth, allowing for easier access to public services such as education, healthcare, and social protection.
According to NIDA officials, this new system is part of Rwanda’s ongoing efforts to build a smart and inclusive digital society where services are faster, safer, and more connected. The e-ID will serve as a single key to access various government and private services, reducing paperwork and improving data accuracy.
Manago Dieudonné, the Director General in charge of the production and distribution of the Digital National ID at NIDA, recently explained that for the new system, ten fingerprints will be collected from each person instead of two, as was the case with the previous ID. He added that facial recognition technology will also be included to strengthen identity verification and security.
Regarding its design, the new Digital ID will not display personal details on the back as before. It will only show the owner’s photo and ID number on the front.
In addition, citizens will be able to choose how they want to use or carry their ID either as a physical card, as a digital number, or stored on their mobile phone. This flexibility is expected to make identification easier for Rwandans both within the country and abroad.
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