The government of Nepal has begun issuing National ID card (NID) or Rastriya Parichaya Patra issuance to eligible citizens. Smart and digital, these cards are federally distributed and carry user data on a chip. So, here in this post, we answer its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), how to apply to get National ID Cards in 2024, and many more. But before that, let’s start with how the government issues these digital cards.
The government announced the plan for National ID cards with biometric security in its 066/67 budget speech that the citizens could use to go to an election. Later on 2067/04/01, the government set up a National ID Management Center with central authority under the Home Ministry. Later, it merged with the Civil Registration Department. Now, the National ID card project proceeds under the Department of National ID and Civil Registration.
In another development, the government has necessitated citizens to produce a National Identity Card to buy a new SIM card. This new policy comes into effective from Magh 01, 2081.
Note that once fully implemented, these cards will replace citizenship and serve as a one-all for all the public services in the country. However, many are still curious about the necessity, uses, and benefits as citizenship still remains central to public services. In it, it calls for an in-depth look into several questions people are asking about these cards.
The government kick-started the National ID project in Nepal with a successful experiment in 2075/76 by issuing it to the citizens of Panchthar and the employees from Singh Durbar offices.
Bhagwati Devi Bhandari of 101 of Panchthar was the first to receive the National ID card from the then Minister of Home Affairs, Hon’ble Ram Bahadur Thapa. Now, the government plans on issuing these cards to all eligible citizens in 3 phases. Let’s learn more about National IDs in detail below.
Now, let’s cut to the chase and bring to you Frequently Asked Questions about National ID cards and answers to them.
National ID Cards are digital cards that hold a bearer’s personal and biometric data on a chip. These are federally distributed and will be central to citizens’ authentication and public services in the future.
Once all the citizens receive these cards, they will be useful for all the public services a citizen receives. For eg.,
A National ID carries essential information of a bearer for authentication. This includes personal details such as:
Likewise, it also stores one’s biometric details like:
Besides, it carries other characteristics such as:
To systematically issue these smart cards, the government has formulated various strategic action plans. Such as the Strategic Action Plan for National Identity Scheme, 2075, and another action plan to collect details of people with citizenship. That means, to obtain a National ID card in Nepal, a citizen must carry Nepali citizenship.
Besides, the candidate must be at least 16 years of age and must apply to the administration or the officer as prescribed by the DoNIDCR. While doing so, the candidate must submit the fingerprint of 10 fingerprints, a digital photo, a digital signature, and other personal and biometric details.
You will need the documents below to get your National ID Card:
As we mentioned above, National ID cards stress providing citizens with public services and bring a host of benefits to the cardholders. These include:
Currently, government agencies are collecting individual data from eligible citizens for National IDs. Once, these cards are prepared, they are issued from the District Administration Office (CDO) of the concerned district or from the venues as designated by the DoNIDCR.
The National IDs are digital cards that have a chip containing an individual’s personal and biometric details hence “smart”. Aside from containing vital personal and biometric details, the chip also contains the individual’s PAN, Driving License, and other information.
National ID cards are as secure as they can be. They come with a chip and the data are securely stored at the government servers. Only in emergency conditions, can agencies check into your personal details if allowed by the law.
Yes, there is a provision that allows you to get a copy of your National ID if you lose it or become useless for some reason. For this, you must visit a concerned local body seeking a recommendation for a copy of your National ID card. Once the officer verifies it, you will be eligible to receive a copy of your card from the District Administration.
It is one of the most asked questions. The National ID number is the unique sequence of numbers specific to each National ID card. When you receive your card, you get a unique code that will correspond with your card. It is also called an Individual Unique Number.
It is certain that National ID Cards will override citizenship cards one day. But for now, both are constitutionally approved and carry significance of their own. They will both serve their own benefits till the government decides to act otherwise.
On 2081 Ashoj 15, the Nepal government revoked the decision that required citizens to mandatorily remove ornaments, Nepali traditional caps (Dhaka Topi), etc. while taking photos for the National Identity card. The decision follows criticism from the public that the rule was detrimental to preserving the uniqueness of the Nepali identity.
From now on, Nepali citizens may choose to wear Nepali Dhaka topi, tika, or ornaments that reflect unique Nepali traditions. It has also been ruled that citizens of a different district can also apply for the National ID card.
You need to follow the steps below to apply for your National ID card online in Nepal:
If you don’t get any location while filling out the detail in the Biometric tab, you get a pop-up saying Can Not Continue. In such a case, choose District Administration Office not the local government. and for location, again choose District Administration Office and proceed
You can apply online for pre-enrollment of your National ID card from nidmc.gov.np/PreEnrollment. For that, you need to input your mobile contact on which you will receive an OTP code. Once you insert it, you can fill up the form and visit your designated office for further procedures.
The government has made National ID cards mandatory for e-passports and the government is likely to tag them to multiple other services in the coming days. And if you have registered yourself for the National ID Card, you may probably have your unique ID number. In case you have not, you can get it easily via an SMS.
To get your National ID Card unique number via SMS, you need to follow the steps below:
To illustrate, if your application number is 1234567890000000, then you have to type N 1234567890000000 and send it to 30001.
If you don’t get a message, you can contact 9851316034/35. You can also call at 9847346412 or 01-4200014 for more information. Or you can opt to call at the call center 01-5970449 to solve your NID Card issue
After this, you will receive a message containing your unique National ID number. If you still do not get it, you can contact the Depart over WhatsApp with different contacts for different provinces. If you live in Bagmati, or Gandaki province, 9851316034, for Lumbini, Karnali, and Far-West contact 9851316035. Remember that you need to send a screenshot of your confirmation page, voucher, and message response to your corresponding WhatsApp contact for further processing.
The national ID Card is a federally distributed identity card issued to the citizens of Nepal.
Can I register for a National ID Card online?Yes. Online registration for a national ID card is available from www.nidmc.gov.np.
Where can I get my National ID Card?Physically, you get your National ID Card from the District Administration Office (DAO office).
What details do I need for the National ID Card?A national ID card requires your phone number, full name, parent’s name, address, etc.
Do I need citizenship to make my National ID Card?Yes. You will need citizenship for verification to create your National ID Card.
Can I register for the National Identity Card with a phone number?You will need your active mobile phone number for pre-registration for the National Identity Card.
What is the offline way to apply for the National Identity Card in Nepal?You can go to the CDO office near you to apply for the National Identity Card.
How to know if my National ID card is printed and ready?Type N then a 16-digit PIN and send it to 30001 to know if your National ID card is printed. The format should look like this: N 97xxxxxxxxxxxxxx. It’s the digit you got while applying for your biometric.
Will citizenship be useful after getting the National ID Card?National ID cards will be useful in a number of public services and facilities such as voting, however, citizenship will continue to play a more prominent role for now.
Will National ID Cards replace citizenship in Nepal?The plan is to phase out citizenship with the National ID Cards and that might happen eventually but it might take a few more years.
What is a National ID Card number?A National ID number is a unique individual number that relates to one unique card.
What biometric details are recorded for the National Identity Card?During your biometrics, your face, iris, and fingerprints are scanned and recorded.
What to do after online application for my National ID Card?At the end of your online application for the National ID Card, you get to download the PDF that includes all your details. Take it to the DAO office or ward (if applicable) and submit then your biometrics will be done. You get some documents and your NID card goes for printing.
How to know if my National ID Card is printed?When your National ID Card is printed, you get a message on your registered mobile. It’s the same number you submitted when you were applying online.
How long does it take to make a National ID card in Nepal?Generally, it takes 1 to 3 days to make a National ID card in Nepal after pre-enrollment.
These are the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about National ID cards. If you have more to learn about it, do leave a comment below.
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