Rwanda has officially launched the registration for its 2026 national digital ID, signaling a bold step towards a digital future where citizens will control their identity information securely.
The National Identification Agency (NIDA) opened enrollment on August 7, with biometric data collection set to begin in mid-September, according to Josephine Mukesha, NIDA’s Director General.
Convenient and secure access with new digital ID
The new digital ID, under the Single Digital Identification System (SDIS), will be a physical card, a digital version, and a unique, lifelong authentication number.
Mukesha emphasized, “It doesn’t get lost and it’s not necessary that you walk with it, and it gives us the right to control what information to share and when, and even to stop sharing if necessary”.
This ID will enhance security and streamline access to various public and private services, from banking to government programs, effectively replacing older, fragmented systems.
Pre-enrollment is underway, allowing citizens to verify and update personal data, including full name, birth details, nationality, marital status, and contact information.
During this phase, people must present their current national ID and family member ID numbers. The biometric phase will capture fingerprints and iris scans to ensure accuracy and uniqueness.
Nationwide campaign and public cooperation
To support this transition, NIDA has launched an extensive awareness campaign, beginning at the Rwanda International Trade Fair (Expo 2025) in Kigali, where citizens can also access auxiliary ID services, such as photo updates and corrections on existing cards.
The government allocated about $8.5 million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to back this project, part of a broader $200 million Rwanda Digital Acceleration initiative co-financed by the World Bank and AIIB.
Antoine Sebera, CEO of Rwanda Information Society Authority, remarked, “The Digital ID is a foundational tool that will enable every citizen to securely access services, control their own information, and choose how and with whom to share it. It’s fast, secure, and paperless. I personally completed my pre-enrolment in under two minutes using facial recognition.”
As digital ID becomes an essential feature of Rwanda’s public infrastructure, authorities urge all citizens, refugees, asylum seekers, and foreign residents to register and embrace this transformative system actively.