Rwanda’s first digital national identity card is set to undergo a pilot pre-enrolment phase which will start in about a month’s time, officials at the National Identification Agency (NIDA) have said. Aimed at streamlining access to public services and digital transactions, the new ID will be available in multiple formats: a physical card embedded with a QR code, a virtual version, as well as a number that can be used to authenticate someone’s identity online. ALSO READ: Rwanda to issue digital IDs in three years The ID, officials say, will support online transactions and services by enabling remote authentication, meaning users won't need to be physically present with their ID to verify their identity during online business. It will incorporate additional biometric features, such as iris scans, and will be issued to all age groups, including children under five and even newborns. However, for children below the age of five, only a photograph will be required. According to Josephine Mukesha, Director General of NIDA, the pre-enrolment phase aims at allowing citizens to verify their personal identification details that are already in NIDA’s registry. The process includes confirming names, parents’ names, place of birth, marital status, address, and other key information. ALSO READ: Six things to know about Rwanda’s proposed digital ID Following the pilot which is expected to last about three months, NIDA will proceed with collecting biometrics such as facial photos, all 10 fingerprints, iris scans, and signatures. Biometric data will be collected from people aged five and above, while only a photograph will be taken for infants under five. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian to provide consent during the registration process. Mukesha explained that the pilot phase will take place in a few sites but the service will also be available on Irembo. “We are going to pilot in some few sites. We will have operators at the cells, moving around to do this pre-enrollment. But concurrently, those who want to do the pre-enrollment without going through the operators, they can do it themselves via Irembo,” she noted. After the processes of pre-enrolment and collection of additional biometrics, the country will then continue to next steps which will include aggregating the data, and so on. The first IDs are expected to be issued next year. Mukesha explained that one of the main advantages of the digital ID coming in multiple formats, is that it deals away with the risks that come with losing the ID. ALSO READ: Rwanda’s population passes 13 million She pointed out that currently, if someone loses their physical ID, they are unable to access services while waiting for a replacement. With a digital ID, however, people will be able to access services even without the physical card, since the digital version remains at their disposal. Mukesha also highlighted that previously, the biometric data collected was mainly used to avoid duplication and confirm the uniqueness of people, but with the new digital, biometrics will also be used for authentication. “When you use biometrics for authentication, it allows you to access services even online. It does not need to be like the traditional over-the-counter service where they have to see you to validate your identity,” she noted.
