The government will issue digital identification to children from birth, with features and access changing as they grow, according to Josephine Mukesha, Director General of the National Identification Agency. ALSO READ: People with disabilities can register for digital IDs at home At the earliest stage, a child’s digital ID will be created at birth and linked to a parent or legal guardian’s digital wallet, a secure digital space used to store and manage identity information. Between birth and the age of four, only a facial photograph will be collected. ALSO READ: What to know about digital ID for foreign nationals From age five, children will undergo a mandatory biometric update. This will include capturing fingerprints, iris scans, and a new facial photograph, expanding the data used to verify identity as the child grows. A second mandatory biometric refresh will take place at age 16. At this point, the person will also provide a signature and assume full control of their digital ID. This transition aligns with Rwanda’s law on personal data protection and privacy, which grants individuals the right to consent for themselves from that age. Parents and guardians will retain control of their children’s digital IDs during early years through a family-linked structure that allows them to view dependents. However, officials explained that consent shifts fully to the individual at 16. An exception applies to persons with mental disabilities, where guardians will continue to provide consent on their behalf. While the system defines major milestones at ages five and 16, biometric updates will not be limited to these points. People can request fresh biometric updates at any time, allowing records to remain current. In all cases, existing biometrics must first be authenticated before any new data is collected. The digital ID number issued at birth will remain the same throughout a person’s lifetime. It will not be replaced at any age, ensuring continuity of identity records. Ownership and control are effectively transferred at 16, when individuals begin managing their own credentials. Mukesha said children’s biometric information will be protected under the same standards applied to adults. The system uses biometric “minutiae”, encoded representations rather than raw images, which are strictly for authentication purposes, limiting access and reducing risk. As they grow, multiple biometric records will be stored in a secure gallery, while only the most recent data will be used during authentication processes.
