NIDA takes digital ID registration to diaspora as nearly 9,000 enroll

The National Identification Agency (NIDA) is expanding Single Digital Identity (SDID) registration services to Rwandans living abroad by equipping embassies and consulates with biometric enrolment capabilities, making it easier for the diaspora to access the country's new digital identity system. ALSO READ: What to know as 98% of Kigalians register for Digital ID So far, 8,794 Rwandans abroad have enrolled in the National Population Registry (NPR), with officials expecting the number to rise during the holiday season. ALSO READ: What to know about digital ID for foreign nationals According to NIDA Director General Josephine Mukesha, Africa has recorded the highest uptake, followed by Europe and the Americas, while Asia and Australia account for the smallest share, reflecting the size of Rwanda’s diaspora communities in those regions. To make identity services more accessible, NIDA is partnering with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MINAFFET) to train embassy staff and deploy biometric collection kits, allowing Rwandans abroad to complete the enrolment process closer to where they live. “We are collaborating with MINAFFET to train embassy staff and equip them with biometric collection kits. During this month of July, some officers are being trained, and soon the embassies will share information with their communities about biometric collection services,” Mukesha said. She said that many Rwandans abroad currently complete the online pre-enrolment process before travelling to Rwanda or visiting registration centres to provide their biometric information. “So far, we have members of the diaspora applying for the SDID in the various sectors we have covered. Most complete self-pre-enrolment when they are about to come to Rwanda or visit registration sites, and they immediately proceed with biometric capture,” she said. The expansion of services abroad is part of Rwanda’s broader transition to the Single Digital Identity system, which is intended to strengthen the National Population Registry while improving access to public and private services. Within Rwanda, the nationwide enrolment exercise has also gained momentum. Mukesha said 6.6 million citizens have completed pre-enrolment, while 5.8 million have already been biometrically enrolled, with the exercise completed in 16 districts. “We are currently enrolling in Nyagatare District, which is the last district in Eastern Province.” NIDA plans to launch enrolment simultaneously in the northern and western provinces on July 24, taking advantage of the school holidays to enable families to complete the process together. “We plan to launch simultaneously in the northern and western provinces, taking advantage of the holiday period so that students can pre-enrol while at home with their families and obtain parental consent for those under 16. We will also benefit from the favourable season, which improves accessibility,” Mukesha said. She acknowledged that obtaining parental consent for children under 16 has been one of the main challenges encountered during the rollout, particularly in cases where students were away at boarding schools. “The challenges are mostly around the consent process. As we moved across districts, some students in boarding schools were not with their parents to provide consent. We are addressing this by scaling up enrolment during the holidays, when families are together,” she said. NIDA conducted civil registration campaigns ahead of biometric enrolment to ensure that children are registered and adults update their civil status records before registration teams arrive. Looking ahead, she said the agency aims to enrol the entire target population by the end of October while expanding permanent access to the service both within Rwanda and abroad. “We are targeting to cover 100 per cent of the population by the end of October 2026, conduct mass enrolments in special centres, including prisons, and equip and train all sector offices with biometric kits so they can provide this service on a continuous basis,” she said. The same approach, she added, will be extended to Rwanda’s embassies and consulates, allowing members of the diaspora to access identity services without having to return home.

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NIDA takes digital ID registration to diaspora as nearly 9,000 enroll