The National Identification Agency (NIDA) has announced that the verification of personal information and biometric data capture for citizens seeking the electronic National ID (e-ID) will resume on November 17, 2026, and continue across all districts of Rwanda until January 16, 2027.
The exercise targets citizens who missed the previous registration and biometric capture campaigns. Services will be provided at the sector level nationwide, giving eligible residents another opportunity to complete the requirements for obtaining the new digital identification card.According to a notice signed by Acting Director General Aloys Murenzi, Irembo staff will assist citizens in verifying their personal information through the Byikorere system, while NIDA officials will be responsible for capturing biometric data, including photographs, for those who have not yet completed the process.
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Requirements for Applicants
NIDA has urged citizens planning to participate in the exercise to prepare the required information and documents in advance to ensure a smooth registration process. Applicants must present their original national identity cards and, where available, provide their parents’ identification numbers. Married individuals are also expected to provide their spouses’ national identity card numbers.
Citizens who have not yet received a national identity card should bring the registration code issued to them during the enrolment process. The agency has emphasised that biometric capture is free of charge, warning citizens against paying any fees for registration or photography.
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Special Provisions for Children and Unregistered Citizens
Children below the age of 16 must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians with parental authority to facilitate identity verification.
Citizens who have never been registered in the civil registration system have been advised to first approach their respective sector authorities to complete the registration process before participating in biometric capture. NIDA has also requested individuals seeking corrections to their personal records to bring supporting documents showing the accurate information that needs to be updated in their civil registration records.
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Background to the Resumed Exercise
The resumption follows NIDA’s announcement on October 8, 2026, suspending the e-ID biometric registration exercise temporarily. In August 2026, the agency reported that more than seven million people had already undergone biometric capture as part of preparations for the nationwide rollout of the electronic National ID.
The e-ID initiative is part of Rwanda’s broader digital transformation agenda, aimed at modernising civil registration services, simplifying identity verification and improving access to various public services. The nationwide exercise beginning on November 17 is expected to give citizens who missed earlier campaigns another opportunity to complete the registration process. It will run for two months, ending on January 16, 2027.
