Nepal electronic ID card prepared since 2016
Issued to any Nepalese citizen aged 16 or older
Increased efficiency in identity verification and access to social security

IDEMIA has launched an e-ID card in Nepal.

The new e-ID card is expected to significantly contribute to Nepalese citizens' access to government services and social security benefits. The e-ID card is available to Nepalese citizens aged 16 and older, and it is projected to take about five years to complete issuance to the entire population.
Idemia has been collaborating with the Nepalese government since 2016 to introduce a national identity card. The e-ID card is scheduled to be issued through Nepal's Department of National ID and Civil Registration (DoNIDCR), which has been working closely with Idemia. The purpose of creating the e-ID card is to improve identity verification management services and increase access to government services and social security benefits. e-ID cards can be used as certificates required for electronic services, border crossings, healthcare, and welfare services.

On November 19, the Nepalese Minister of Home Affairs graced the occasion with the attendance of a ceremony organized by Idemia to celebrate the launch of e-ID cards. Additionally, Bhagawati Devi Bhandari, the 101-year-old oldest resident of the Panchithar region in Nepal, attended as a special guest and received the first e-ID card. Prior to the ceremony, in early November, Idemia held an opening ceremony for the card printing system at the DoNIDCR Personalization Centre with the Minister and Deputy Minister of Home Affairs of Nepal.

Idemia was selected as the end-to-end system provider in Nepal, encompassing citizen data registration and biometric deduplication. It also undertook the issuance of unique IDs and the personalization and production of smart cards.

The e-ID card, a national identification card, is a multi-purpose machine-readable biometric smart card made by laser-processing polycarbonate, incorporating various advanced security features. The e-ID card has a chip embedded with the holder's photo, fingerprint, and signature.

Tim Ferris, APAC Regional President of Idemia, said, “The reason Idemia partnered with the Nepalese government to launch the identity card project is that we are well aware of how important identity cards are to people living in remote areas of Nepal,” adding, “We look forward to the successful adoption of e-ID cards by the Nepalese people.”

Dipak Kafle, Director General of DoNIDCR, stated, “The e-ID card is an important step in building a reliable identity ecosystem that will bring change to the lives of all Nepalese people, from the bustling streets of Kathmandu to the remote Himalayan regions,” adding, “I sincerely thank Idemia for their cooperation and efforts in introducing the national identity card.”

While about 40 countries overseas, including Nepal, have introduced electronic identification systems, South Korea, which prides itself on being an IT powerhouse, has not even begun discussions on its introduction due to opposition from civic groups regarding the Personal Information Protection Act and concerns over massive transition costs.