KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has launched a new online portal aimed at streamlining the national ID registration and renewal process.
The portal, accessible on the official NIRA website, allows citizens to initiate their applications remotely before completing biometric verification at a designated NIRA center.
This digital platform serves both new applicants and those renewing national IDs, particularly those expiring in June 2025. After completing the online steps, users receive a unique application ID, which must be presented during in-person biometric capture, including fingerprint and iris scans.
NIRA recommends using a computer for optimal access, as mobile compatibility is currently limited.
The initiative marks the initial phase of a nationwide mass renewal exercise scheduled to run until Aug. 12, 2025. After this date, all expired national IDs will be invalid.
Application Requirements and Fees
ID renewal remains free for individuals presenting their old national ID, either the physical card or a photocopy.
First-time adult applicants must provide photocopies of a parent’s, grandparent’s or blood relative’s ID, along with a local council introduction letter or a citizenship certificate issued by the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control.
Minors under 18 must present a copy of a relative’s ID. Applicants replacing lost IDs need to submit a police report or a copy of the expired ID.
Changes to personal information require applicants to appear at a NIRA district office with supporting documentation. The cost for replacing a lost ID is 50,000 Ugandan shillings, while corrections or record updates cost 200,000 shillings.
Processing Times and Home Delivery
While the standard processing period is four weeks, NIRA has warned of potential delays of up to five months due to high demand during the initial rollout. Processing times are expected to shorten to two weeks as the system becomes more efficient.
In a significant change, NIRA plans to deliver completed national IDs directly to applicants’ homes under a new logistics framework.
This digital transformation is supported by a July 2024 partnership between NIRA and UAE-based Tahaluf Al Emarat Technical Solutions. As part of the agreement, Uganda received 5,665 biometric kits, distributed nationwide by February 2025.
Two high-capacity card printers, capable of producing 100,000 laser-engraved IDs daily, were delivered in March 2025. Secure servers and data systems were installed between October 2024 and January 2025.
Nationwide public registration officially begun Tuesday, May 27, 2025, as NIRA accelerates efforts to provide secure and verifiable identification for all eligible Ugandans.
