How to get your first National ID (age 16+)

What you need

• Age 16 or older
• Your Citizen Application Number (child ID). Ask the sector Civil Registration Officer if you don't have it
• A phone number and/or email

Steps

1. Go to irembo.gov.rw → Identification → Application for National ID (no account needed).
2. Choose yourself (or bulk, for a school or group), then click Apply.
3. Enter your Citizen Application Number, then choose the sector and date for your fingerprints and photo, and where to collect the card.
4. Confirm, add phone/email, submit, and pay Rwf 500.
5. Go to the sector on your biometric date for fingerprints and a photo.
6. About 30 days later, collect your ID at that sector.

Tips

• Living abroad without an NPR number? There's a separate diaspora National ID service on Irembo.

Official sources

• Irembo: how to apply for a National ID
• NIDA: application for ID

Last checked: 2 November 2026 against Irembo and NIDA pages. If something here is out of date, tell us so we can fix it.