The National Identification Agency (NIDA) is expanding Rwanda’s Single Digital Identity (SDID) registration services to Rwandans living abroad by introducing biometric enrolment at embassies and consulates, making it easier for citizens in the diaspora to access the country’s new digital identity system.
The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MINAFFET), which is helping train embassy staff and equip diplomatic missions with biometric registration kits.
According to NIDA Director General Josephine Mukesha, nearly 8,800 Rwandans living abroad have already enrolled in the National Population Registry (NPR), with registrations expected to increase as more services become available through Rwanda’s diplomatic missions.
Mukesha noted that Africa has recorded the highest number of registrations from the diaspora, followed by Europe and the Americas, while Asia and Australia account for a smaller share, reflecting the distribution of Rwanda’s overseas communities.
Currently, many Rwandans abroad complete the online pre-enrolment process before travelling to Rwanda or visiting registration centres to submit their biometric information. The expansion of embassy-based services will allow many citizens to complete the entire process closer to where they live.
The rollout forms part of Rwanda’s broader transition to the Single Digital Identity, a national initiative designed to modernise the National Population Registry while improving access to both government and private sector services.
Within Rwanda, registration efforts continue to gather momentum. NIDA says approximately 6.6 million citizens have completed the pre-enrolment process, while around 5.8 million people have already completed biometric registration.
The agency has completed enrolment in 16 districts and is currently conducting registration in Nyagatare District, the final district in the Eastern Province.
NIDA also plans to begin simultaneous registration exercises in the Northern and Western provinces, taking advantage of the school holiday period so families can complete the process together.
Officials say the holiday period will make it easier for parents to provide consent for children under the age of 16, an issue that presented challenges during earlier registration phases when many students were away at boarding schools.
Ahead of biometric enrolment, NIDA has also carried out civil registration campaigns to ensure children are officially registered and adults update their civil records before joining the new digital identity system.
Looking ahead, the agency aims to register the entire target population by the end of October 2026. Plans also include expanding permanent biometric registration services across Rwanda by equipping local sector offices with biometric kits, while extending similar capabilities to embassies and consulates around the world.
The expansion is expected to improve access to identity services for Rwandans living overseas while supporting the country’s long-term vision of delivering secure, efficient, and fully digital public services.
