ID office system crashes, applicants asked to return

Applicants reported that the system first crashed around 1.00 p.m., before going down again at approximately 2.30 p.m. and later at around 4.00 p.m., disrupting services throughout the afternoon

The newly introduced digital system at the Department for Registration of Persons (DRP) experienced repeated technical failures yesterday, forcing applicants seeking National Identity Cards (NICs) to suspend their visits and return another day.  

Applicants reported that the system first crashed around 1.00 p.m., before going down again at approximately 2.30 p.m. and later at around 4.00 p.m., disrupting services throughout the afternoon.   

Following the breakdown, the department requested applicants either to wait until the system was restored or to visit the department again today to complete their applications. 

The DRP is in the process of transitioning to a fully digital system as part of its long-term plan to introduce a national Digital Identity (Digital ID) by April 2026. The initiative aims to integrate all citizen data into a centralised database to provide more efficient and secure services, including electronic National Identity Cards (e-NICs).   

Ongoing improvements under the project include the introduction of one-day services and compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards for photographs. The new system is designed to enhance data security, ensure privacy, and enable seamless digital interactions for citizens, building on the department’s existing e-NIC programme. 

Several attempts to contact the DRP officials failed.