President says smart national ID card rollout to be completed within 18 months

President Mohamed Muizzu has said the digitisation of the Maldivian National Identity Card and its transition to a Smart ID Card will be completed within the next year and a half.

The President made the remarks on Friday while responding to a question about the government's Maldives 2.0 initiative during Public Service Media's (PSM) Nation Chat programme.

During his Independence Day address last Sunday, President Muizzu said the Maldives 2.0 project is expected to be fully implemented by 26 November this year.

The initiative, launched by the President on 9 May last year, aims to digitise a range of government services.

According to the President, the programme will make it easier for citizens to access public, administrative and healthcare services.

He said the Smart ID Card is one of the key components of the project.

"The ID card currently in our hands is a physical ID card, but its format will change as it becomes digitised into a smart ID card. God willing, as scheduled, this will be achieved within the next year to a year and a half," the President said.

According to President Muizzu, the Smart ID Card will enable users to make payments, access government services and manage personal records.

He said the card will also include an embedded chip and fingerprint data.

The President added that further details about the Smart ID Card will be announced soon.

In 2022, the World Bank provided US$10 million to support the development of the Maldives' technology sector, including the implementation of digital identity systems.

During the previous administration, digital identity services were introduced through the eFaas platform, allowing citizens to access a range of government services. The current digital ID provides access to services including driving licences, marriage certificates, family information, business ownership details, Civil Service employment records and Aasandha health insurance information.