Need a Papua New Guinea ID Card? Heres How to Order Yours.

Okay, so I recently had to deal with getting an ID card in Papua New Guinea, and let me tell you, it was an experience. I figured I’d share my journey in case anyone else is in the same boat.

First off, I stumbled upon something called the “Papua New Guinea Birth Identity Registration Form.” Seemed important, so I started there. Turns out, this is part of the National Identity system, or NID PNG as they call it. This office, the Papua New Guinea Civil Identity Registry, is in charge of recording births, adoptions, marriages, and divorces—basically all the major life events.

Figuring Out the Process

I learned that the NID card project kicked off back in November 2014. The goal was to create a universal ID card for all Papua New Guinean citizens. It sounded straightforward enough, but there were a few hoops to jump through. I found out that this office, they don’t accept any form of gifts, just a smile 🙂.

Here’s what I did:

• Gathered My Documents: I needed my birth certificate, and since I’m a foreigner, I also had to provide proof of my residency status.
• Filled Out the Forms: The Birth Identity Registration Form was pretty detailed. I made sure to double-check everything because any mistake could cause delays.
• Visited the Office: I went to the local Civil Identity Registry office. The staff were actually pretty helpful. They guided me through the process, but I recommend to go early to avoid long wait times.

The Waiting Game

After submitting all my documents and filling out the necessary forms, it was a waiting game. They told me it would take a few weeks. I heard they’re piloting a new digital ID system with about 10,000 users, which could speed things up in the future. There is something called “Digizen,” a digital ID approved by the Bank of Papua New Guinea, which uses a smartcard. I didn’t get to use it but sounds fancy.

Finally Got It

After a bit of waiting, I finally got my NID card. It’s a pretty standard-looking card, but it holds all your essential info. They say it’s supposed to be a universal ID, and from what I gather, it’s the main form of identification here. It felt like a huge relief to finally have it in hand. I now had an official document proving my identity in Papua New Guinea.

So yeah, that’s my story of getting an ID card in Papua New Guinea. It wasn’t too bad, but definitely something you want to get sorted out sooner rather than later. Hope this helps anyone out there going through the same process!