# Somali national ID card (NIRA): how to register and why you need it

> How to get the Somali national ID card from NIRA: the law, what to bring, how people without papers register, where to go at home and abroad.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/states/national-id-nira/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## What is the Somali national ID?

It is the first national identity card since the central state collapsed in 1991. The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) was set up under the Identification and Registration Act, Law No. 009 of March 2023 ([EUAA, Somalia: Displacement in Mogadishu, June 2026, section 4.1](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/somalia-displacement-mogadishu/41-application-process-and-identity-verification)). NIRA launched officially on 16 September 2023 ([Dawan Africa, 19 Sep 2026](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somalia-registers-15-million-citizens-in-three-years)).

Each person gets a unique 11-digit National Identification Number, called *Tirsi Aqoonsi* in Somali. The system uses fingerprints and face recognition ([EUAA 2026, 4.1](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/somalia-displacement-mogadishu/41-application-process-and-identity-verification)). The ID comes in three forms: a physical card, a digital wallet called *eAqoonsi*, and a printable certificate with a QR code (same source).

## Why do you need it?

The card is becoming the key to other services:

- **Passport:** from 1 September 2025 every passport applicant must hold the card first ([Immigration and Citizenship Agency, 6 Aug 2025](https://immigration.gov.so/news/national-id-card-required-for-passport-applications)). See [Somali passport](/en/states/somali-passport/).
- **Travel and transport:** the government tied domestic travel to the national ID in August 2025 ([AllAfrica, 8 Aug 2025](https://allafrica.com/stories/202508080353.html)).
- **Public services:** North-East State made the ID mandatory for its services in March 2026 ([EUAA 2026, 4.2](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/somalia-displacement-mogadishu/42-cards-issued-and-nira-offices), citing Dawan Africa, 17 Mar 2026).
- **Salaries:** the government plans to link its payroll to the national ID by the end of 2027 ([Dawan Africa](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somalia-to-link-government-payroll-to-national-id-by-end-of-2027)).

## How do you register?

1. **Go to a registration centre** in person. Anyone can register ([EUAA 2026, 4.1](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/somalia-displacement-mogadishu/41-application-process-and-identity-verification)).
2. **Show a document if you have one:** a passport, driving licence, birth certificate or school certificate (same source). The government's service page asks for a passport or birth certificate ([somalia.gov.so, national ID card](https://www.somalia.gov.so/services/national-id-card)).
3. **Give your biometrics:** fingerprints and a digital photo.
4. **Receive your number,** then your card, digital ID or printable certificate.

**If you have no papers,** a witness who is already registered can vouch for you. Witnesses must be trusted people, such as government employees or community leaders. Elders who vouch for applicants are reportedly required to be registered as guarantors at the Ministry of Interior ([EUAA 2026, 4.1](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/somalia-displacement-mogadishu/41-application-process-and-identity-verification)). This matters most for displaced families, who have the fewest documents and the fewest registered elders to vouch for them (same source, citing UNHCR's Somalia Annual Results Report 2024).

## Does it cost money?

As of 1 April 2026, registration and the physical card were free ([EUAA 2026, 4.1](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/somalia-displacement-mogadishu/41-application-process-and-identity-verification), citing the World Bank team that supports NIRA). NIRA had announced charges after 31 October 2025, then extended the free period ([Dawan Africa](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somalia-extends-free-id-registration)). The government's service directory lists a fee of US$5 by mobile money ([somalia.gov.so](https://www.somalia.gov.so/services/national-id-card)). Ask your centre which rule applies today.

## Where can you register?

- **Inside Somalia:** in November 2025 NIRA centres worked in Banadir, South West State, Hirshabelle and Galmudug. By March 2026 they had opened in North-East State, including Las Anod, Buhodle and Huddun ([EUAA 2026, 4.2](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/somalia-displacement-mogadishu/42-cards-issued-and-nira-offices)). At that time NIRA was not yet working in Somaliland, Puntland or Jubaland (same source).
- **Mogadishu:** a mass registration campaign started on 18 August 2025 in Shangani and Boondheer districts, aiming at all 3.5 million residents of the city (same source, citing the World Bank).
- **Abroad:** ID services were available at 31 Somali embassies in September 2026, according to NIRA's Director-General ([Dawan Africa, 19 Sep 2026](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somalia-registers-15-million-citizens-in-three-years)). These include Nairobi and Pretoria ([SONNA, Nairobi](https://sonna.so/en/somalia-expands-civil-registration-services-with-launch-of-nira-office-at-embassy-in-nairobi/); [SONNA, Pretoria](https://sonna.so/en/nira-launches-new-service-center-at-the-somali-embassy-in-pretoria/)). In the United States the passport and ID are booked together ([Embassy of Somalia, USA](https://usa.mfa.gov.so/consular-services/passports/)).
- **Passport centres:** you can register for the ID at passport service centres ([Dawan Africa, 2 Jul 2026](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somalia-to-introduce-new-third-generation-passport-in-october)).

## How many people have registered?

- **November 2025:** more than 1 million IDs issued nationwide ([EUAA 2026, 4.2](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/somalia-displacement-mogadishu/42-cards-issued-and-nira-offices), citing Somali Dispatch).
- **31 March 2026:** about 700,000 physical cards issued, most in Mogadishu, with more than 600,000 further registrations waiting for duplicate checks (same source, citing the World Bank).
- **September 2026:** more than 1.5 million registered, said NIRA Director-General Abduwali Ali Abdulle Timacadde ([Dawan Africa, 19 Sep 2026](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somalia-registers-15-million-citizens-in-three-years)).
- **Cost to reach everyone:** the programme needs about US$125 million to cover every citizen ([Biometric Update, Jan 2026](https://www.biometricupdate.com/202601/somalia-requires-125m-to-fully-implement-national-digital-id-system)).

## Why it matters (Calankii)

For more than 30 years, millions of Somalis had no paper that said who they were. One number for every Somali, wherever they live, is a basic piece of one nation. It opens the door to school, work, banking and travel for young Somalis at home and abroad. [Read the call](/en/).

## Related pages

- [Somali passport](/en/states/somali-passport/)
- [Birth records](/en/states/birth-records/)
- [Refugee papers and status](/en/diaspora/refugee-papers-and-status/)
- [Why so many Somalis have 1 January as their birthday](/en/diaspora/why-1-january-birthdays/)

## Sources

1. EUAA. *Somalia: Displacement in Mogadishu*, June 2026, section 4.1 "Application process and identity verification". [euaa.europa.eu](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/somalia-displacement-mogadishu/41-application-process-and-identity-verification). Checked 12 November 2026.
2. EUAA. Same report, section 4.2 "Cards issued and NIRA offices". [euaa.europa.eu](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/somalia-displacement-mogadishu/42-cards-issued-and-nira-offices). Checked 12 November 2026.
3. Immigration and Citizenship Agency. "National ID card required for passport applications", 6 August 2025. [immigration.gov.so](https://immigration.gov.so/news/national-id-card-required-for-passport-applications). Checked 12 November 2026.
4. Federal Government of Somalia. National ID card (service directory). [somalia.gov.so](https://www.somalia.gov.so/services/national-id-card). Checked 12 November 2026.
5. Dawan Africa. "Somalia registers 1.5 million citizens in three years", 19 September 2026. [dawan.africa](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somalia-registers-15-million-citizens-in-three-years). Checked 12 November 2026.
6. Dawan Africa. "Somalia extends free ID registration". [dawan.africa](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somalia-extends-free-id-registration). Checked 12 November 2026.
7. Biometric Update. "Somalia requires $125M to fully implement national digital ID system", January 2026. [biometricupdate.com](https://www.biometricupdate.com/202601/somalia-requires-125m-to-fully-implement-national-digital-id-system). Checked 12 November 2026.
8. Embassy of Somalia, Washington DC. Passports. [usa.mfa.gov.so](https://usa.mfa.gov.so/consular-services/passports/). Checked 12 November 2026.

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