The National Identification Agency (NIDA) has announced that Rwandans who wish to change the photos on their national ID cards because they no longer match their current appearance are allowed to retake and update them.
NIDA made this announcement following concerns from citizens who reported being inconvenienced by outdated photos on their ID cards, which sometimes prevented them from accessing certain services.
Charles Ndagijimana, a motorcycle taxi operator, told RBA that he often faces difficulties due to the photo on his ID card, which was taken when he was much younger and no longer resembles him.
“I got my ID in 2016 when I was still young, without facial hair, and in school. This sometimes causes me problems because, when I need to obtain documents from different institutions, they initially doubt my identity,” he said.
Emmanuel Tuyishimire added, “When applying for a driver’s license or a passport, the photo on the national ID is used. It would be better if an updated photo of the person was taken to avoid any doubts about their identity in the future.”
Annette Mugwaneza, NIDA’s Communication Officer, confirmed that outdated ID photos are indeed an issue but assured that people are allowed to update them.
“There is no special requirement. Whether you are in the provinces or in Kigali, you can request the service at your sector office, where they will schedule an appointment for you to take a new photo. Alternatively, you can email us at info@nida.gov.rw to request an appointment. The only requirement is to pay a fee of 1,500 Rwandan Francs,” she stated.
Mugwaneza added that the payment is made via the Irembo platform, and once the new photo is taken, the applicant must wait 30 days to receive their updated national ID.