President inaugurates nationwide initiative to expand ID Card and passport services

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has formally inaugurated a nationwide initiative aimed at expanding the delivery of national identity cards and passports. The project was inaugurated during a special ceremony held at the President’s Office. This initiative seeks to decentralize the issuance of ID cards and passports, services which were previously confined to the capital city. The expansion will extend these essential services to various locations throughout the country, with the goal of completing the decentralization process by next year. In the first phase of the project, passport services will be introduced in Hulhumale’ Phase I and II, Dh. Kudahuvadhoo, and L. Fonadhoo, while ID card services will be made available in Hulhumale’ Phase I and II, Villimale’, and Kulhudhufushi City. In addition to the expansion of services, a comprehensive roadmap for the issuance of both passports and ID cards was presented during the ceremony. Additionally, the NARES portal, launched in July, represents a significant step in streamlining the application process for national identity cards through island councils. This platform allows councils to track the status of applications, issue ID cards, and accept new requests, thereby improving efficiency and accessibility for residents nationwide. Designed to mirror the system in Malé City, the portal enhances the capability of island councils to manage and expedite the issuance of national identification cards.