The Reserve Bank of Fiji has confirmed that people without reliable internet or smartphone access will be able to receive traditional physical National Identity (NID) cards, as the country moves ahead with plans for a foundational ID system. The announcement came during a public consultation in Lautoka where RBF project manager Praneel Prasad outlined that Fiji’s scheme will offer two options: a digital ID delivered through a mobile app or a conventional card-based identity.
“At the public consultation we made clear that we will have two options for these ID cards,” Mr Prasad told attendees, stressing the program’s focus on inclusion. He said the physical cards will be rolled out specifically to ensure “no citizen was left behind due to digital exclusion,” and that registration in the NID system will be voluntary. “It’s optional and voluntary … once you start to see the benefits, you will want to go and register because you will see the efficiencies associated with the National ID,” he added.
RBF officials framed the NID initiative as a tool to streamline access to government and financial services, particularly for communities in isolated parts of Fiji where administrative and banking services are harder to reach. The dual-offering — app or card — is intended to provide flexibility so constituents who lack digital devices, or who are uncomfortable with mobile platforms, can still participate in the system and obtain the same identity credentials as urban users.
Prasad said Fiji is joining a large group of countries that have implemented foundational identity systems, estimating that about 90 developing and developed countries have similar arrangements. He cited regional neighbours and partners — including Australia, Kiribati, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Samoa — as examples from which Fiji can draw lessons. The Reserve Bank also acknowledged the involvement of development partners; Prasad said the Asian Development Bank has encouraged Fiji to pursue a national identity card system.
Alongside assurances of inclusivity, RBF officials signaled awareness of the security and privacy risks that accompany national ID programs. Prasad said the project team intends to study international experiences to “mitigate risks that are identified – data breaches, identity fraud” and to emphasise that the system is not intended for government surveillance or misuse of personal data. No technical details on data storage, safeguards or oversight arrangements were provided at the Lautoka consultation.
The Lautoka session was presented as part of ongoing public engagement on the design and rollout of the NID system. With registration confirmed as voluntary and a physical-card option secured for those offline, the latest development addresses one of the key concerns raised by rural and elderly citizens: exclusion from a digitally focused identity scheme. Further consultations and technical planning are expected as the Reserve Bank, government agencies and development partners refine the operational and privacy frameworks for the programme.
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