NID - PNG

NID in PNG. Image credit : NID Project

Papua New Guinea National Identification ( PNG NID) is a project under the National Civil and Identity Registry office. This project is funded by the Papua New Guinea Government with donor partners. The Papua New Guinea Civil and Identity Registry (PNGCIR) is mandated and empowered by its own act: The Civil Registration Act 1963 Amended 2014 to maintain registers of Vital Events and the Papua New Guinea National Identity Project (PNG NID Project) is the project which enables a quicker way to fulfil its functions for the people of Papua New Guinea. The Overarching aim of PNGCIR is to achieve a complete Civil Registration System for the country that can provide:

All members of public with foundation identity documents through which they can claim their civil and human rights, including access to services .
The government with individual identification records needed for governance; and
The government with a national source of vital statistics

The Main Functions of National Identification (NID) Project

The main functions of PNG National Identification ( PNG NID) Project within the Civil and Identity Registration Office are

Birth Registration and Certification
National Identification Cards (NID Cards)
Marriage Registration and Certification
Adoption Registrations and Certification
Divorce Registration and Certification
Illegitimate Registration and Certification
Death Registration and Certification
Student Registration and Identification

PNGCIR Welcomes you into the world with a Birth Certificate, Legalizes your Adoptions with a second Birth Certificate for Adoption. Celebrates your Marriage with a Marriage Certificate. And Finally Farewells you with a Death Certificate.

How to Get Birth Certificates?

The birth of any child born in PNG must be recorded and issued with a Birth Certificate as governed by Civil Registration Act 1963. Amended 2014.

Persons below 18 years of age register their birth only.
Persons 18 years of age and over register for both their birth and National Identity Document (NID).

Requirements for Birth Registration in PNG : The checklist below provides a guide on the required attachments or documents to support birth registrations:

Clinic Book/Health Record Book
Baptism record
Employment ID cards
Passport or school records
Written statement from informants/Notifier
Primary Verifier
NID Card or Birth Certificate

A Birth Certificate is a LEGAL IDENTITY DOCUMENT. ALL PNG Citizens must register for a BIRTH CERTIFICATE!
Without a legal identity, You are not recognized by the government, which results in being unprotected, unaccounted and alienated from government services.

Why it is important to get a Marriage Certificate in PNG?

PNGCIR officiates and registers Only Civil Marriages through Marriage Celebrants, the Registrar General or persons appointed by
the Registrar General. Below are steps to get a marriage certificate in PNG.
Legal proof of document – Marriage Certificate

Entitlements
Social security and Protection
Nationality
Rewards of being a family (Husband/Wife)

A Marriage Celebrant is a licensed person under the Marriage Act 1963 (Chapter 280) who can legally solemnise a marriage ceremony. PNGCIR registers and certifies Marriage Celebrants from different Churches.

Divorce is also registered by PNGCIR, however only through a court of Law can a dissolution of marriage take place. PNGCIR registers your Divorce.

How to get marriage certificate in PNG?

Simply go over the Civil and Identity Registration office and fill out and application.

How to apply for Adoption Certificate in PNG?

PNGCIR registers Adoptions in PNG. Adoption of Children Act 1968 and Civil Registration Act 1963 Section 51 give prominence to PNGCIR to register all adoption: Customary, Civil and Overseas adoption.

Adoption: Change in the parents of a child legally.
Why Adopt? To give a child a home.

Types of Adoption:

Customary Adoption: applies to Papua New Guineans Only. Parents must obtain order from the District Court before adoption registration, many parents think handing over a child from birth to a relative is legal adoption but it is not, they must make it legal through welfare and the court.
Civil/State Adoption: This applies to mixed marriages, foreigners and nationals. The adoption order must be obtained from National Court before they register the adoption with PNGCIR.

Requirements for Registration
If you are planning for an adoption, below are requirements you present with your application.

Court Order (District/National)
An Adoption order from court
Witness: Welfare Officer
Adoption fee is K20.00
Birth certificate ( registered on Biological Parents)

How to apply for Legitimation in PNG?

Subject to Civil Registration Act 1963, Marriage Act 1963, a Legitimate child either foreign or local and Illegitimate child whether foreign born or local born must and can be registered. Legitimate child is a child born before marriage and illegitimate child is a child born out of a defector relationship and/or raised by a single parent.

Legitimate Child Birth and National
Form to fill out : Identity Registration Form (Form 1-2019)
Requirements for Application

Clinic Book/Health Record Book
Baptism record
Old Birth certificates
Employment ID cards
Passport
School records
Written statement from informants/Notifier
Primary Verifier (Form 41-2019) NID Card or Birth Certificate

Illegitimate Child Birth and National
Form to fill out : Identity Registration Form (Form 1-2019)

Any of the above document

Written statement from a recognized notifier/informant
Written statement from the parent concerning the single parent status
(Note: The applicant and Witness Must provide a copy of any of the above documents for verification purposes)

How to apply for Death Certificate in PNG?

Death Registration is an official recording of the end of a Peron's life—Their Death and Cause of Death (COD). A death that occur within PNG boarders must be registered with the PNGCIR Office, pursuant to the Civil Registration Act 1963 Section 34,35 & 36.
PNGCIR register Death and Issue Death Certificate in PNG.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO REGISTER A DEATH?

Legal proof of document – Death Certificate
Inheritance/Settling Estate/Transfer of Property, Land Title
Claiming life Insurance
Settlement of Pension Claims
Getting Married (proof previous partner has passed)
Arranging for a funeral
Identify cause of death and procure treatment for other patients
Collect population statistics

Different Types of Deaths

Hospital Death
Village death
Deaths related to Trauma
War Death
Presumed Death
Death on a Vessel at sea
Still Birth and Prenatal Death
Disaster (natural/man made Death

National Identification Cards PNG

National Identity is an important legal Identity Document that recognizes you as a PNG Citizen before the law and the State of PNG. Persons above 18 years of age must be registered with an NID. NID registration collects your Personal Information plus your biometrics; Face photo and 10 fingers finger print. The output is a legal Birth Certificate and National Identity Card.

The Importance of NID or National Identification Cards
Health Planning

Identifying priorities – maternal and child health care, Non communicable diseases.
Targeting health Programs – populations at risk
Service Delivery – distribution of health infrastructure, e.g. drugs, service providers and other resources

Government Services

Education – allocation of resources; schools and teachers
Social security – i.e. age of retirement and pension, Police protection and social welfare
Infrastructure planning – determining needs such as housing

Identity and Security

Passports and identity documents
Electoral rolls
Disaster planning and response (identification of populations at risk and follow up for support)
Commercial Business Transections

Land

Land Rights and Inheritances
Royalty
ILG recognition

How is NID Processed

THE NID PROCESS

Registrations are done using mobile registration kits and fixed PNGCIR office throughout the country and are uploaded or are done in fixed offices (in provinces and districts) as live data uploads. The data entry follows after the registration process where vetting is done at the same time. After this, the approval process commences where there is a return to data entry if documents do not fulfill certain requirements. The data is sent to data management for a queuing process in printing before it is issued to the public and archived at the end of the process.

Who is eligible for NID or National Identification Cards?

All Papua New Guineans are eligible to apply.

How to Apply for NID Card in PNG?

The following are required

Filled NID Application Form
Finger Print (done during application lodging)
Birth Certificate (if you have any)
Marriage Certificate ( if you are married)

How long does it take to process NID Cards?

The NID processing time can take up to 4 - 6 weeks.

How much does it cost for get a NID, Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates and adoption Certificates?

The fees vary for each documents.

Marriage Certificates as of January 2021 for both nationals and foreigners is K20 (there are other types as well, see NID website)
Adoption Fee is K20
Death Certificate Fees - Nationals K20 and Foreigners K30
NID Cards - K200
Birth Certificates : K30

Disclaimer : The information contained here is sourced from the NID project information sheet. It is uploaded on this site for general information and reference. All enquiries must be made to the NID Office or visit their website : https://pngcir.gov.pg/

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