Namibia's first electronic ID card, designed to modernise identity management and expand access to essential public and private services, will be rolled out halfway through next year.

This advanced ID will contain embedded biometric or demographic data, enabling real-time identity verification across sectors such as banking, healthcare, education, and more.

The e-ID offers benefits such as enhanced security through biometric verification, reducing identity fraud, eliminating duplicate records, improving access to government services, and increasing efficiency in service delivery through mobile outreach.

The Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, Lucia Iipumbu, said the e-ID is an effective service delivery tool, as people will no longer need to carry their physical IDs or copies, since everyone's information will be stored securely in the system.

The Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme, Christian Shingiro, said the e-ID initiative aligns with the UNDP's Model Governance Framework for Digital Legal Identity and marks a bold step toward a secure, inclusive, and digitally connected society.

To foster public understanding and trust in this innovation, the ministry has launched a nationwide awareness campaign, which began in the |Khomas Region.