National ID card not yet recognised internationally, says RBF

The proposed National Digital ID (NDID) card will not be recognised internationally at this stage, with officials confirming there are no immediate plans for overseas acceptance.

Reserve Bank of Fiji Deputy Governor Esala Masitabua made the clarification during consultations on the Draft National ID Bill at the Civic Centre in Nadi on Tuesday.

His comments followed a question from Wailoaloa resident Praneel Nand, who asked whether the card would assist Fijians applying for visas abroad.

“How big of a launch is this card going to be? Is it going to be recognised worldwide? Because I have been applying for visas for Australia, and I see there is a section that says ‘Do you have a national ID card?’ and this card seems fit to be entered there. So, is it going to be any help in those areas?” Mr Nand asked.

Mr Masitabua said the system’s immediate focus was domestic use.

“At the moment, there is no plan to link it for acceptability outside,” he said.

He illustrated this with his own experience overseas.

“For the past two years, I have had my American ID, which is recognised in America but is useless in Fiji because no one has the system that says this is acceptable.”

Mr Masitabua said that while the system would be built using global standards, any future international recognition would depend on bilateral arrangements.

“For now, the focus is government and other services. We use global standards in the development of this, so the possibility of it being accepted in the region and other countries will be there, just like passports,” he said.