Jordan’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship has rolled out a significant update to the government services app Sanad that removes the requirement for in-person activation of digital identities. Users can now activate their digital ID directly within the app, eliminating the need to visit physical Sanad service stations and marking a notable shift toward fully remote onboarding for government digital services.
The update allows digital identity activation through what the ministry describes as secure and simplified in-app steps. The change is positioned as part of a broader effort to modernize Jordan’s digital government infrastructure, improve usability, and increase adoption of online public services by reducing friction at the identity activation stage.
Beyond remote digital ID activation, the update expands Sanad’s role as an end-to-end transactional platform. Users can now complete government service workflows entirely within the app, from application submission through payment, without being redirected to external systems or generating separate payment reference numbers. The app has also added support for Apple Pay and Google Pay alongside existing payment options, reinforcing its role as a central digital channel for public services.
The updated version of Sanad includes the display of official digital documents, including national ID cards, driver’s licenses, and vehicle registration information. These digital representations are designed to mirror physical documents, contributing to the normalization of smartphones as carriers of official credentials in day-to-day interactions with government services.
The ministry has provided adoption metrics alongside the update, reporting approximately 1.3 million monthly users, more than 2 million activated digital identities, and close to 6 million monthly interactions or transactions through the platform. In the five days following the update, officials reported more than 2,000 electronic payment transactions conducted through the app.
The move to remote activation is a key inflection point. While the public announcements emphasize convenience and accessibility, they do not detail the underlying identity proofing or assurance mechanisms used for in-app activation. As with similar transitions in other national digital ID programs, the balance between usability, fraud controls, and assurance levels will be an important area to watch as Sanad’s role continues to expand.
Sources: Petra, The Jordan Times
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
