Tunisia to Get Biometric IDs in H1 of 2025

Tunisia is moving to adopt biometric ID cards and passports in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) recommendations, with the new system to be implemented in the first half of 2025.

A ministerial working session has set a target of starting the rollout in the first half of 2025. This decision was made by a steering committee comprising the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Communication Technologies, and the Ministry of Economy and Planning.

The move to introduce biometric documents aligns with recommendations from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which encourages all countries to adopt this technology by 2026. The goal is to enhance security and streamline identification processes for Tunisian citizens both within the country and when traveling internationally.

The adoption of biometric ID cards and passports was made possible through the approval of Organic Law No. 22 of 2024 and Organic Law No. 23 of 2024. Key ministers involved in the project include the Minister of Interior, Minister of Finance, Minister of Economy and Planning, and Minister of Communication Technologies.

Organic Laws in Tunisia are a type of law that ranks higher than regular statutes. They typically deal with fundamental aspects of the government’s structure and function, or with basic rights and freedoms of citizens.

Tunisia’s decision to implement biometric identification highlights a commitment to modernizing security systems and aligning with international standards. It joins a rapidly growing list of countries with developing or expanding national ID programs, including Nigeria, where a recently announced expansion of its own program could rival India’s massive Aadhaar system.

Source: Zawya

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April 23, 2024 — By Ali Nassar-Smith