More than 22.6 million Tanzanians have now been issued with National Identification Numbers, a major step that is improving access to services and strengthening national security systems across the country.
Minister of Home Affairs Patrobas Katambi told Parliament in Dodoma on May 25, 2026, that the National Identification Authority (NIDA) National Identification Authority (NIDA) has continued to expand its services to ensure more citizens are registered and properly identified.
He said between July 2025 and April 2026, NIDA registered and identified 1,145,334 citizens aged 18 years and above.
During the same period, 857,244 citizens were issued with National Identification Numbers, bringing the total number of people who have received the numbers to 22,654,206.
Katambi said the National ID system is now a key requirement in accessing many services in both public institutions and the private sector.
He urged employers across the country to ensure that all workers are verified using NIDA numbers to confirm identity and citizenship, as part of strengthening trust and security in employment systems.
He also said the government has continued to improve service delivery by bringing NIDA services closer to citizens.
Citizens whose IDs are ready are now informed through SMS alerts, allowing them to collect their cards from district offices where they registered.
Despite these improvements, Katambi noted that 668,822 National ID cards are still uncollected at NIDA district offices.
He urged citizens to collect them to complete the registration process and avoid delays in accessing services that require identification.
To make services easier, NIDA has introduced a free SMS service through 15274. Citizens can use this number to check the status of their ID applications and also retrieve their National Identification Numbers without visiting NIDA offices.
The government has also introduced a one-year special window from October 2025 to September 2026, allowing citizens who provided incorrect information during registration to correct their details. Katambi said this initiative will help improve the accuracy of the national database and ensure that citizens’ records are reliable.
He further said NIDA is implementing directives from President Samia Suluhu Hassan to connect government systems so they can share information and improve service delivery.
Between July 2025 and April 2026, NIDA connected 17 additional institutions to its system, bringing the total number of integrated institutions to 147 across the country.
Katambi said this integration is helping institutions verify citizens faster, reduce fraud, and improve efficiency in delivering services such as banking, employment, and government programs.
He emphasized that the expansion of the national identification system is making it easier for citizens to be recognized and access services, while also supporting the government’s efforts to build a modern and secure digital economy.
