X-twitter Linkedin Instagram Facebook

Government Of Jamaica

Jamaican flag

About Us

The History Of NIRA

A National Identification System (NIDS) has long been considered necessary to ensure that all citizens have a legal identity, contributing to greater inclusion and participation in society. The NIDS provides a comprehensive and secure structure to capture and store personal identity information and is the primary source of identity assurance. The following is a list of the key milestones achieved for the development of the NIDS.:

Empowering people, putting clients at the heart of everything we do. 
NIRA delivers secure and accessible civil and identity services. 
Jamaica: One Identity, Infinite Possibilities: Every resident has a trusted, secure identity that unlocks opportunities and builds a more inclusive nation.

The Functions Of NIRA

NIRA is mandated to perform the following functions:

  1. administer the National Identification System (NIDS);
  2. develop policies, procedures and protocols for the creation, management and operation of the National Identification System (NIDS), relating to:
    • the enrolment of eligible individuals;
    • the generation and assignment of a National Identification Number (NIN) to each enrolled individual;
    • the issuance of a National Identification Card (NIC) to each enrolled individual;
    • the collation and reproduction of information obtained as required under National Identification and Registration Act 2021;
    • the safe custody and, where required, disposal of all identity information collected or obtained by the Authority or stored in the National Databases;
    • the promotion of the use of the National Identification Number (NIN) and the National Identification Card (NIC); and
    • on-going research on developments and best practices in civil registration and identity information management; 
  3. develop appropriate systems and protocols for the security, secrecy, and necessary safeguards for the protection and confidentiality, of the information stored in the National Databases;
  4. carry out the functions of the Registrar-General as prescribed under the following legislation:
    • Registration (Births and Deaths) Act
    • Children (Adoption of) Act
    • Marriage Act
    • Muslim Marriage Act
  5. Hindu Marriage Act provide information and advice, and make proposals, to the Minister, on matters relating to the Authority;
  6. monitor and promote compliance with the National Identification and Registration Act 2021 and regulations made under this Act, and to develop public education programmes with a view to promoting such compliance;
  7. develop policies and protocols for the prevention of identity theft and other instances of fraud with respect to identity information, and co-operate with other “anti-fraud organisations” (as defined by section 24(2) of the Data Protection Act);
  8. monitor its operations to ensure that they are in conformity with—
    • the Data Protection Act;
    • the Financial Administration and Audit Act and all applicable financial instructions issued by the Financial Secretary under that Act;
    • the Public Bodies Management and Accountability Act;
    • and any other law relevant to the management of public bodies or the protection of identity information. 

NIRA Timeline

1970s

Early discussions for a National Registration System for Jamaica.

1990

The Electoral Advisory Committee (EAC) made recommendations to the Minister of Justice for the establishment of a body to implement a National Registration System.

1993

Cabinet approved the establishment of a National Registration Unit in the Ministry of Health by way of Cabinet Decision No. 33/1993.

1995

Cabinet by way of Cabinet Decision No. 45/1995 gave approval for tabling of a National Registration Bill.

2000

National Registration Bill tabled in Parliament.

2006

Cabinet approved proposal for implementation of NIDS as well as amendments to the existing draft National Registration Bill by way of Cabinet Decision No. 12/2006. The Bill was withdrawn from the Parliament for redrafting and resubmission.

2008

Cabinet Decision No. 40/2008 recommitted to the implementation of NIDS by 2010.

2011

July

Approval was given for the National Registration Unit to be transferred from the Ministry of Health to the Office of the Prime Minister.

September

Government of Jamaica (GOJ) received a US$670K grant from the IDB to commence preparatory work.

December

Cabinet Decision No. 48/2011 gave approval for the development of a NIDS Policy.

2012

eGov Jamaica Limited (then Fiscal Services Ltd.) entered into an Memorandum of Understanding with GOJ to provide technical input on the management of the ICT consultancy required to design the NIDS architecture.

2013

NIDS Green Paper Policy Consultation Plan developed.

2016

October

Cabinet approved NIDS Policy for tabling in Parliament as a White Paper Cabinet Decision No. 34/2016.

November

NIDS White Paper tabled in Parliament.

2017

April

Two stage procurement process commenced for NIDS solution.

June

The Most Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister opened the debate on the National Identification and Registration Bill in Parliament.

September

The Bill passed in the Lower House.

November

The Bill passed in the Senate. The Opposition was not present.

December

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a US$68million loan to GOJ for the NIDS.

2018

February

Signed loan agreement.

April

Second stage of procurement of NIDS solution.

May

Action filed by Mr. Julian Robinson, General Secretary of the PNP in the Supreme Court seeking declaration that sections of the NIR Act (2017) are unconstitutional.

October

Supreme Court Hearing.

2019

March

Cabinet approved award of contract to Productive Business Solution (PBS) to provide NIDS Solution.

April

Supreme Court Ruling – NIR Act 2017 deemed “null and void” and of no legal effect.

2020

April

New NIDS Policy approved.

December

NIR Act, 2020 tabled. Joint Select Committee formed to review the new Bill.

2021

July

Report of the Joint Select Committee tabled in the House of Representatives. NIR Act, 2021 tabled.

October

NIR Act, 2021 passed in the Senate.

2022

January

The Most Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister toured the NIDS Card Production facility.

May

Design of the National Identification Card unveiled in House of Representatives.

June

Memorandum of Understanding signed with Deposit Taking Institutions (DTIs) to participate in the pilot of the NIDS.

December

Technical Pilot launched. First enrollment center and NIDS Card Personalisation Centre opened.

2023

January

Regulations tabled.

2024

January

The National Identification and Registration Act, 2021 (Appointed Day) Notice was gazetted on January 29, 2024, establishing the National Identification and Registration Authority and the National Identification and Registration Inspectorate.

March

Announcement of the names of appointed members of the Authority (NIRA Board).

The History Of RGD

The Registrar General’s Department (RGD) is the only repository in Jamaica for birth, marriage, still birth and death records. However, it does not register divorces. Compulsory registration began in 1878. Prior to this, all registers containing transcripts of births, baptisms, marriages and deaths were kept by the Church of England and these date back to 1664. 

The following is a list of the key milestones achieved by the RGD. 

01

1879

RGD was established in Jamaica’s old capital – Spanish Town, located at the Rodney Memorial Buildings. Duplicate records are still housed at that location.

Graphic
02

July 1996

RGD relocated to Twickenham Park, St. Catherine

Graphic
03

August 1, 1996

Operations began from the new location which houses its corporate office. Since then, the RGD has expanded to nine regional offices.

Graphic
04

1997

“RGD and You” radio drama programme commenced, which served to inform the public about the services offered by the Agency and how these may be accessed. Since then, over 300 drama series have been written and aired. The programme is broadcast on two (2) radio stations namely: Power 106 FM and IRIE FM.

Graphic
05

April 1, 1999

RGD became an Executive Agency under the Public Sector Modernization Project (PSMP), as was one of the first four (4) entities in Jamaica and the English speaking Caribbean to be accorded this status.

Graphic
06

May 7, 2001

RGD began printing on Security Paper. This was one of the many initiatives aimed at improving the security of its operations.

Graphic
07

April 1, 2003

The Agency implemented its Application Tracking System used internally by staff members which facilitates easy tracking of customers’ application from submission through production and delivery.

Graphic
08

July 1, 2006

Online Payment option was introduced.

Graphic
09

January 1, 2007

Launch of the Agency’s Free First Birth Certificate Initiative. This initiative is a part of the Agency’s improvement projects aimed at having all children named and fully registered. It has brought the level of civil registration in respect of adding father’s particulars and naming children at birth to a higher level. Additionally, it has eliminated previous delays in birth registration since registration is now conducted at the “bedside” , an activity never performed in the country before.

Graphic
10

April 2007

First Executive Agency to receive type C status indicating that operations are not funded from the consolidated fund but from its revenue generated. As an Executive Agency, the RGD focuses primarily on the delivery of services with a results-oriented approach.

Graphic

Add Your Heading Text Here

QUICK LINKS
OFFERED SERVICES
FORMS
CONTACT INFORMATION
  • List Item #1
  • List Item #2
  • List Item #3
  • List Item
X-twitter Youtube Instagram Facebook