National ID Download Service Restored With OTP Verification After Security Concerns

Kathmandu. The Department of National ID and Civil Registration has restored the provisional National Identity Card (e-NID) download service after introducing additional security measures, including SMS-based one-time password (OTP) verification.

The move comes after concerns were raised that sensitive identity documents could be downloaded without adequate authentication. Previously, users could access an e-NID using only basic personal information such as a person's name, date of birth, and citizenship issuance date.

On Sunday, TechPana reported serious security and privacy vulnerabilities in the system, highlighting that e-NIDs belonging to anyone from senior government officials to ordinary citizens could be downloaded by third parties.

Following the report, the department temporarily suspended the service and began implementing additional verification measures. The service has now resumed OTP authentication, requiring users to verify their identity through the mobile number linked to their national ID registration.

Under the new system, a provisional national identity card can only be downloaded if the applicant has access to the mobile number provided during registration. Individuals who did not register a mobile number will need to visit the nearest National Identity Card issuing office.

In an earlier conversation with TechPana, department officials had said that a verification mechanism would soon be introduced. Shortly after the report was published, the department removed the service and later reinstated it with the new security layer. The updated e-NID download facility has been available since last Wednesday.

How to Download the e-NID

Visit the citizen portal and select the “eNID Download” option.

Enter your name in both Nepali and English, date of birth (Bikram Sambat), and citizenship issuance date.

Complete the captcha verification and click Search.

An OTP will be sent to the mobile number linked to your National Identity Card record.

After entering the OTP, your details and photograph will appear on the screen.

Click “Download Card”, then select “Download” from the pop-up displaying your National ID number.

The e-NID will be downloaded in PDF format.

To open the PDF, users must enter a password consisting of the first four letters of their name in uppercase, followed by their birth year. For example, a person named Ramesh born in 2042 BS would use RAME2042 as the password.

The downloaded e-NID includes the holder’s photograph, National Identity Number, and a QR code for verification.

The department has urged citizens to keep the downloaded card secure and has requested government agencies and service providers to verify e-NIDs by scanning the QR code and matching the displayed information with the details provided by the cardholder, rather than relying solely on printed copies.

पछिल्लो अध्यावधिक: असार ८, २०८३ १३:५२