The National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) has announced an extension of the deadline for obtaining National, ECOWAS, and Non-National ID Cards.

Originally set for June 28, 2024, the deadline has been extended to December 31, 2024, providing the public more time to acquire their identification cards.

This extension follows a directive ratified by Parliament in March 2022, which mandates the linkage of the National Identification Number (NIN) on ID cards to various services. These services include:

Financial transactions (banks, forex bureaus, insurance, etc.)
Vehicle registration and licensing
Recruitment into public and private institutions
NASSIT enrollment
Land and property registration
Enrollment into educational institutions and public exams
SIM card registration
Vital events registration (birth, death, marriage, divorce, adoption, etc.)
Immigration services, resident/work permits
Business registration and incorporation

NCRA encourages all citizens and foreign residents to obtain their ID cards from any NCRA office or designated center across the country by December 31, 2024. The offices will be open from 08:30 AM to 05:30 PM, Monday to Friday. While National and Non-National ID Cards are mandatory, the ECOWAS ID Card remains optional and is available upon request.

NCRA and the Security Sector will conduct routine checks to ensure all residents are properly identified. Foreign residents are particularly advised to obtain their Non-National ID Cards as required by law. The ID card, featuring the unique Identification Number, is now the primary source of personal identification in Sierra Leone.

NCRA remains committed to ensuring reliable identification for all citizens and foreign residents, maintaining consistency in personal information across various uses.