KATHMANDU: The government has mandated the use of national identity cards for all real estate transactions starting January 14, 2025.

The Ministry of Home Affairs published a notice in the gazette, announcing that national identity cards will be required for buying and selling land or houses.

Previously, a citizenship certificate was sufficient for these transactions.

The new provision aims to enforce the use of national identity cards, stated Joint Secretary and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Narayan Prasad Bhattarai.

The Ministry has also made national identity cards mandatory for various services, including those related to banking and financial institutions, social security funds, health insurance, pensions, personal income tax registration, driver’s licenses, and company registration and renewal, to be applied in different districts.

According to Bhattarai, starting January 14, 2025, a national identity card will be required to obtain a SIM card for mobile telephone services.

The notice also specifies that national identity cards or national identity numbers will be necessary to access public services provided by government agencies, organizations, and the private sector, replacing the need for a citizenship certificate.