National Identification Number (NIN) will become a precondition for Processing Sierra Leone Passport, work permit, resident permit, and other immigration services effective June 1, 2022, the government announced on Monday.
The National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), the Immigration Department of Sierra Leone and the Ministry of labour and Social Security, said in a joint communiqué “that effective June 1, 2022 all applications for work permit, resident permit, passport and other immigration services must include the National Identification Number (NIN) issued by the NCRA as a mandatory field.”
“This is in fulfillment of their respective legal mandates and ensuring compliance with a Cabinet Conclusion of March 2, 2022, and the subsequent Ratification of the Agreement between the National Civil Registration Authority and Constrat System SL Ltd dated March 17, 2022 for the production of Biometric and scrutinized National, ECOWAS Compliant and Non-National Identity Cards, ID Verification System and public key infrastructure featuring a unique non-repeatable and non-reusable National Identification Number (NIN): linking the mandatory use of the unique National Identification Number (NIN) to access services that include but not limited to immigration services, Resident and work Permits,” they said in a statement.
According to the communiqué, the security features of the NIN ensure people have one unique identity recorded, thereby removing cases of double or multiple identities per person which may have security implications, and may lead to prank identity manipulations and fraud.
They urged the public to cooperate by providing the required mandatory field mentioned herein the NIN.
By George M.O. Williams