A national ID (identity) card is an identity document issued by the government of a country to its citizens and foreign residents. The primary purpose of the national ID card is to provide evidence that the holder has the nationality of the issuing country and that they are not stateless.
A national identity card proves who you are and what your rights and entitlements are. It is a legal requirement for most people if they want to:
- Get a job or do voluntary work
- Open a bank account and apply for loans
- Apply for benefits, such as family allowance
- Apply for a passport or voters card etc.
- Apply for a driver’s license.
The Benefits of National ID (Identity) in Cameroon
A national identity card is helpful to many individuals, as it proves the holder’s legal name, nationality, and entitlement to many services. Some of the benefits of having a national identity card include:
- To identify yourself. You can use your identity card to identify yourself or when asked by another person if you have identification, you can show your national identity card.
- You can use your national identity card to verify that you are over the age of 16, to show proof of age when buying alcohol or cigarettes, or when applying for financial services.
- You can also use your national identity card when filling in a form at a doctor’s surgery, council, school, or even at the police station.
What are the Requirements for a National ID (Identity) in Cameroon?
- A certified copy of your birth certificate
- A certificate of nationality that is signed by the Head of the Court of First Instance
- A certified copy of the marriage certificate for men and women, issued by an administrative or municipal authority; (For those who are married)
- A document that shows proof of your profession
NB: The requirements stated above are strictly for those applying for a national ID card for the first time.
What are the Requirements for a National ID (Identity) in Cameroon in Case of Loss, Theft, or Damage?
In case your national ID card in Cameroon is missing, stolen, or damaged, the user must submit the following documents to get a new national ID card:
- A Certified copy of the birth certificate;
- An attestation of declaration of loss (Loss Document)
- Certificate of nationality signed by a President or Head of the Court of First Instance. This is required if the lost card was derived from the old system of enrollment.
- A legible photocopy of the lost ID card;
After applying for a new National ID card in Cameroon, you are given a receipt which you can use temporarily for a period of three months while awaiting its production. After the three months elapses, you can verify the production of your National ID card online by clicking here.
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