The National Registration Card (NRC) is Zambia's primary form of identification, required for voting, opening a bank account, applying for a passport, and much more. Zambians can apply once they reach 16 years old.
What you'll need
- Two recent passport-size photographs
- A birth certificate
- A parent or guardian's NRC (for first-time applicants) or two witnesses who already hold an NRC
Steps
1. Visit your nearest registration center. The Department of National Registration, Passport and Citizenship (DNRPC) runs registration exercises at council offices and mobile registration points — check with your local council for the current schedule in your area.
2. Complete the application form. You'll fill in your personal details, place of birth, and next of kin information on-site.
3. Provide your documents and witnesses. Submit your birth certificate and photos, and bring your witnesses if you don't have a parent's NRC available.
4. Biometric capture. Your fingerprints and photo will be captured electronically at the registration center.
5. Collection. You'll be given a collection date — processing times vary by location, so ask the officer on duty for the current estimate.