Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab has revealed the final preparations and timeline for launching new national ID cards and official documents, saying completion of a unified national database is the foundation and first requirement for the new civil affairs project.
Responding to a question during a meeting attended by an Enab Baladi correspondent in Hama (central Syria) on Tuesday, September 29, Khattab said specialized software teams had worked continuously for about nine months to merge and consolidate data into a comprehensive, unified nationwide database.
According to the minister, the process followed an inventory of records received from local councils in northern Aleppo, eastern regions, the previous system in Idlib, as well as central civil registry records.
Regarding national ID cards and official documents, Khattab said IDs issued previously, before the liberation, had design and technical shortcomings. These included the omission of the official name, “Syrian Arab Republic,” a design suited only to a limited period, and the use of low-quality PVC printing materials that no longer meet modern quality and security standards.
Contract With Global Company
Khattab said an official contract was signed about three weeks ago with one of the world’s three leading companies specializing in printing technologies and digital identity, following a selection process involving more than 60 international bids.
According to the minister, the contract covers the supply of equipment and materials for issuing national ID cards, passports and driver’s licenses, in accordance with the highest standards of protection, digital security and modern visual design.
Khattab stressed that all national databases would remain under the full management and control of local personnel inside Syria, with the company’s role limited to providing technical support and necessary equipment. Production and printing operations will be carried out entirely inside the country.
Issuance Expected Between April and May
Regarding the launch schedule, Khattab said the new IDs and documents are expected to begin being issued between April and May next year. He declined to give an exact date pending completion of work on four implementation tracks.
According to the minister, these tracks include preparing service centers to receive citizens, training personnel who will operate the project, completing the software system and applications connected to the unified database, and supplying and installing printing machines and other technical equipment.
Centers to Be Ready After First Quarter of 2027
In a related development, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) quoted the interior minister as saying that the ministry is working to complete the procedures and preparations needed to launch the new ID card project. He expects centers to be ready to begin registration after the first quarter of 2027.
Speaking to SANA during the inauguration of two new civil registry offices in Hama, Khattab said the ministry would be ready after the first quarter of 2027 to begin receiving applications for the new cards. Issuance would then begin after a specified period, in accordance with the project’s implementation stages.
Khattab said the ministry would soon begin bringing in and supplying the specialized equipment required for the project, while also preparing dedicated centers separate from civil registry offices to handle data collection, biometric information and photography.
He added that work is proceeding simultaneously on several tracks, including staff training, preparing the centers and completing implementation of the contract signed with the specialized company.
Two Civil Registry Offices Open in Hama
The remarks came on the sidelines of Khattab’s inauguration of Hama’s first and second civil registry offices during a field visit to the governorate. The openings are part of the ministry’s ongoing plans to develop the civil registry sector and improve services for citizens by speeding up transactions, easing burdens and simplifying procedures.
Hama’s first civil registry office, in al-Baroudiya, has begun receiving visitors for the issuance and registration of all civil status records. The facility includes an air-conditioned waiting hall and an electronic queue system, with 21 service windows and capacity to serve more than 700 visitors a day.