Politics · Indonesia · 3 hrs ago
Indonesia Considers Making NIK a Single Identity Number
Indonesia is considering using its national identification number, known as NIK, as a single identity number across government agencies.
The plan is part of a proposed revision to the country’s population administration law, which was initiated by parliament.
The idea has been discussed since 2025, with the goal of letting people use one NIK for different purposes.
Government officials say the change would connect population data across agencies and help people access basic public services.
The proposed law also aims to improve public services, support more precise development planning and protect personal data.
Officials have agreed on a draft list of issues for parliament to discuss, but the law has not yet been approved.
Immigration will study how NIK could relate to passport numbers, which follow rules set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
Indonesia’s government and House of Representatives are discussing a bill to strengthen the National Identification Number, or NIK, as a single identity number.
The proposal is part of a planned revision of the Population Administration Law, which was initiated by the House.
Officials say a single identity system could integrate population data across government agencies and improve access to public services.
The government discussed its inventory of issues for the bill on October 27, 2026, before sending it to the House for debate.
Officials also said the plan must account for passport numbering rules set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
- Who
- Indonesia’s government and House of Representatives are discussing the proposal.
- What
- They plan to revise the Population Administration Law, including strengthening NIK as a single identity number.
- When
- The government discussed the bill’s inventory of issues on October 27, 2026; the idea had emerged in 2025.
- Where
- The discussion was held at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Central Jakarta.
- Why
- Officials say an integrated identity system could improve public services, support more precise development planning and protect personal data.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
House Commission II chair Rifqinizamy Karsayuda said the House would revise the Population Administration Law and discuss creating a single identity number.
Government officials discussed and initialled an inventory of issues for the bill, which is to be sent to the House.
- Proposed identity number
- NIK, the National Identification Number
- Law under revision
- Law No. 24 of 2013 on Population Administration
- Government discussion
- October 27, 2026
- Meeting location
- Ministry of Home Affairs, Central Jakarta
- House commission chair
- Rifqinizamy Karsayuda, Commission II
What people are saying
The substance of this bill is that we want to create an integrated population administration system that adapts to the times, more precise and targeted development planning, quality public services, and also protection of personal data.
This Population Administration Law will become one of the single sources of truth for population identity.
With just one NIK, we can identify ourselves as citizens for various purposes, including knowing where our land is and where its certificates are.