Applying for a passport in Bhutan just got a lot simpler. The country’s National Digital Identity (NDI) wallet, already used by citizens for digital ID verification, is now integrated directly into the passport application process.
Citizens can log in to the passport application system using their NDI wallet, scan a QR code, and have their photo, e-signature, and security clearance information automatically populated. What used to mean gathering documents and filling out forms by hand now happens in seconds on your phone.
The system is expected to dramatically reduce rejection rates. Currently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade processes around 250 passport applications daily, with a significant number rejected due to mismatched information or missing documents. By pulling verified data directly from the NDI database, those errors should become rare.
“The integration means citizens no longer need to manually input their details or provide physical documents,” said Tshewang Chojay, Chief ICT Officer at GovTech Agency. “The wallet already has verified information, so the application pre-fills itself.”
Sonam Pelzom, Deputy Chief of Consular Affairs, noted that the new system addresses one of the most common pain points in passport applications: discrepancies between the information citizens provide and what’s on file. When the data comes directly from the NDI system, those mismatches disappear.
The NDI wallet, built on blockchain technology and developed in partnership with the Trust over IP Foundation, already serves as Bhutan’s foundational digital identity system. It issues verifiable credentials for residence permits, employment, and academic certificates. Now, passport applications join that list.
For citizens, the experience is straightforward: open the NDI app, select passport application, scan the QR code on the form, and watch your information appear. No more carrying photos to government offices or double-checking that your signature matches some old record.
Sources: Mobile ID World, Mobile ID World
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By the Mobile ID World Editorial Team
