national digital ID cards  link

The Southeast Asian state officially launched its digital identity project in July last year, according to the Laotian Times. In May, the government announced it would establish a digital ID infrastructure to manage citizens’ personal data securely as part of its public services modernization drive. The Ministry of Technology and Communications had completed 37 digital government systems as of this past February as it seeks to spur socio-economic development with open source technology and digital public infrastructure (DPI).

The agency developing and managing the national citizen database is the Ministry of Public Security, while other ministries will need to ensure that their data systems are ready for secure integration and data exchange. The digital ID is managed by the Digital Government Center under the Ministry of Technology and Communications of Laos.

Laos is getting support from Vietnam and Japan in the building of the digital ID management system. Vietnamese officials and experts have provided strategic advice while Japan is providing government funding and technical advice from companies like NEC, Ryobi Systems and J&C.

Sri Lanka is evolving its e-NIC system into a new digital ID (SL-UDI) delivered through a mobile eLocker app. The 3–5-year rollout reuses existing infrastructure, with encrypted citizen data managed locally under government control. Designed for security and inclusivity, SL-UDI aims to modernize identity while maintaining public trust  ref

Oman has legally recognized mobile digital ID as official identification, embedding it into its Vision 2040 digital transformation strategy. The move streamlines verification across government and financial services while expanding usability for law enforcement. Key updates include digital access to passports and birth certificates, banking integration, kiosk-based license issuance, and tools for virtual services and reporting.

Hong Kong has launched its first e-Driving License app, making phones valid digital alternatives to physical driver’s licenses. The rollout, part of broader “smart mobility” efforts, emphasizes convenience, security, and inclusivity. Key updates include support for all license types (full, learner, probationary, instructor), color-coded validity (blue/yellow/red), single-device account binding, QR-code security, and authentication via “iAM Smart” for residents or the e-Licensing Portal for others.

Malaysia’s 13th Malaysia Plan puts MyDigital ID at the center of its digital transformation, aiming to make 95% of federal services fully online by 2030. The secure ID system enables real-time verification without storing biometrics and already powers 45 platforms. Supporting initiatives include a National Data Bank, Data Commission, and digital twin tech to boost trust, security, and innovation. ref 

• Iran has issued smart national identity cards. As of 2020, about 48.7 million people had smart ID cards. The cards are domestically produced, following necessary technical standards. trend.az

• The MyGov (also called the National Smart Government Portal or “My Government”) is Iran’s unified portal/app to provide citizens access to many electronic services across government agencies. Through the portal (my.gov.ir) and mobile app, users can access more than 3,000 e-services in areas like education, health, taxation, welfare, administration. ref

• A major recent update introduced digital signature capability, i.e. electronic documents can be signed using PKI (public key infrastructure). This makes formal document exchange more legally binding and reduces paper/bureaucracy. 17 executive bodies are already connected to use this service via web services; expansion is ongoing. 
• They are replacing or supplementing SMS/OTP login with amulti-factor authentication algorithm based on “unique number matching”, so that login can occur without needing one-time password via SMS. 
• Biometric login is supported under standards akin to eKYC Level 3 — facial recognition / selfie verification. The biometric data is claimed to be stored locally on user devices and not on central servers. en.ito.gov.ir

• MyGov acts as a “backbone” for Iran’s digital service architecture: interoperability, scalability, and security are key principles. It relies on National Digital ID (NID) as a centralized authentication system, so users don’t need separate credentials for each agency. ref 

  Authentication is tiered into levels:

  1. Mobile number + national ID + OTP (basic)

  2. Biometric verification (face matching)

  3. Digital signature (highest assurance / non-repudiation)

  
  

• Information Technology Organization of Iran (ITO) –> the main digital transformation authority under the Ministry of ICT; publishes updates and technical standards for MyGov.

• Ministry of ICT –> policy owner of national digital government initiatives.

• National Organization for Civil Registration (NOCR) – manages Iran’s national ID system and population database; provides the identity backbone for MyGov.

• Executive Agencies / Ministries – more than 17 bodies already integrated, e.g. health, education, welfare, taxation, judiciary, municipalities, etc.

• International organizations (e.g. WSIS, ITU) – have recognized Iran’s “National Digital Plan” which includes MyGov, so they are indirect stakeholders for benchmarking and global standards. The “National Digital Plan” (Iran Digital National Plan) has been recognized internationally, e.g., winning a WSIS prize. One of its key goals is building digital identity infrastructure, data protection, digital literacy. Tehran Times

• A knowledge-based firm is building a domestic authentication service aimed at preventing identity data from being transferred abroad. This indicates concern about sovereignty and privacy of identity data.

• Citizens / Residents –> main users of MyGov for accessing e-services, identity verification, signing forms, etc.

• Businesses / Private Sector –> may use MyGov for official filings, tax submissions, permits, or government contracts.