It is now possible to verify and know if your national ID card is out or ready for pick up in Cameroon. Cameroonian citizens and foreigners can now also check the progress of their resident permits, passports, and refugee cards online.
In the past, it was commonplace for people to queue up at police stations for months, to verify national ID cards.
This is a great leap forward as it will provide some transparency to the process.
How to Verify, Check, and Know If Your National ID Card is Out in Cameroon
To verify and know if your ID card has been issued or ready in Cameroon, do the following:
- Go to the official Cameroonian site for verification and tracking of National ID Cards.
- Enter the ID receipt number as it is written on the receipt issued to you.
- Click on Search.
- Details on the state of issue of your National Identity Card will be displayed.
- Alternatively, you can contact the numbers +237693302355 and +237695706291 through WhatsApp to further track the status of the ID.
Note that passport applicants and foreigners can now also track the progress of their resident permits and refugee cards online, using the official link above.
Rules and Regulations of the National Identity Card
The Cameroon National Identity Card, like any official or administrative document of the state, is governed by rules and regulations. Consequently, non-compliance predisposes the bearer to criminal sanctions.
Also, non-possession of the Cameroon National Identity Card (NIC) is an offense punished by Law number 90/042 of December 19, 1990, in its article 5, instituting the National Identity Card. The penalties range from 3 months to 1 year of imprisonment and a fine of 50000 FCFA to 100000 FCFA.
Note worthily, the Law requires all citizens to present their Identity Cards when demanded. Its refusal is punishable by the same Law 90 in article 2. This Law does
not impose any penalty.
However, in the event of refusal or non-presentation of the identity card, article R370, paragraph 12, of the Penal Code addresses this. It states that the offender should be imprisoned for 5 to 10 days and a fine of 4000 FCFA to 25000 FCFA levied on the offender.
Moreover, during the various requisitions by the Forces of Maintenance of the Order, if you are abused while having your Cameroon National identity Card, you should dial the free number 1500 to report all these instances for appropriate action.
Suggested: Regions of Cameroon and Governors.
