Cabinet urges citizens to obtain smart IDs

AMMAN – More than 800,000 citizens have obtained their smart IDs since the Civil Status and Passport Department (CSPD) started issuing them in June last year, according to an informed official. 

The Cabinet urged all citizens to get their cards, saying they will facilitate the receipt of services, as smart cards will include the citizens’ photo, personal information and fingerprints.

The new IDs are being issued free of charge until June 15, after which date regular IDs will become invalid. 

According to CSPD Spokesperson Malek Khasawneh, a mobile station equipped to issue smart IDs will soon offer the services in certain areas. 

"The station will hit the streets in the coming ten days. We still haven’t specified the areas that will benefit from this service," he told The Jordan Times on Wednesday. 

Last month, Interior Minister Ghaleb Zu’bi visited the CSPD to follow up on the department’s performance in issuing the smart IDs. 

During a meeting with CSPD Director General Fawaz Alshahwan, Zu’bi highlighted the government’s keenness to provide all necessary support to help citizens obtain smart IDs as quickly as possible.

Zu’bi said the government will allocate some ministries, and public and private institutions with additional employees with devices to print and issue the smart ID cards.

The smart IDs will be used in the municipal and local elections, due to be held on August 15.