January 18, 2026
Reynold Guerrier recalls that “the ONI (National Office of Identification) will provide every child with an identity,” a measure he deems essential to ensure equitable access to public services. According to him, “identification is a right,” and nearly 6.3 million citizens already hold a national identity card.
The pilot project launched by the ONI is expected, in the first quarter of 2026, to lead to the automatic assignment of a unique national identification number to each newborn. Guerrier emphasizes that this process aims to secure legal existence from birth and structure future access to essential services.
In addition, the Office is considering a birth certificate bearing a unique identifier, although the future of the traditional document remains uncertain. This reform, however, faces obstacles due to the incomplete transition between the NIF and the MINU, caused by repeated delays in the new tax code.
Despite the announced end of the NIF, the General Tax Directorate continues to collect it, revealing persistent administrative inconsistency. The postponement of the tax code to October 1, 2026 prolongs this period of uncertainty, even as Guerrier insists that “without legal identity, the citizen remains invisible.”
