A minimum set of biographical information, Name, Date of Birth, Place of Birth. Biometric information, such as facial image, fingerprint data, and eye/iris data will be used to establish the unique identity of individuals and facilitate secure authentication of their unique identity. This information will be used only to prove identity for compliance needs, such as applying for government services and payments and for private enterprise services such as opening a bank account, registering a mobile phone number, collecting money remittances, and identifying customers.

All people in Timor Leste will be part of UID. From Birth to Death. Citizens, foreigners, stateless persons, refugees, parentless children, those with no other ID

It is currently impossible to be sure that all names in government and private enterprise databases are accurate. One small difference in a name means that person could have multiple entries in a database or be inaccurately recorded in various databases. In such cases, that person could potentially vote multiple times, collect more government benefits than allowed, defraud private enterprises such as banks, mobile operators, medical service providers, etc. Unique ID will stop this. Every person has unique characteristics, like fingerprints or iris scans. These characteristics will guarantee that a person registered in the Unique ID system is, in fact, an individual whose identity is verified. Government agencies and private enterprises will use the Unique ID Number to ensure that their databases no longer have duplicate or fraudulent identities in their systems. But they will not have access to information about the individual's characteristics themselves; such information will be securely and confidentially held and managed.

Government programs are unsure of how to deliver services to the people reliably without risk of fraud and duplication. Unique ID will solve this challenge as every person can register for a Unique ID Number (UIN) and the Government can be sure that the person is registered in the Unique ID system. For example, if a cash-delivery programme to citizens costs $60,000,000, a reduction of fraud, duplicate payments, and fake identities of 5% would save $3,000,000 in that programme alone. Unique ID will also reduce “ghost employees” in the public service with a requirement for a UIN for payment, thus ensuring that every civil servant being paid exists. Similarly, use of UIN for social programmes will ensure that beneficiaries are actual persons. Unique ID will drive additional private enterprise advances by ensuring uniqueness of Individuals utilizing services. This means banks, money lenders, insurance companies, etc. will have higher confidence in providing services with less risk of fraud or mistake. And it will reduce the transaction costs of identifying customers to all businesses. It will open the digital economy to Timor Leste, in preparation of the advanced information service that will be provided by the undersea optic fibre cable, enabling both individual traders and private enterprises to take advantage of increased access to the world. Identifying yourself online is a vital step in providing that level of trust needed for the digital economy to flourish in Timor Leste. Individuals who were previously excluded from the banking and financial sector by lack of an accepted identity document will now be able to open bank accounts, more easily access loans, and accept remittances. Unique ID will provide the overall basis for eGovernment services that will deliver more convenient, more efficient and a wider range of services to Citizens.

UID is not just an ID, it is a way to authenticate yourself across government systems, banks, mobile providers, and many other users. The Unique ID Number will provide Government a method to remove Fake, Duplicate and Fraudulent identities from its systems to provide better service and more resources to those who need it.

No. The BI Card and Voter ID is only for Citizens. UID is for everyone in Timor Leste. Citizens, Children, Foreigners, Refugees, Stateless, and any ID-less people. These systems, The UID and BI and Voter ID, are not in opposition, but will work together to provide appropriate and reliable identification for everyone. Unique ID doesn't replace BI, Voter ID, Driver Licences etc. They are still needed for their roles within society, for example, the right to vote, the legal right to drive a car, etc. Unique ID will provide an identity that the government assures that that identity is Unique. That no one else can be that person and that person cannot have more than one identity. So, a person can only vote once, etc.

UID will connect to other existing systems as illustrated in the following chart:

A person's name, date of birth, place of birth and their Unique ID Number is personal data. That data is personal to the individual, but it is not generally private or sensitive data. Your name is commonly known, your date of birth and place of birth is also generally known information or easily found information. The Unique ID Number created is the same. It is personal information, but not private or sensitive. It is a way of identifying an individual, like their name, but it is a reliable form of identification. However, fingerprints, eye/iris scans and similar biometric information is Private and Sensitive data and must be protected under the fullest extent required by Article 38 of the Constitution and any future Data Protection and Privacy Laws.

Unique ID will have the privacy and security of the data at its design. It will ensure that the person always provide consent for the data's use, as required by Article 38 of the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. These privacy safeguards will be further protected by a proposed Data Protection and Privacy Legislation that will hopefully be presented to National Parliament in 2022. Personal private and sensitive data, such as fingerprints, will only be accessed with the express consent of the individual or by a court mandated legal request. No other government entity will be able to access that personal private and sensitive data (fingerprints, eye/iris, etc.) unless the Individual approves it. The Security Services, PNTL and similar will not have access to the personal private and sensitive data.

Ten Government entities are part of the Technical Committee responsible for the establishment of Unique ID. Over 20 meetings of the Technical Committee were held during the process of creating Unique ID. The decisions of these meetings provided the basis of Unique ID as it will be implemented. These 10 entities are: Presidency of the Council of Ministers (PCM), Ministry of Justice (MJ), Ministry of Finance (MF), Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion (MSSI), Ministry of Education (ME), Ministry of Health (MH), Ministry of State Administration (MSA), Ministry of Interior (MI), Civil Service Commission (CSC), and TIC TIMOR I.P.

Ideally, in the long-term, UID would be an Autonomous Agency under the Ministry of Justice, so there is a close relationship with the Birth and Death Registry. Alternatively, it could be under the Office of the Prime Minister. But initially, Unique ID is under TIC Timor I.P. who will help Unique ID create its project structure, start the implementation of the Unique ID system, and create a temporary Mission Structure for Unique ID during its project phase. This Mission Structure will transition into an Autonomous Agency during the project with its own budget lines and complete separation from TIC Timor.

Communications about Unique ID is vital for its success. This is recognised as being one of the 5 key components of Unique ID. Once a UID budget is approved, there will be a wide informational communication strategy implemented to ensure all people are aware of UID, how to use UID and how UID will help them.

Two people registering with the same Name, Date of Birth and Place of Birth with different biometrics (fingerprints, eye/iris scans) would be flagged as an anomaly that would need to be investigated by a human. This could be a coincidence or attempted identity fraud and a determination of legitimacy will be needed. If a person tries to register twice with two different names but has the same biometrics (fingerprints, eye/iris scans), that attempt would also be investigated. This could be a mistake by the individual or attempted identity fraud. The biometrics (fingerprints, eye/iris scans) ensures that the Individual assigned an UIN is Unique within the Unique ID system.

No. Registration can be done without Internet. A tablet will be used that will securely store the information until it can connect to the Internet afterwards to complete the registration.

The expected ID card has a security feature on the photo printed on the card. The biographic data in the QR code is digitally signed so is tamper proof. A simple mobile phone app can scan the QR code and then match the face of the card and biographic information. A person must inspect the photo and match to the person presenting. Fraud is still possible but requires cooperation of the human providing the service.

There is no requirement for any existing Identity documents to register for Unique ID. If you have an existing ID, this will be used for entering information. But if the person has no ID at all, they can “declare” their identity, have it confirmed by a trusted person (Suco Xefe, Government Official etc.) and that will be accepted for Unique ID. The purpose of Unique ID is to register every person in Timor Leste, so there is no bar to registering for anyone. This is why Unique ID doesn't replace BI and Voter IDs which have a very high bar to register, needing to prove you are a citizen.

Every person will be able to register for Unique ID for free. It is a key part of Unique ID that everyone can register as easily and inclusively as possible. Everyone can be part of Unique ID - man, woman, child, citizen, foreigner, and stateless persons.

The Unique ID Strategic Plan and estimated budget was submitted and approved by the Council of Ministers in June 2021. The total cost of the project over the expected implementation time of 4 years was estimated to be $13.8 Million. These figures were calculated with assistance of the World Bank. The requested costs for 2022 from the OGE budget are $3 Million The project is calculated to have an internal rate of return of 24% when using a 15-year time horizon, making it extremely favorable. The project is expected to deliver net benefits (in excess of costs) of $12.9 Million over this period.