Background
The General Department of Identification (GDI) manages issuance and renewal of Khmer national identity cards for Cambodian citizens. National identity cards serve as the primary administrative identifier used by public agencies and private-sector actors to verify civil status and access government services.
Cambodian nationals aged 15 and above are eligible to apply for a national identity card, and the GDI offers the service free of charge. Identity cards are accepted for a range of administrative purposes including school registration, employment applications, property and vehicle registration, bank account opening, business registration, contract signing, and requests for travel documents.
Key Developments
On 19 May 2026, officers from the Khmer national identity card unit at Kanhchriech district police station in Prey Veng completed issuance and validity-extension forms and carried out door-to-door delivery of national identity cards to residents. The operation included both issuing new cards and extending the validity of existing cards before handover at households.
Institutional Role
Subnational police identity units implement field-level registration and distribution activities on behalf of the GDI to reach local populations. Those units process application forms, update record status, and physically deliver finished identity cards to recipients when local outreach campaigns are activated.
Operational Implications
Citizens who have reached age 15, whose identity cards have expired, or whose cards have less than 180 days (six months) of remaining validity are instructed to complete the required application form free of charge at designated registration points. For information and assistance, the GDI provides a Telegram channel (https://t.me/GDI_service_news), an official website (http://www.gdi.gov.kh/), and hotlines (1271 or 017 898 915) for enquiries.
