Requirements and Steps for SIM Card Registration with Biometrics
Biometric SIM card registration has officially begun to be implemented in Indonesia. This policy is part of efforts to strengthen the security of mobile number registration while enhancing the protection of new customer identities.
Starting 1 July 2026, customers registering a new number are required to undergo a facial biometric verification process. Registration can be carried out at mobile operator outlets or independently through the official application or website of the telecommunications service provider. During this process, the provider applies verification using biometric technology in the form of facial recognition to ensure the validity of the customer’s identity.
The steps for biometric SIM card registration are as follows: First, prepare identity documents according to the user category as a registration requirement. Second, visit an operator outlet or access the official service via the operator’s application or website according to the provided mechanism. Third, enter population data according to the documents held, including the National Identity Number (NIK) for Indonesian citizens. Fourth, perform facial biometric verification; the user will be asked to scan their face using a camera, and the system will match the biometric data with the population data at the Directorate General of Population and Civil Registration (Dukcapil). Fifth, once the data is successfully validated, the SIM card will be activated and ready for use. If the data does not match, the customer must update their population data first.
The regulation also sets out registration requirements based on customer categories. For Indonesian citizens (WNI), the required data includes the subscriber number, NIK, and biometric population data in the form of facial recognition. For Indonesian citizens under 17 years of age or unmarried, the requirements are the subscriber number, the prospective customer’s NIK, and the NIK and biometric population data of the head of the family as listed on the Family Card. For Indonesian citizens using an eSIM, the requirements are the subscriber number, NIK, and biometric population data. For foreign nationals (WNA), the requirements are the subscriber number, passport, KITAP, or KITAS. For foreign nationals with refugee status, identification from a UNHCR official is used.
Biometric SIM card registration is mandatory for customers registering new numbers starting 1 July 2026. Customers who already have a SIM card before this policy takes effect are not required to re-register using biometrics. This implementation is part of strengthening the Know Your Customer (KYC) principle to ensure the identity of registering customers is valid and legitimate.
Regarding data security, the regulation explains that the use of biometric data is intended to support the identity validation process during registration. Facial biometric data is used for matching with population data to minimise identity misuse in mobile number registration. Facial biometric data is not stored by the mobile operator or the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs. The data is only used for the identity matching process with the Dukcapil database during verification.