Mobile wallet users across Nepal will now be required to update their National Identity Card (NID) number as the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has introduced a new regulatory provision aimed at strengthening customer identification and enhancing the security of the country’s digital payment ecosystem.
Through an amendment to its Unified Directive on Payment Systems, issued on Friday, the central bank has made it mandatory for all licensed Payment Service Providers (PSPs) to collect and update the National Identity Card numbers of existing mobile wallet users by the end of Ashwin 2083 B.S. (mid-October 2026). The update can be completed through mobile applications or other appropriate digital channels.
The new provision, which was not included in the previous version of the directive, forms part of the NRB’s broader effort to improve digital Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance and strengthen the integrity of Nepal’s electronic payment system.
According to the revised directive, licensed wallet service providers must verify the identity of Nepali citizens using the electronic records of the National Identity Card before opening new digital wallet accounts. This means that, going forward, the National Identity Card will become a key document for customer verification during the wallet registration process.
In addition, all licensed wallet operators have been instructed to obtain a self-declaration from existing users by the end of Ashwin regarding whether they possess a National Identity Card and whether their National Identity Card details have already been linked to their wallet account.
For Nepali citizens who have not yet obtained a National Identity Card, the central bank has directed wallet service providers to send monthly notifications through mobile applications or other suitable communication channels, encouraging users to obtain the card and complete the KYC update process.
The NRB has also introduced special provisions for Nepali citizens living abroad. Under the revised directive, overseas Nepalis who wish to open electronic wallets online from outside Nepal may do so even if they do not yet have a National Identity Card or National Identity Card number. They will, however, be required to submit other prescribed identification documents during registration.
Once such users return to Nepal, the concerned payment service provider must collect and update their National Identity Card details within 35 days of their arrival in the country to ensure full compliance with regulatory requirements.
Similarly, the central bank has provided flexibility for persons with disabilities, elderly individuals, and citizens who are unable to take care of themselves. Such individuals may open and use digital wallets by submitting alternative identification documents even if they do not possess a National Identity Card or National Identity Card number.
The latest amendment reflects Nepal Rastra Bank’s ongoing efforts to strengthen digital financial governance while balancing regulatory compliance with financial inclusion. By integrating the National Identity Card into the country’s digital payment infrastructure, the central bank aims to improve customer verification, reduce identity-related fraud, and enhance the overall security and reliability of electronic payment services.
The directive is expected to affect millions of mobile wallet users across Nepal, requiring them to ensure that their National Identity Card information is updated within the prescribed deadline to continue enjoying uninterrupted digital payment services.