Download eNID Nepal: How to Get Your National ID PDF Online (2026 Guide)

Finished your National ID biometrics months ago but still waiting for the card? You are in the majority. The good news is that you can download your eNID in Nepal straight from the government’s Citizen Portal, as a password-protected PDF with your photo, National Identity Number (NIN) and a QR code, without visiting any office.

This guide gives you the exact steps, the PDF password rule, a quick eligibility check, and one thing most eNID guides skip: why you should do this before the end of Ashwin 2083, when banks and digital wallets must have your National ID details on file.

What Is eNID (Provisional National ID)?

The eNID is an electronic copy of your National Identity Card (राष्ट्रिय परिचयपत्र) that the Department of National ID and Civil Registration (DONIDCR) generates from your enrollment record. DONIDCR calls it a Provisional NID: it proves your identity and NIN while the chip-based smart card is still being printed or distributed.

The download service opened on the Citizen Portal in Asar 2083 (June 2026). Each eNID PDF includes:

• Your photograph and personal details from the NID record
• Your National Identity Number (NIN), the permanent number most services now ask for
• A QR code that offices can scan to verify the document

Why Download Your eNID Now: The Ashwin 2083 KYC Deadline

Most eNID guides were written in June and July 2026, before the deadline that makes this urgent. Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has now tied both bank accounts and digital wallets to the National ID:

• Banks: NRB’s revised Unified Directive (July 2026) requires banks and financial institutions to update their customers’ National ID details by the end of Ashwin 2083. Banks such as Nepal Investment Mega Bank have already issued notices asking account holders to update.
• Digital wallets: the 15th amendment to NRB’s Integrated Payment Systems Directive, 2082 requires wallet providers to verify new users against electronic NID records, collect a declaration from every user on whether they hold a National ID, and record the NIN of users who have one, all by the end of Ashwin 2083 (around 17 October 2026).
• No NID yet? Wallet providers must send you monthly reminders to update once you get it. Reporting so far does not say existing wallets will be shut the day after the deadline, so there is no need to panic, but there is every reason to have your NIN ready.

Sources: Techpana, Eurasia Review, ICTFrame and Khabarhub reporting (links at the end).

Why So Many Nepalis Need the eNID

The gap between enrolling and actually holding a card is huge. According to the government’s Economic Survey 2082/83, biometric details of about 2 crore (20.01 million) citizens had been collected by Falgun 2082, but only about 40.3 lakh cards had been distributed. In other words, roughly 4 out of 5 enrolled citizens were still without a physical card.

The same survey notes that the National ID system is now linked with 12 government systems, including the Department of Passports, Inland Revenue, the Election Commission, the Social Security Fund and the Credit Information Bureau. That is why your NIN keeps appearing on forms, and why the eNID is the practical bridge until your card arrives.

Can You Download eNID Yet? A 30-Second Check

The portal only returns a record that has been fully processed. Walk through these three questions before you open it:

What You Need Before You Start

Most failed downloads come from a mismatch between what you type and what is in your record. Keep these ready:

• Your citizenship certificate in hand. You need the exact spelling and the issue date printed on it.
• Full name in Nepali, typed in Unicode Devanagari exactly as on the certificate.
• Full name in English, spelled exactly as in your record.
• Date of birth in Bikram Sambat (BS), not AD.
• Citizenship issue date (BS).
• The phone with your NID-registered SIM, switched on with signal, to receive the OTP.

How to Download eNID in Nepal: Step by Step

Here is the full flow at a glance, followed by details for each step.

Step 1: Open the official Citizen Portal

Visit citizenportal.donidcr.gov.np and select Download Your eNID (the page is available in English and Nepali). Type the address yourself or use a bookmark. Check that the domain ends in .gov.np before you enter anything.

Step 2: Enter your citizenship details

Fill in the four fields exactly as they appear on your citizenship certificate:

• Full name in Nepali (Unicode)
• Full name in English
• Date of birth (BS)
• Citizenship issue date (BS)

Step 3: Solve the CAPTCHA and click Search

Enter the characters shown and press Search. If the details match a processed record, the portal moves to OTP verification. If you see a “not found” message, jump to the quick fixes section.

Step 4: Verify with the OTP

A 6-digit one-time password is sent by SMS to the mobile number stored in your National ID record, not to a number you type now. Enter it to continue. This OTP step was added in late June 2026 after a security report, so any guide that skips it is out of date.

Step 5: Check your details, then download the card

Your details and photograph appear on screen. Check the spelling and dates carefully, then click Download Card. A pop-up shows your National ID number; select Download. Button labels can change slightly as the portal is updated, and DONIDCR also publishes a user manual for the eNID download on the portal.

Step 6: Find and open the PDF

On Android, the file usually lands in Files → Downloads; on iPhone, check Files → Downloads or Safari’s download list; on a computer, your browser’s Downloads folder. Open it with the password explained below.

eNID PDF Password Explained (With Examples)

The eNID PDF is encrypted with an 8-character password: the first four letters of your name in uppercase, followed by your four-digit birth year in Bikram Sambat.

Common password mistakes:

• Typing lowercase letters (rame2042 will not work).
• Using the AD year (for example 1985) instead of the BS year.
• Using a nickname or shortened spelling instead of the name in your record.
• Adding the full date of birth instead of only the four-digit year.

If your first name has fewer than four letters, read the password notice the portal shows at download time, since the public guidance only covers the standard format.

What to Do After Downloading Your eNID

Downloading is only half the job. Use it for the updates that actually matter this season:

• Update your bank KYC: follow your bank’s instructions (app, website or branch) to add your NIN before the end of Ashwin 2083.
• Update each digital wallet: open the KYC or profile section of every wallet you use and add your National ID details.
• Passport and government forms: keep your NIN handy, since the National ID is linked with the Department of Passports and other agencies.
• SIM cards: a National ID has been required to buy a new SIM since Magh 1, 2081, so keep a copy ready if you plan to buy one.
• Store it safely: keep the encrypted original, and avoid saving an unlocked copy in shared folders or chat apps.

eNID vs Nagarik App vs Physical Card: Which One Do You Need?

Nepal’s National ID now shows up in several places. Here is how they differ:

If all you need is the number itself, you do not need the eNID at all. Use the NIN retrieval options in the FAQs below.

Quick Fixes When the eNID Download Fails

For more error cases, the story behind the OTP requirement and extra privacy tips, see our detailed eNID download and troubleshooting guide.

Stay Safe: eNID Scams to Avoid

The eNID contains exactly what fraudsters want: your photo, NIN and personal details in one file. The June 2026 pause happened precisely because downloads were possible with basic personal details. Protect yourself:

• Never share your OTP with anyone who calls or messages you, even if they claim to be from a government office or bank.
• Use only the .gov.np portal. Ignore links in Facebook posts, Viber groups or ads that promise a faster download.
• Do not pay agents. The official portal has no payment step, and handing an agent your citizenship details is a real risk.
• Never post your eNID or NIN publicly, including in comment sections asking for help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

If your details match your citizenship certificate and you still have your registered SIM, you can download your eNID in Nepal in a few minutes. Do it now, add your NIN to your bank and wallet before the end of Ashwin 2083, and keep the PDF encrypted. If the portal cannot find your record, start with a quick NID status check rather than retrying the download again and again.