Order Solomon Islands ID Card: Everything You Need to Know

So, I had this “fun” experience recently that I just had to share. I needed to get an ID card in the Solomon Islands, and let me tell you, it was a wild ride.

First off, I started by digging around for info. You know, the usual: what documents do I need, where do I go, how long will it take? Turns out, it’s not as straightforward as you’d think. I found some stuff online about national identification cards, driver’s licenses, and even something about a restricted area identity card (RAIC) for airport staff. That last one was interesting with iris and fingerprint stuff for biometrics, but not what I needed. I don’t work in the airport, just need a regular ID. I also found that these documents include passports. Then I came across a website talking about identity verification solutions, which seemed to be for businesses verifying customers. Not exactly my situation, but I kept it in mind.

Then I thought, maybe I could renew or apply for a Dutch passport or ID card since I saw something about that for people living in the Solomon Islands. But I’m not Dutch, so that was a dead end. I did learn that when traveling to the Solomon Islands, you need a valid passport, and immigration might ask for proof of onward travel. I should probably prepare for that when I go. Then I stumbled upon an article talking about a digital identity platform in the Solomon Islands. Sounds fancy, but 70% of people there lack a birth, so I’m not sure how that works.

Finally, I found what I was looking for: a simple explanation of what an identity card is and how it’s used for proving your identity in public services and limited travel. Okay, that’s me. Then it got to the “proof of identity” part. It said I needed a valid national identification card or driver’s license with my full name and date of birth. I have a valid passport, but I needed to get a local ID, so I had to figure this out.

I made a list of what I thought I needed:

• My birth certificate – I made sure I had that ready.
• Passport – It is not the required document, but I think I can bring it with me as well.
• Other documents – I wasn’t sure what these “other documents” might be, but I guessed it might include proof of address or something like that.

Armed with my documents and a whole lot of hope, I headed to the Registrar’s office, ready to wait forever. The queue was long, but surprisingly, it moved faster than I expected. When it was my turn, I presented my birth certificate, I was asked to produce other documents, which was a bit of a scramble to find in my bag, but I had them. Then came the fun part: fingerprints! Yep, they took my fingerprints. I felt like I was in a spy movie or something.

After all that, they told me to come back in a few weeks. So, I waited. And waited. Finally, the day came, and I got my shiny new ID card! It wasn’t the easiest process, but I got it done. Now I can officially say I’m a (temporary) resident of the Solomon Islands, or at least prove it with my new ID.

Anyway, that’s my story about getting an ID card in the Solomon Islands. It was a bit of an adventure, but hey, that’s life, right? You never know what bureaucratic hoops you’ll have to jump through, but it’s always a good feeling when you finally get it sorted. I hope I can help people who have similar situations like me.