The National Registration Identity Card (abbreviation: NRIC, or colloquially IC; simplified Chinese: 身份证; traditional Chinese: 身份證; Tamil: அடையாள அட்டை) is the identity document in use in Singapore. It is compulsory for all persons who are lawfully resident in Singapore (other than certain exempted persons) to register for an NRIC either upon becoming a resident or, if below the age of 15, within one year of attaining that age.
Holders of an NRIC are responsible for the card's custody but are not required to carry the card on their person. A registration officer, immigration officer, police officer, officer of customs, officer of the Central Narcotics Bureau or Special Investigator of the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau and other persons designated by law may require NRIC holders to produce their identity card for inspection, or to produce it within such time to such person and at such place as the officer requiring its production may think fit. Notwithstanding this, if no identification can be produced the police may also detain suspicious individuals until such identification can be produced subsequently either in person or by proxy.
Production of an NRIC is also required for any person seeking accommodation at any hotel, boarding house, hostel or similar dwelling place and for any person offering to pawn an article at a pawnbroker. In the case of hotels, boarding houses, etc., if a person is not in possession of, or fails to produce, an NRIC, the owner, manager or other person in charge of such business must notify the nearest police station of the fact immediately.
The NRIC is also sometimes a required document for certain government procedures or in commercial transactions such as the opening of a bank account. In addition, many businesses and other organisations in Singapore habitually request sight of an NRIC in order to verify identity or to allow a person entry to premises by surrendering or exchanging for an entry pass. There is no requirement to produce the NRIC in these situations and often, either providing any other form of identification (such as credit card, work or office pass, card with a photo on it) or simply providing an NRIC number (without producing the card itself) will suffice.
The National Registration Act of 1965 (last amendment in 2001) legislates the issuance and usage of NRICs. Section 7 indicates that all registered persons of the national registry are to be issued with the identity card.
Read more about National Registration Identity Card: Exempted Persons, Type and Design, Structure of The NRIC Number/FIN, Offences and Penalties, Privacy Issues
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