Linking your documents in the Nagarik App
Once you have the Nagarik App, the real power comes from linking your official documents — National ID, driving licence, passport and vehicle bluebook — so you can view and use them digitally. Here is how linking works and what you need.
After you register on the Nagarik App, most of its useful features depend on linking your existing government documents to your account. Linking pulls your verified details into the app so you can view them and use related services.
An important point to understand first: the Nagarik App generally lets you link and view documents you already hold — it is not where you apply for them from scratch. For example, you complete National ID registration through the official process, then link it in the app.
This guide explains the general linking process and what each document needs. Steps and available documents can change as the app is updated, so always follow the exact on-screen prompts in your version.
Before you start: what you need
Linking is smoother when you have the right numbers in front of you. Gather your documents before you begin so you can type the identifiers correctly — a single wrong digit is the most common reason linking fails.
- Your registered Nagarik App account (mobile number + PIN)
- Your National Identity Number (NIN) for the National ID feature
- Your citizenship certificate details
- Your driving licence number and passport number, if linking those
- Vehicle details (such as the registration/bluebook number) for vehicle services
What linking a document does — and does not — give you
Linking pulls your record from the issuing department into the app so you can view it on your phone. It is a convenience and a verification aid, not a replacement for the physical document.
The practical rule: carry the original for anything where an official needs to inspect or retain it — a driving licence at a traffic checkpoint, a passport at immigration, citizenship at a bank or land office. Treat the app as a fast way to check a number, prove a record exists, or access a linked service.
Acceptance also varies between offices and between officials, and it changes as the system matures. Where it matters, ask in advance rather than arriving with a phone and an argument.
Link your National ID (NID)
The National ID can be linked once your National Identity Number has been generated through the official registration process. Linking lets you carry your NID details digitally.
- Log in to the Nagarik App and open the 'National ID' option on the home screen
- Enter your National Identity Number (NIN) / profile number as requested
- Confirm the details shown match your records, and proceed to link
- Once linked, you can view your stored National ID information in the app
Link a driving licence, passport or citizenship
Other identity documents follow the same pattern: open the relevant section, enter the document's number, and let the app match it to official records. If the details match, the document links and you can view it.
If linking fails, double-check every digit, make sure the document was issued and is in the official system, and confirm the name/date matches your registration. Some documents must exist in the source department's database before they can be linked.
If something goes wrong
Most linking problems come from mismatched or mistyped details, a document not yet in the official system, or an out-of-date app. Update the app to the latest version, re-check your numbers against the physical document, and try again on a stable internet connection.
If it still will not link, the issue is usually at the source department (for example the document record itself), not the app. In that case contact or visit the issuing office — such as the District Administration Office for citizenship/National ID matters — to confirm your record is correct.
Keeping the account secure
Once several official documents are linked, the account becomes a genuinely sensitive target — it is tied to your identity records, and it is protected by a PIN and your mobile number.
That makes the SIM the weak link. If your number is registered in someone else's name, they can ultimately control recovery of anything tied to it, which is a specific and underrated risk for people using a family member's or an employer's SIM.
- Make sure the mobile number the account uses is registered in your own name — check with *922# on NTC or *9966# on Ncell.
- Use a PIN that is not your birth year or a repeated digit, and do not reuse it from your bank card.
- Set a screen lock on the phone itself; an unlocked phone is an unlocked app.
- Never share the OTP with anyone, including someone claiming to be from a government office. No official will ask for it.
- If the phone is lost or stolen, block the SIM through your operator first, then change the app PIN from a new device.
Key takeaways
- ✓The Nagarik App links and shows documents you already have — it is not where you first apply for them.
- ✓Gather your NIN, citizenship, licence, passport and vehicle numbers before linking.
- ✓Link the National ID by entering your NIN in the National ID section after it has been generated.
- ✓Most linking failures are caused by mistyped details or records not yet in the official system.
- ✓Keep the app updated and verify numbers digit-by-digit against the physical document.
- ✓Keep the SIM the account uses registered in your own name — otherwise someone else ultimately controls recovery.
Explore the data behind this guide
How to Link Your National ID, Licence and Passport in the Nagarik App — FAQ
Can I apply for a new National ID through the Nagarik App?+
No. You complete National ID registration through the official process (online pre-enrolment plus biometric capture at the District Administration Office). Once your National Identity Number is generated, you can link it in the Nagarik App to view it digitally.
Why does my document fail to link?+
The most common causes are a mistyped number, name or date that does not match official records, a document not yet entered in the source department's database, or an outdated app. Re-check your details, update the app, and try again.
Is the linked document in the app legally valid?+
Digitally linked records are increasingly recognised, but acceptance can depend on the office and situation. For important transactions, carry your physical document too until you are sure the digital version is accepted there.
Can I renew my vehicle bluebook from the app?+
Where the service is enabled, yes — you enter your vehicle details and pay through a linked account. The same renewal is also available via platforms like eSewa and Khalti. Remember vehicle tax and third-party insurance are required.
Is the Nagarik App free to use?+
The app itself is free to download and register. Some services accessed through it, such as paying traffic fines or government fees, involve the underlying official charge, and you will need mobile data or wifi to use it.
What if I change my mobile number?+
Your account is tied to the registered number, so update it before you lose access to the old SIM. If you have already lost the number, you will need to go through the app's recovery process, and this is far harder if the original SIM was registered in someone else's name.
Related guides
Sources & data note
The sources listed are the authorities that publish the rules, procedures or standards this guide describes; the explanation, worked examples and step ordering are our own synthesis written for a general reader, and individual figures are not separately cited to a page. Fees, thresholds and procedures in Nepal change — confirm anything money-, legal- or health-critical with the issuing authority before you act on it. Guides are written from primary sources — Nepali government departments, operators, park authorities and standards bodies — and each guide lists the sources used for its own facts. Rules, fees and prices in Nepal change; treat figures as current at the review date shown on each guide and verify anything money- or visa-critical with the issuing authority before you rely on it.