The Interim Executive Council (IEC) of Karenni State is preparing to issue temporary residency cards for both local residents and individuals coming to work or visit the region.

IEC Deputy Director (3), Khu Thaw Reh (Thet), stated that the council will collect socioeconomic data from residents of Karenni State before issuing these temporary cards.

“Our goal is to issue a temporary card. Ideally, we would like to create smart ID cards for registration. However, due to budget limitations, we are currently working on at least providing a temporary residency card,” said Khu Thaw Reh (Thet).

In 2024, IEC has already conducted data collection in five townships within Karenni State and plans to continue gathering information in the remaining townships in March.

After completing data collection, IEC will issue temporary residency cards not only to local residents but also to individuals coming from outside the state and to foreign nationals residing in Karenni State.

Furthermore, IEC is working on implementing a work permit system for people from other states who wish to work in Karenni.

Currently, there are checkpoints in areas connected to Karenni borders such as Thailand, Karen State, Nay Pyi Daw Council, and Shan State. These border checkpoints are operational to collect basic information on travelers. However, they do not yet have the authority to grant or deny entry, according to Khu Thaw Reh (Thet).

“We have border checkpoints, but we cannot conduct thorough inspections yet. We cannot determine whether someone is a local or an outsider, which makes screening difficult. That’s why we are preparing a system now—so that in the future, we can verify individuals’ identities more effectively,” he explained.

In addition, IEC’s Immigration Department has drafted policies to regulate the entry and residence duration for foreign nationals in Karenni State.