The junta-controlled Ministry of Immigration and Population has imposed new travel restrictions, making national registration cards (NRCs), also known as citizenship scrutiny cards, necessary for travel as of April 1.
The ministry said in its announcement on Saturday that people as of next month will not be allowed to travel with certificates of residence issued by their concerned ward or village administration offices, because it has been undertaking a “Pan Khin” project to issue identity cards to those aged 16 and above who meet eligibility criteria.
U Kyaw Hla Maung, a resident of Ponnagyun Township, remarked: “There are many people in rural areas who don’t have NRCs. How are they supposed to travel in case of a health emergency if certificates of residence are no longer allowed for travel?”
“Normally it is a lengthy process to obtain an NRC. There are also people who don’t even have a household registration certificate [which is necessary to apply for an NRC]. This will create hassles for sure,” he added.
The Ministry of Immigration and Population issued 8.4 million NRCs to people from 2011 to 2015 under the Moe Pwint project and 6.2 million NRCs from 2016 to 2020 under the Thitsar project. The ministry had issued NRCs to 3.4 million people under its Pan Khin project as of late 2021.
