Jakarta. Indonesia has tightened its SIM card registration rules, requiring citizens to register mobile numbers using their national identity number (NIK) and biometric facial data, while foreign nationals must use passports and valid residence permits, as the government steps up efforts to curb fraud and digital crime.

The policy is stipulated in Communications and Digital Ministerial Regulation No. 7 of 2026 on the Registration of Telecommunications Service Subscribers via Mobile Cellular Networks.

Communications and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid said Friday the new regulation redefines SIM card registration from a purely administrative requirement into a key instrument for public protection in the digital space.

“Telecommunications service registration must be carried out based on accurate and responsible know-your-customer principles, including the use of biometric facial recognition technology to ensure the identity of legitimate and authorized customers,” she said in an official statement in Jakarta.

Under the regulation, the government is closing loopholes that have allowed the circulation of unregistered or falsely registered phone numbers, which have frequently been used for scams, spam, and the misuse of personal data. Each mobile number must now be clearly accountable to a verified identity.

Meutya said the issuance of the new ministerial regulation reflects the ministry’s commitment to building a safer, more transparent telecommunications ecosystem focused on public protection.

“Biometric-based registration, limits on the number of phone numbers per identity, and the public’s right to check and control numbers registered under their identity are key foundations in narrowing the space for digital crime in Indonesia,” she said.

The regulation also requires starter SIM cards to be distributed in an inactive state. Activation can only be completed after a validated registration process, a measure aimed at preventing the circulation of active numbers without clear identity verification.

Indonesian citizens will be required to register using their national identity number (NIK) and biometric facial data, while foreign nationals must use passports and valid residence permits. For users under the age of 17, registration must involve the identity and biometric data of the head of the household.

In addition, the government has capped the number of prepaid mobile numbers at a maximum of three per customer identity for each telecommunications operator, a step intended to curb large-scale misuse of identities and excessive number ownership.

Telecommunications providers are also required to offer a number-check facility, allowing users to see all mobile numbers registered under their identity and request the blocking of any number used without their knowledge or consent.

The policy includes a complaints mechanism for mobile numbers used in criminal or unlawful activities. Numbers proven to have been misused must be deactivated by service providers, Meutya said.

On data protection, the government stressed that ensuring the security and confidentiality of customer data is a primary obligation for telecommunications operators, including the application of international information security standards and fraud prevention systems.

The government will also provide re-registration facilities, particularly for customers previously registered using only national identity numbers and family cards, allowing them to transition to the new biometric-based system.

Administrative sanctions will be imposed on telecommunications providers that violate the registration requirements, without removing their obligation to rectify any breaches, Meutya said.