OUR PRIVACY STATEMENT

The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), inclusive of the Office of the Registrar‐General (OR‐G), is committed to respecting and protecting the privacy of its customers, stakeholders, staff, and volunteers.

All information within the custody or control of NIRA/OR‐G is treated as confidential and is handled in accordance with applicable Jamaican laws, including the Data Protection Act, the Access to Information Act, and any Orders of the Courts of Jamaica.

Information that is not identifiable to an individual, including aggregated statistical or general policy information, is not considered confidential.

All employees, contractors, and agents of NIRA/OR‐G are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality, integrity, and security of information within their scope of responsibility.

“Confidential Information” means all non‐public information, in any format, whether technical, operational, personal, business, or financial in nature, including but not limited to personal data, civil registration records, identification data, internal reports, systems documentation, security configurations, operational plans, financial records, and any information that, by its nature or context, ought reasonably to be treated as confidential.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

NIRA/OR‐G provides online services and electronic platforms to facilitate civil registration, identification, verification, and related public services.

By accessing or using any NIRA/OR‐G website, portal, or online system, users agree to comply with these Terms and Conditions and this Privacy Policy.

NIRA/OR‐G reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions and this Privacy Policy at any time. Continued use of NIRA/OR‐G online services following such amendments constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

If you do not agree with these Terms and Conditions, you must discontinue use of the relevant service immediately.

COPYRIGHT AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

All copyright, trademarks, and other intellectual property rights in the content, design, text, graphics, software, and source code of NIRA/OR‐G websites and systems are owned by or licensed to NIRA/OR‐G, unless otherwise stated.

Users may access and use content solely for personal, lawful, and non‐commercial purposes.

No content may be copied, reproduced, republished, transmitted, stored, sold, or distributed without prior written consent from NIRA/OR‐G, except for limited personal use as permitted by law.

COLLECTION AND USE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

NIRA/OR‐G collects personal information only where it is necessary to:

• Perform its statutory functions related to civil registration and identification;

• Deliver online or in‐person services;

• Process applications, transactions, or requests;

• Meet legal, regulatory, and reporting obligations; or

• Protect the integrity, security, and availability of its systems.

Personal information may include, but is not limited to, names, dates of birth, contact details, identification numbers, biometric or demographic data, and transaction‐related information.

Personal information collected by NIRA/OR‐G is used strictly for its intended and lawful purpose and is handled in accordance with applicable legislation and established data protection principles.

USER RESPONSIBILITIES

Users of NIRA/OR‐G online services are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of their login credentials and personal information.

NIRA/OR‐G will not be liable for loss or damage resulting from the unauthorised use of user credentials where such use arises from the user’s failure to take reasonable security precautions.

PAYMENT AND TRANSACTION SECURITY

Where online payment services are offered, NIRA/OR‐G uses industry‐standard security controls and trusted payment gateways to protect transaction data.

NIRA/OR‐G does not store full credit or debit card details.

Users acknowledge that they are responsible for the security of their payment instruments and agree that NIRA/OR‐G shall not be liable for losses arising from unauthorised use, except where caused by proven negligence on the part of NIRA/OR‐G.

COMMUNICATIONS AND ONLINE INTERACTIONS

NIRA/OR‐G may provide online communication tools, including email forms or live chat services, to assist users.

These services are provided for informational and service‐delivery purposes only and do not constitute legally binding representations.

Users must not transmit abusive, unlawful, defamatory, or offensive content through NIRA/OR‐G communication channels.

LINKS TO THIRD‐PARTY WEBSITES

NIRA/OR‐G websites may include links to external websites for user convenience.

NIRA/OR‐G is not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or security of third‐party websites.

Access to such sites is entirely at the user’s own risk.

DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

NIRA/OR‐G does not disclose personal information to third parties except where:

• Required or authorised by law;

• Necessary to perform statutory or public‐interest functions;

• Required pursuant to a court order;

• Requested under the Access to Information Act;

• Necessary for law enforcement, fraud prevention, or public safety; or

• The individual has provided informed consent.

Where information is shared with overseas authorities or partners, such disclosures are made strictly in accordance with applicable legal frameworks and safeguards.

DATA RETENTION AND DISPOSAL

NIRA/OR‐G retains personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil legal, operational, and archival requirements.

Secure disposal and destruction of records are conducted in accordance with records management legislation, approved retention schedules, and best practices.

COOKIES AND WEBSITE ANALYTICS

NIRA/OR‐G websites may use cookies and similar technologies to enhance functionality, monitor usage patterns, and improve service delivery.

Cookies do not provide access to users’ devices or personal data beyond what users voluntarily provide.

Users may manage cookie preferences through their browser settings; however, disabling cookies may limit functionality of certain services.

SECURITY SAFEGUARDS

NIRA/OR‐G employs administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect information, including:

• Secure data centres and controlled access environments;

• Network firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, and monitoring tools;

• Encryption of data in transit using secure protocols;

• Role‐based access controls and authentication mechanisms; and

• Periodic review and enhancement of security controls.

DISCLAIMER AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

NIRA/OR‐G online services are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis.

While reasonable measures are taken to ensure accuracy and security, NIRA/OR‐G does not warrant uninterrupted or error‐free service.

To the extent permitted by law, NIRA/OR‐G shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from the use of its websites or online services, except where such damage results from proven gross negligence.

GOVERNING LAW AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of Jamaica.

Any disputes arising in relation to the use of NIRA/OR‐G online services shall be resolved in accordance with Jamaican law and applicable dispute resolution mechanisms.

CONSENT

By accessing or using NIRA/OR‐G websites or services, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of information as described in this Privacy Policy.

Continued use following updates to this policy constitutes acceptance of those changes.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or the handling of personal information may be directed to:

The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA)
Office of the Registrar‐General (OR‐G)