Title: New National Portal Streamlines Citizen Services by Linking National ID to Postal Code
A Move Towards Data-Driven Governance
In a significant step to modernize administration, the Iranian government is emphasizing the role of the National Property and Housing System as a cornerstone for data-driven policy and governance. Mojtaba Yousefi, a member of the Iranian Parliament’s Civil Development Commission, highlighted that effective economic and social planning in the modern world is impossible without reliable data.
“Any country that fails to consolidate its generated data for planning purposes is essentially planning blindly, and such policies are doomed to failure,” Yousefi stated. He described the national system as a tool for “policy-making with clear vision,” a principle embedded in several key national laws.
The Official and Exclusive Portal
Yousefi clarified that the National Property and Housing System is the only official and legal portal for citizens to self-declare their addresses and for verifying the link between a National ID and a Postal Code. This centralization is mandated by recent legislation to eliminate confusion and create a unified national database.
According to the law, all executive bodies are required to provide a wide range of services exclusively through information obtained from this system. These services include:
- Opening bank accounts and issuing checkbooks.
- Distributing subsidies and livelihood assistance.
- Vehicle plaque changes.
- Issuing utilities (water, electricity, gas, telephone).
- Sending official documents like driver’s licenses, passports, and legal notices.
- School registration in the resident’s district and eligibility for student housing.
Legal Obligations for Citizens and Institutions
Further legislation mandates that all individuals and legal entities are required to perform their address self-declaration through this specific national portal. Government agencies, in turn, must conduct all necessary residency verifications solely through this system.
The law also includes an enforcement mechanism: if individuals or entities fail to register their information in the system, government bodies must refuse services after the second instance, encouraging full compliance. Banks and executive agencies are legally obligated to inform their clients about these requirements and encourage them to register.
Combating Parallel Systems
Yousefi concluded by addressing attempts to create parallel systems, noting that while the law is clear about the National Property and Housing System being the sole official platform, it is evident that some parties, motivated by profit, seek to bypass it. The government’s focus remains on strengthening this unified system to ensure efficient and accurate service delivery for all citizens.