[2] Citizens seeking to obtain proof of residence were required to contact their local controleur (controller) and pay a fee of 1.5 guilders.

The paper card measuring 15 by 10 centimetres (5.9 in × 3.9 in) was issued and signed by heads of local administrations (hoofd van plaatselijk).

During Suharto’s New Order regime (1966–98), citizenship cards held by former political prisoners (tahanan politik or tapol) and ethnic Chinese featured special codes to denote their status.

[3] When Aceh province was placed under a state of Military Emergency in 2003, it had a different KTP design featuring a red and white background and a garuda bird.

[10] The e-KTP contains unique biometric data and was designed to improve government services and population databases, while reducing fraud and security threats.

[11][12] The e-KTP is the basis for the issuance of Indonesian passports, driving licenses (SIM), Taxpayer Identification Numbers (NPWP), insurance policies, land ownership certificates and other identity documents (Article 13 of Law no.

Data storage in the chip is in accordance with international standards and NISTIR 7123 Machine Readable Travel Documents ICAO and EU Passport 9303 Specification 2006.

[14] The card requires identification with one of the six officially recognised religions in Indonesia: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.

[18] The Home Affairs Ministry in 2009 commenced a trial implementation of e-KTP in six regions: Makassar, Padang, Denpasar, Yogyakarta, Cirebon and Jembrana.

[19] The trial project, conducted by the Lintas Peruri Solusi consortium, encountered numerous technical troubles and alleged corruption.

For example, in the case of identification equipment, a consortium comprising Percetakan Negara Republik Indonesia (state-owned printing company), Quadra Solusindo, Sucofindo, LEN Industri and Sandipala Arthaputra, promised to use iris recognition technology, but only used a fingerprint system.

On 30 September 2016, Irman, the former director general of Population and Civil Registry at the Home Affairs Ministry was named a suspect for allegedly marking up costs of the project.

[24] On 17 July 2017, House of Representatives speaker Setya Novanto was declared a suspect over his alleged involvement in the embezzlement of e-KTP funds.

[29] In March 2017, KPK released a list of more than 30 recipients of the e-KTP project funds, including a number of ministers and former legislators, such as Ganjar Pranowo, Yasonna Laoly and Gamawan Fauzi.