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"National identity card" redirects here. For cards referred to in the English language as "national identity card", see: National identity card (disambiguation).

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An identity document (also called a piece of identification or ID) is any document which may be used to verify aspects of a person's identity . If issued in the form of a small, mostly standard-sized card, it is usually called an identity card (IC). In some countries the possession of a government-produced identity card is compulsory while in others it may be voluntary. In countries which do not have formal identity documents, informal ones may in some circumstances be required.

In the absence of a formal identity document, some countries accept driving licences as the most effective method of proof of identity. Most countries accept passports as a form of identification.

Information included in ID documents

Information present on the document — or in a supporting database — might include the bearer's full name, a portrait photo, age, birth date, address, an identification number, profession or rank, religion, ethnic or racial classification, restrictions, and citizenship status. New technologies could allow identity cards to contain biometric information, such as photographs, face, hand or iris measurements, or fingerprints. Electronic identity cards or e-IDs are already available in some territories such as Hong Kong, Malaysia, Estonia, Finland, Belgium, Portugal and Spain. Morocco is also planning to launch a new identity card of biometric type by January 2007 .

Adoption of identity cards

The universal adoption of identity cards is supported by law enforcement officials who claim that it will make surveillance and identification of criminals easier. However, concern is also expressed about the extensive cost and potential abuse of hi-tech smartcards.

In the United Kingdom and the United States especially, government-issued compulsory identity cards or, more precisely, their centralised database are a source of debate as they are regarded as an infringement of privacy and civil liberties. Most criticism is directed towards the enhanced possibilities of extensive abuse of centralised and comprehensive databases storing sensitive data. A 2006 survey of UK Open University students concluded that the planned compulsory identity card coupled with a central government database generated the most negative attitudinal response among several alternative configurations.

Arguments for

• Identity verification in banks or at national borders with a standard national identification card would be simpler than with a physically bulky passport.
• Eligibility or ownership verification would be facilitated (for example, when paying with a credit card or cheque, or attempting to buy age-restricted products).
• False identification may be reduced where identity cards are required to open a bank account. Of course, phishing and many other forms of identity theft will be unaffected.
• Identity cards can be a useful administrative tool that can increase efficiency in dealings with both the government and private companies.
• In US states that don't issue identity cards, private companies require equivalent documents, such as a driver's license. Persons who don't have a driver's license are usually required in practice to get a document that is something very much like an identity card.
• Law enforcers can locate and identify people who either do not know or cannot communicate their names and/or addresses (e.g., due to Alzheimer's disease, amnesia or heavy intoxication), or who claim names that are not consistent with the names on their identity cards (e.g., due to dissociative identity disorder, as in the case of Billy Milligan).
• Cards may help reduce immigration service bureaucracy. In certain countries, the procedures for deporting illegal immigrants whose ages, identities or nationalities cannot be formally established are more complex than those for whom they can be readily asserted. This gives illegal immigrants more time to prepare their legal defence. In some countries (Spain, for instance) it may prevent the immigrant's deportation altogether. However, in this situation most illegal immigrants will destroy their identity papers, nullifying the reduction in bureaucracy.
• Every human being already carries one's own personal identification in the form of one's DNA, which can not be falsified or discarded. Even for non-state commercial and private interactions, this may shortly become the preferred identifier, rendering a state-issued identity card a lesser evil than the potentially extensive privacy risks associated with everyday use of a person's genetic profile for identification purposes.
• In many countries ID Cards are given only to citizens (for instance, Pakistan), these can be a source of pride since they are often the most tangible proof of citizenship.

Arguments against

• Commercial organisations such as banks typically do not try to authenticate the identity of a person, but rather the validity of a transactions (e.g. by signature or PIN) due to the acknowledged difficulty in reliably identifying an individual in a fraud proof and convenient manner.
• It has been argued that identity cards impose a disproportionate burden upon both government and citizens while empowering the executive, which is contrary to the maxim: "the government that governs best, governs least". Some have pointed out that extensive lobbying for identity cards has been undertaken, in countries without compulsory identity cards, by IT companies who will be likely to reap rich benefits in the event of an identity card scheme being implemented.
• Cards with centralised database could be used to track anyone's movements and private life, thus endangering privacy. The proposed British ID card (see next section) will involve a series of linked databases, to be managed by the private sector. Managing disparate linked systems using a range of institutions and any number of personnel is alleged to be a security disaster in the making.
• A requirement to carry an identity card at all times can lead to the inconvenience of arbitrary requests from card controllers (such as the police). This can lead to functionality creep whereby carrying a card becomes de facto if not de jure compulsory, as in the case of Social Security numbers, which are now widely used as ID.
• Government claims that identity cards will prevent crimes may not be based in fact. The former UK Home Secretary Charles Clarke conceded that identity cards may be useful only in the identification of bodies in the aftermath of a crime. As a strong presumption of identity is given in favour of a card holder, the identity card scheme might be an asset to potential terrorists.
• In many cases, other forms of documentation such as a driver's license, passport, or Medicare card serve a similar function on a more limited scale, and thus an ID card is not needed.
• The cost of introducing and administering an identity card system can be very high. Figures from £30 (US$60) to £90 or even higher have been suggested for the proposed UK ID card.
• In some countries where ID cards were required to show religious affiliation (as used to be the case in Greece) or ethnic background, this led to cases of discrimination. Under some interpretations of Sharia law, apostate Muslims may be sentenced to death. Malaysia's identity cards state the religion only if a person's religion is Islam. This can become a bureaucratic nightmare or even lead to death when a person changes his or her affiliation.
• Some schemes do not adequately take into account whether data subjects have legitimate reasons to conceal their identity. Victims of domestic violence, witnesses in criminal investigations and trials, and others, may not want their identity or locations to be widely known. Some proposed schemes also do not adequately address these considerations.
• ID cards could lead to an increase in identity fraud since it would lead to official reliance on a card or document that can be forged. No country has ever successfully produced a totally unforgeable ID card. Also, stolen ID cards have also been used for identity fraud. Some countries have no expiration time, so that the photos can be old and unreliable, making stolen cards easier to use.
• Rather than focus on government-issued ID cards, federal policy has the alternative to encourage the variety of identification systems that exist in the private marketplace today. Many of the private systems already provide better assurance of identity and trustworthiness than many government-issued ID cards.

National policies

According to Privacy International, as of 1996, possession of identity cards was compulsory in about 100 countries, though what constitutes "compulsory" varies. In some countries, it is compulsory to have an identity card when a person reaches a prescribed age. The penalty for non-possession is usually a fine, but in some cases it may result in detention until identity is established. In practice, random checks are rare, except in certain times.

A number of countries do not have national identity cards. These include Australia, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, India (see below), Japan, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States.

A number of countries have voluntary identity card schemes. These include Austria, Finland, France (see France section), Hungary (however, all citizens of Hungary must have at least one of: valid passport, photocard driving licence, or the National ID card), Iceland, Sweden, Switzerland.

In the United States, some states issue optional identity cards for people who do not hold a driver's license as an alternate means of identification. In some states such as New York, these cards are issued by the same organization responsible for driver's license, the Department of Motor Vehicles.

For the Sahrawi people of Western Sahara, pre-1975 Spanish identity cards are the main proof that they were Saharaui citizens as opposed to recent Moroccan colonists. They would thus be allowed to vote in an eventual self-determination referendum.

Some companies and government departments issue ID cards for security purposes; they may also be proof of a qualification. For example, all taxicab drivers in the UK carry ID cards. Managers, supervisors, and operatives in construction in the UK have a photographic ID card, the CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) card, indicating training and skills including safety training. Those working on UK railway lands near working lines must carry a photographic ID card to indicate training in track safety (PTS and other cards) possession of which is dependent on periodic and random alcohol and drug screening. In Queensland and Western Australia, anyone working with children has to take a background check and get issued a Blue Card or Working with Children Card, respectively.

European Union

In the European Union, identity cards meeting a European standard can also be used by European citizens as a travel document in place of a passport.

During the UK Presidency of the EU in 2005 a decision was made to: "Agree common standards for security features and secure issuing procedures for ID cards (December 2005), with detailed standards agreed as soon as possible thereafter. In this respect, the UK Presidency has put forward a proposal for EU-wide use of biometrics in national ID cards."

Belgium

In Belgium, everyone above the age of 12 is required to carry some means of identification at all times. For Belgians it is the identity card (carte d'identité in French, identiteitskaart in Dutch and Personalausweis in German), for foreigners residing in Belgium it can also be a passport, a work permit or a (temporary) residence permit.

Since 2000, all new Belgian identity cards have a chip. From 2012, Belgium will introduce the eID card, which will progressively replace existing cards like social security, drivers license, etc. The eID card will also be used by private companies for identification.

Bulgaria

Identity card (Bulgarian - лична карта, lichna karta) is obligatory at the age of 14. Any person above 14 being checked by the police without carrying at least some form of identification is liable to a fine of about 150 Euros.

Cyprus

Legal citizens of the Republic of Cyprus have to get an identity card at the age of 12.

Czech Republic

An identity card with a photo is issued to all citizens of the Czech Republic at the age of 15. It is officially recognised by all member states of the European Union for intra EU travel. Travelling outside the EU mostly requires the Czech passport.

Denmark

Danish citizens are not, by law, required to carry an ID card. The National Health Insurance Card is issued to all citizens age 12 and above. It is commonly referred to as an identity card despite the fact it has no photo of the holder. Personnummerbevis is the Danish term for the personal identification number certificate. Today this certificate is of little use in Danish society, as it has been largely replaced by the much more versatile The National Health Insurance Card which contains the same information and more. Both certificates retrieve their information from the Civil Registration System. However, personnummerbevis is still issued today and has been since September 1968.

Until 2004, the national debit card Dankort contained a photo of the holder and was widely accepted as identity card. The Danish banks lobbied successfully to have pictures removed from the national debit cards and so since 2004 the Dankort no longer contains a photo. Hence it is rarely accepted for identification.

A driver's license or passport are the only ID cards issued by the government containing both the Personal identification number and a photo.

Estonia

The Estonian ID card (Template:Lang-et) is a chipped picture ID in the Republic of Estonia. An Estonian ID card is officially recognised by all member states of the European Union for intra EU travel. For travelling outside the EU, Estonian citizens may also require a passport.

Finland

In Finland, any citizen can get an identification card (henkilökortti/identitetskort). This, along with the passport, is one of two official identity documents. It is available as an electronic ID card (sähköinen henkilökortti/elektroniskt identitetskort), which enables logging in to certain government services on the Internet.

Driving licenses and KELA (social security) cards with a photo are also widely used for general identification purposes even though they are not officially recognized as such. However, KELA has ended the practice of issuing social security cards with the photograph of the bearer, while it has become possible to embed the social security information onto the national ID card.

France

France has had a national ID card since 1940.

In the past, identity cards were compulsory, had to be updated each year in case of change of residence, and were valid for 10 years, and their renewal required paying a fee. In addition to the face photograph, the card included the family name, first names, date and place of birth, and the national identity number managed by the national INSEE registry, which is also used as the national service registration number as the Social Security account number for health and retirement benefits, for access to court files and for tax purposes.

Today, the law (Art. 78-1 to 78-6 of the French Penal Procedure Code) mentions only that during a ID check performed by police or gendarmerie, one can prove his identity "by any means", the validity of which is left to the judgment of the law enforcement official. Though not stated explicitly in the law, an ID card or a passport will, in most circumstances, be sufficient. The decision to accept other documents, with or without the bearer's photograph, is left to the discretion of the law enforcement officer.

Random checks of passers-by ID by the French police are quite common, especially in poorer neighborhoods. Even though it is not compulsory de jure to carry an ID, not doing so may lead to a de facto arrest (vérification d'identité) of up to 4 hours according to art. 78-3 of the French Penal Procedure Code ("Code de procédure pénale").

For financial transactions, ID cards and passports are almost always accepted as proof of identity. Due to common forgery, driver's licenses are sometimes refused. For transactions by cheque involving a larger sum, two different ID documents are frequently requested by merchants.

The current identification cards are now issued free of charge and optional. The current government has proposed a compulsory biometric card system, which has been opposed by human rights groups and by the national authority and regulator on computing systems and databases, the Commission nationale de l'informatique et des libertés, CNIL. Another non-compulsory project is being discussed.

Germany

It is compulsory for all German citizens age 16 or older to possess either a "Personalausweis" (identity card) or a passport but not to carry one. While police officers and some other officials have a right to demand to see one of those documents, the law does not state that one is obliged to submit the document at that very moment. But as driver's licences are not legally accepted forms of identification in Germany, most persons actually carry their "Personalausweis" with them.

Greece

A compulsory, universal ID system based on personal ID cards has been in place in Greece since World War II. ID cards are issued by the police on behalf of the Headquarters of the Police (previously issued by the Ministry of Public Order, now incorporated in the Ministry of Internal Affairs) and display the holder's signature, standardized face photograph, name and surname, father's name and surname, mother's name and maiden surname, date and place of birth, height, municipality, and the issuing police precinct. There are also two optional fields designed to facilitate emergency medical care: ABO and Rhesus factor blood typing.

Fields included in previous ID card formats, such as vocation or profession, religious denomination, domiciliary address, name and surname of spouse, fingerprint, eye and hair color, citizenship and ethnicity were removed permanently as being intrusive of personal data and/or superfluous for the sole purpose of personal identification.

Since 2000, name fields have been filled in both Greek and Latin characters. According to the Signpost Service of the European Commission , old type Greek ID cards "are as valid as the new type according to Greek law and thus they constitute valid travel documents that all other EU Member States are obliged to accept." In addition to being equivalent to passports within the European Economic Area, Greek ID cards are the principal means of identification of voters during elections.

Since 2005, the procedure to issue an ID card has been automated and now all citizens over 12 years of age must have an ID card, which is issued within one work day. Prior to that date, the age of compulsory issue was at 14 and the whole procedure could last several months.

In Greece, an ID card is a citizen's most important state document, as it is used in most public and many private transactions. For instance, it is required for opening a bank account, to perform banking transactions if the teller personnel is unfamiliar with the apparent account holder, to make a contract, to have state insurance, to register in a school or university, to take part in driving license examinations, to interact with the Citizen Service Bureaus (KEP), receive parcels or registered mail etc. Citizens are also required to produce their ID card at the request of law enforcement personnel. Failure to do so can lead to brief detention for the purposes of identity verification.

All the above functions can be fulfilled also with a valid Greek passport (eg. for people who have lost their ID card and have not yet applied for a new one, people who happen to carry their passport instead of their ID card or Greeks who reside abroad and do not have an identity card, which can be issued only in Greece in contrast to passports also issued by consular authorities abroad).

Legal resident aliens from non-EU countries are issued a similar document, colloquially called a green card . For non-residents, the passport acts as the ID card. EU citizens may produce any document that is valid in their own country.

Hungary

Currently, there are three types of valid ID documents (Személyi igazolvány, abbr. Sz.ig.) in Hungary: the oldest valid ones are hard-covered, multipaged book and issued before 1989 by the People's Republic of Hungary, the second type is a soft-cover, multipaged book issued after the democratic change of the state; these two have one, original photo of the owner embedded, with original signatures of the owner and the local police's representative. The third type is a plastic card with the photo and the signature of the holder digitally reproduced. These are generally called Personal Identity Card.

The plastic card shows the owners full name, maiden name if applicable, birth date and place, mother's name, sex and the ID's validity period and the local state authority which issued the card. The card has a 6 number + 2 letter unique Id. It does not have any information about the owners residual address, nor his/her Personal ID—this sensitive information is contained on a separate card, called Authority ID. The Personal ID has its roots in the Communist era: it has the following format in numbers: sex (1 number)-birthdate (6 numbers)-unique ID (4 numbers). It is no longer used as a personal identification number, but a statistical signature.

Other valid documents are the passport (blue colored or red colored with RFID chip) and the driver's license; an individual is required to have at least one of them on hand all the time. The Personal Identity Card is mandatory to vote in state elections or open a bank account in the country.

Italy

All Italian citizens are required by law to have a compulsory 4-page Identity Card issued by the local authority (Comune) of the town of residence; the Identity Card is issued obligatorily to any citizen over the age of 18 and upon request to anybody over the age of 15. The first page includes the ID card number, the issuing town, and the name and surname. The second page is an extremely detailed description of the holder's identity. It is divided in two sections, the upper one showing the following voices:

• Cognome: the holder's surname;

• Nome: the holder's first name;

• nato il: the holder's birth date;

• (atto n.... p.... S...): the code of the holder's birth registration at the Register office of the town of birth;
• a...: the holder's birthplace;
• Cittadinanza: the holder's citizenship, as even foreigners can require an Italian ID Card if they are permanent residents;
• Residenza: the holder's current town of residence;
• Via: the holder's address;
• Stato Civile: the holder's marital status; this voice can be left blank at holder's request;
• Professione: the holder's current employment/profession.

The lower section of the second page is called Connotati e contrassegni salienti ("Main physical features"), and shows the following voices:

• Statura: the holder's height in centimeters;
• Capelli: the holder's hair colour;
• Occhi: the holder's eye color;
• Segni particolari: a list of any particularly distinctive feature, like visible scars, etc.; this voice can be left blank at holder's request unless it is particularly relevant for the identification of the holder himself due to particular personal conditions (i.e. if he has a criminal record).

The third page of the document includes a colour photograph and the signature of the holder. It also contains the place and date of issue, proper stamp of the issuing authority and the name and signature of the public official who materially released the document. The third page also has a space to contain the left index fingerprint of the holder, mandatory if he has a criminal record.

The card has a validity of 10 years (after June 2008); the expiry date is reported on the fourth page. The ID number is two letters followed by seven or more digits, and is unique; it is reported on both the first and fourth pages.

In Italy, an ID card is the most important document of a citizen. It can be used as a valid identification to create a bank account, to validate a credit card transaction, to vote (mandatory, together with proper Voter Card), to check in on all flights for either domestic or EU destinations, etc.; the Identity Card is also used in lieu of the Passport to enter all European Union-member Countries and others in the European area, including Switzerland. It can be replaced with other documents, including the driver's licence, for all of these uses except for voting and for leaving the Country, when it is mandatory to display the Identity Card (along with the Passport if the citizen is leaving Italy for a non-EU destination). It should be noted that an Italian ID card can be issued as Non valida per l'espatrio ("Not a valid document to leave the country"), thus acting as a valid identity document within the Italian territory but not as a valid voucher to leave Italy, even towards EU Countries. The issue of ID cards not valid to leave the country is no longer the rule and is a compulsory practice only if the holder is subject of certain limitations of personal freedom (i.e. after having been found guilty of certain crimes) or if he is an underage individual (under 16 years of age); this last limitation, requiring consent of both parents or tutors for an underage individual to be issued of a valid ID to leave Italy, has been introduced to prevent phenomenons like parental abduction or teenagers' escapes.

Citizens are not required by law to carry the ID card with them at all times, but since it is instead mandatory for a citizen to have his ID card when outside his comune of residence and since a citizen is required to promptly show the ID card to the authorities upon request (i.e. for Police controls) or face possible retention for identification, Italian citizens are de facto required to have the Identity Card or another ID with them at all times.

As of 2008, a new Italian electronic identity card is being planned to be phased in, although its introduction might actually take years due to governmental budgetary constraints. This new electronic ID should actually be a chip card, containing all biometric datas of the holder in an embedded integrated circuit. This could allow remote access to Public Administration services (i.e. issue of certificates) through computer positions, and also prevent counterfeiting and allow Police personnel to check an individual's identity in real-time through specially-issued devices such as PDAs (at present times, if Italian Police personnel wish to check an identity, they must retain the individual while asking by radio an archive control over the ID). Recently (July 2008), the current Italian government has stated they will consider the introduction of mandatory fingerprints on all ID cards as a "buffer" solution to allow better identification of the citizen until the electronic ID card is fully implemented.

All foreigners in Italy are required by law to have an ID with them at all times. Citizens of EU-member countries must be always ready to display an identity document that is legally government-issued in their country. Non-EU aliens must have their Passport with Customs entrance stamp and/or a paper similar to the American Green Card called the Permesso di Soggiorno (literally translated: "Residence Permit") released by Italian authorities; while all the resident/immigrant aliens must have the Permesso di Soggiorno (otherwise they are illegal and face deportation), foreigners from certain non-EU countries staying in Italy for a limited amount of time (typically for tourism) may be only required to have their passport with proper Customs stamp. Additionally permanently resident foreigners can ask to be issued an Italian ID card by the local authorities of their city/town of residence.

Poland

Every Polish citizen over 18 who is resident in Poland must have an Identity Card (Dowód osobisty) issued by the local administration. Other Polish citizens may obtain it on a voluntary basis.

Portugal

All Portuguese citizens are required by law to obtain a Identity Card as they turn 16 years of age. They are not required to carry with them always but are obligated to present them to the lawful authorities if requested. The old format of the cards (yellow laminated paper document)featured the photo, the fingerprint, and the name of parents. It is currently being replaced by grey plastic cards with a chip.

Romania

Every citizen of Romania must register for an ID card (Carte de identitate, abbreviated CI) at the age of 14. The CI offers proof of the identity, address, sex and other data of the possessor. It has to be renewed every 10 years.

Another ID Card is the Provisional ID Card (Cartea de Identitate Provizorie) issued when an individual fails present all the documents necessary for a normal ID Card to be issued. Its validity extends for up to 1 year.

Slovakia

The Slovak ID card (Template:Lang-sk) is a picture ID in Slovakia. An Slovak ID card is officially recognised by all member states of the European Union for travel within the EU. For travel outside the EU, Slovak citizens may also require a passport.

Spain

Everybody in Spain over 14 must have a National Identity Card (Documento nacional de identidad usually abbreviated to DNI) issued by the National Police. On the front side there is a colour photograph, the name and two surnames (see Spanish naming customs), the bearer's signature, an id number, the issue date and the expiration date. Depending on holder's age, the card has a validity of 5 years, 10 years or indefinite (for the elderly).

On the reverse appears the birth date and place, the gender, both parents' names (if known), and the current address. At the bottom, some of the previous information is written in special characters suitable to be read by OCR.

The ID number is an eight digit number followed by a letter. The letter is only a CRC used to verify the correctness of the number. This id number is unique, and is used by the Spanish Hacienda Pública to keep track of each citizen's income taxes and financial status.

In Spain, an ID card is the most important document of a citizen. It is used in all public and private transactions. It is required to open a bank account, to sign a contract, to have state insurance, to register in a university or to be fined by a police officer. It is one of the official documents required to vote at any election, although any other form of official ID such as a driving license or passport may be used. A police officer can require it to be shown, but non-compliance will not lead to arrest and detention unless there are other lawful reasons for it. If a policeman requests ID, you can just ask him to come with you to the place where you keep it.

Since 2006 a new version of the 'DNI' is being introduced. The new 'Electronic DNI' is a Smart card that allows for digital signing of documents. It conveys the same printed information as the older version, but in a plastic card with a different design.

Sweden

Sweden does not, in law, have compulsory identity cards. In reality, there are nation-wide issuers of SIS-certified identification cards. These cards can be obtained by anyone who is population registered in Sweden, that is, has a Swedish personal identity number, and they have been issued by commercial companies, like banks and post offices. From 2009 these companies has stopped issuing these cards. The police issue passports and identity cards, but only for Swedish citizens.

These documents are needed, in practice, to be able to get bank services, make purchases with a credit card and similar situations. There are problems accessing health care, buying prescribed medications, or getting salaries or subsidies (done through banks) without them.

Since January 2007, it has been impossible for many people, mainly immigrants, to get an identity card since commercial companies have strengthened their requirements to issue identity cards. They might be sued if someone uses a falsely issued card for fraudulent activity. Foreign passports are of no value for these companies to verify a person's identity.

This problem gets a solution in autumn 2009 when the tax authority will issue Swedish identity cards for foreign citizens having a foreign passport.

United Kingdom

Since the early 1950s there has been no national identity card in the United Kingdom, the UK government is progressively introducing compulsory identity cards for foreign nationals resident in the UK from late 2008. Identity cards for British nationals will be introduced gradually from 2009 onwards on a voluntary basis and only workers in certain high-security professions, such as airport workers, will be required to have an identity card. Driving licences (particularly the new Photocard driving licence) and passports are now the most widely used ID documents. There are also various PASS-accredited cards, used mainly for proof of age purposes.

Identity cards were first proposed in the mid 1980s for people attending football matches, following a series of high profile hooliganism incidents involving English football fans. However, this proposed identity card scheme never went ahead as Lord Taylor of Gosforth ruled it out as "unworkable" in the Taylor Report of 1990.

Albania

In 2007 the Government of Albania approved opening an international tender on issuing the Albanian Identity Card. Albanian: Letërnjoftim. Issuance of these cards has begun on January 12, 2009..

Argentina

Argentina issues a booklet called Documento Nacional de Identidad at birth. At the age of 8, it must be updated with a picture and right thumb print. At 16, it must be replaced with a new one. It includes pages for a vote log, military service, wish to donate organs and legal address change log.

There is also a card named Cédula de Identidad issued by the federal police, valid in Mercosur countries and several issued by the different provinces' police, but the latter are valid only in Argentine territory.

Any of these documents is required for driving (in addition to driver's license) and using credit or debit cards.

Australia

There have been two proposals to introduce ID cards for tax and social security access in Australia: The Australia Card in 1985 by the Hawke Labor Government and the Health and Social Services Access Card in 2006 by the Howard Liberal Government. Although neither card would have been an official compulsory ID card, they were both criticised as leading to de facto ID cards. Ultimately, both proposals failed. Currently, driver's licences, issued by the states and territories, are the most widely used ID document.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh has also started a National Biometric ID Card system and is in the process of completing it by 2008.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina allows every person over the age of 15 to apply for an ID card, and all citizens over the age of 18 must have the national ID card with them at all times. A penalty is issued if the citizen does not have the acquired ID card on them or if the citizen refuses to show proof of identification.

Brazil

In Brazil, at the age of 18, all Brazilian citizens are supposed to be issued a cédula de identidade (ID card), usually known by its number, the Registro Geral (RG), Portuguese for "General Registry". The cards are needed to obtain a job, to vote, and to use credit cards. Foreigners living in Brazil have a different kind of ID card. Since the RG is not unique, being issued in a state-basis, in many places the CPF (the Brazilian revenue agency's identification number) is used as a replacement. The current Brazilian driver's license contains both the RG and the CPF, and as such can be used as an identification card as well.

There are plans in course to replace the current RG system with a new Registro de Identidade Civil (Civilian Identity Registry), which will be national in scope, and to change the current ID card with a new smartcard.

People's Republic of China

People's Republic of China is now instituting biometric ID cards, beginning with the city of Shenzhen. The card will document data such as work history, educational background, religion, ethnicity, police record, medical insurance status, landlord's phone number and personal reproductive history.

People's Republic of China requires every citizen above the age of 16 to carry an identity card. The card is the only acceptable legal document to obtain resident permit, employment, open bank accounts, obtain passport, driver licence, application for tertiary education and technical colleges, security checkpoints in domestic terminals of Chinese airports.

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

The Hong Kong Identity Card (or HKID) is an official identity document issued by the Immigration Department of Hong Kong. Within this category, the 'Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card' is a class of HKID issued to persons who have the right of abode (ROA) in Hong Kong.

Macao Special Administrative Region

The Macau Special Administrative Region Resident Identity Card is an official identity document issued by the Identification Department to permanent residents and non-permanent residents.

Colombia

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Every resident of Colombia over the age of 14 must carry an identity card (Tarjeta de Identidad). Upon turning 18 every resident must obtain a Cédula de Ciudadanía, which is the only document that proves the identity of a person for legal purposes. ID cards must be carried at all times and must be presented to the police or military upon request. ID cards are needed to obtain employment, open bank accounts, obtain a passport, driver licence, military card, matriculate in educational institutions, vote or enter public buildings including subway stations, airports and courthouses. Failure to produce ID is a misdemeanor punishable with a fine.

ID cards are free of charge, and duplicates are also free.

Costa Rica

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Every Costa Rican citizen must carry an identity card after turning 18. The card is named Cédula de Identidad and it is issued by the local elections committee (Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones). Each card has a unique number composed of nine numerical digits, the first of them being the province where the citizen was born (with other significance in special cases such as granted citizenship to foreigners, adopted persons or in rare cases with old people where no birth certificate was processed at birth) after this digit, two block of four digits follows, the combination corresponds to the unique identifier of the citizen.

It is widely requested as part of every legal and financial purpose, often requested at payment with credit or debit cards for identification guarantee and requested for buying alcoholic beverages, cigarettes or upon entrance to an adults-only place like bars.

The card must be renewed every ten years and is freely issued again if lost. Among the information included there are, in the front, two identification pictures and digitized signature of the owner, identification number (Known colloquially just as the cédula), first name, first and second-last names and an optional known as field. In the back there is again the identification number, birth date, where the citizen issues its vote for national elections or referendums, birth place, gender, date when must be renewed and a matrix code that includes all this information and even a digitized fingerprint of the thumb and index finger.

The matrix code is not currently being used nor inspected by any kind of scanner.

Besides this identification card, every vehicle driver must carry the driver's license, an additional card that uses the identification number for the driving license number. A passport is also issued.

Chile

Every resident of Chile over the age of 18 must have and carry at all times their ID Card called Cédula de Identidad issued by the Civil Registry and Identification Service. It contains the full name, gender, nationality, date of birth, photograph of the data subject, right thumb print, ID number, and personal signature.

This is the only official form of identification for residents in Chile and is widely used and accepted as such. It is necessary for every contract, most bank transactions, voting, driving (along with the driver's licence) and other public and private situations.

Refusal to carry or show this ID card to a law enforcement agent (civil or uniformed police) can lead to detention up to 6 hours or until the identity can be verified.

Croatia

Croatian citizens over the age of 14 may request an Identity Card. All persons over the age of 16 must have an Identity Card and carry it at all times outside their place of residence. Refusal to carry or produce an Identity Card to a police officer can lead to a fine of 100 kuna or more and detention until the individual's identity can be verified by fingerprints.

Croatia is currently in the process of replacing the Unique Citizen Identity Number (JMBG) and the Identity Card Number with a unified Personal Identification Number (OIB) which complies with EU regulations on character length and the ISO 7064 standard. Currently, the OIB is to be used concurrently with the JMBG and Identity Card Number, thought OIB is due to become the only nationally used Identity Number on 1 January 2010.

Dominican Republic

A "Cédula de identidad y electoral" is a national ID that is also used for voting. Each "Cédula de identidad y electoral" has its own unique number, composed by the serial of the municipality of issue and a secuential number. This National ID card is required for people aged 16 and older, and they must carry it on with their person at all times. It is required for job applications, contracts and so on. It is issued free of charge by the Junta Central Electoral.

El Salvador

In El Salvador, ID Card is called Documento Unico de Identidad (DUI) (Unique Identity Document). Every citizen above 18 years must carry this ID for identification purposes at any time. It is not a chipped card but a bar-coded one with picture and signature.

Guatemala

El Registro nacional De Las Personas RENAP empeso emitir un nuevo documento de identidad en lugar de la cedula de vecindad a todas las personas en Guatemala cidadanos y Extranjeros el nuevo documento Documento Personal de Identificación (DPI)), en enero 2009 que contiene un chip y firma electronica, y es infalsicable ,http://www.renap.gob.gt

India

Hi-tech multi-purpose national identity cards, carrying 16 personal details and a unique identification number, were launched in Delhi on Saturday 26 May 2007.

The first set of the microchip-based cards were distributed to residents of Pooth Khurd area in North Delhi by Registrar General of India D.K. Sikri. The North Delhi area is one of the 20 localities selected for the pilot project on the multi-purpose national identity cards.

The identity cards, issued to citizens above 18 years of age, are secured electronic devices to be used for providing a credible individual identification system for improving the citizen-Government interface. The new card seeks to provide an individualised identification system. Inside it is a microprocessor chip, a finger biometric and a digital signature. On it are details of the holder's date and place of birth and a unique 16-digit National Identification Number. The Government decided in November 2003 to implement the pilot project in selected areas of 12 States and one union territory. The card's makers say it cannot be tampered with or duplicated, but they admit making ID cards for a billion-plus population will be a huge task. The chip not being “ produced in India, it has to be outsourced and there’s tremendous challenge to the industry,” said Deputy Director General MNIC, S K Chakrabarti. The pilot project is currently under way in selected sub-districts of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry. The card has a SCOSTA micro-processor chip with a memory of 16 KB which is secured against tampering.

Indonesia

Citizens over 17 are required to have the KTP (Kartu Tanda Penduduk) identity card.

Iran

Every permanent resident of Iran, whether a citizen or not, must have a National Identity card (Persian:کارت ملی) or at least obtain their unique National Number from any of the local Vital Records branches.

In order to apply for an NID card, the applicant must be at least 15 years old and have a picture attached to their Birth Certificate (done by the Ministry of Vital Records).

Since the year 2007, the NID cards are compulsory for many things in Iran and Iranian Missions abroad(e.g.. obtaining a passport, driver's license, any banking procedure and etc.)

Iraq

Every Iraqi citizen must have an personal/national card (البطاقة الشخصية) in Arabic. From April 2009, a new card called Iraqi National Identity Card with a National Identification Number will be issued.

Israel

Israeli law requires every permanent resident above the age of 16, whether a citizen or not, to carry an identification card called te'udat zehut (they) in Hebrew or biţāqat huwīya (بطاقة هوية) in Arabic.

The card is designed in a bilingual form, printed in Hebrew and Arabic, but the personal data is presented only in Hebrew. The card must be presented to an official on duty (e.g. a policeman) upon request, but if the resident is unable to do this, one may contact the relevant authority within five days to avoid a penalty.

Until the mid-1990s,the identification card was considered the only legally reliable document for many actions such as voting, opening a bank account, etc. Since then, the new Israeli driver's licenses which include photos and some extra personal information are now considered equally reliable for most of these transactions. In other situations any government-issued photo ID, such as a passport or a military ID, may suffice.

Japan

Japanese citizens are not required to have identification documents with them within the territory of Japan. When necessary, official documents, such as driving licence, student ID, social insurance card or passport are generally used and accepted. On the other hand, foreigners are required to carry their passport unless they have an Alien registration card.

Macedonia

The Macedonian identity card (Template:Lang-mk) is a compulsory identity document issued in the Republic of Macedonia. The document is issued by the police on behalf of the Ministry of Interior.

Malaysia

In Malaysia, the MyKad, or Government Multipurpose Card, (GMPC) is the official compulsory identity card. It is regarded as the world's first smart identity card. Part of the Multimedia Super Corridor flagship applications, it was officially launched on 5 September 2001 and incorporates a microchip, which contains several items of data including biometrics. As of 2006, MyKad has eight current and several planned applications which are mostly related to proof of identity or electronic money. From March 2003, a variant issuable to newborn babies was introduced, known as MyKid.

Mauritius

Mauritius requires all citizens who have reached the age of 18 to apply for a National Identity Card. The National Identity Card is one of the only accepted forms of identification, along with passports. A National Identiy Card is needed to apply for a passport for all adults, and all minors must take with them the National Identity Card of a parent when applying for a passport.

Mexico

Not mandatory, but needed in almost all official documents, CURP is the standarized version of an Identity document. it actually could be a printed green wallet-sized card or simply a 18-character identification key printed on a birth or death certificate. Contrary to in almost all other countries, CURP has been awarded to almost all minors, since government and most private school request that number to the parents for having a data base of all the children. Also, minors will have to present their CURP when asking for a passport or being registered at Public Health services by their parents.

Most adults need that personal number too, since it is required for almost all governmental paperwork like tax declaration, and passport requests. Most companies ask for the CURP, voter's card, or passport rather than birth certificates.

To have a CURP issued for a person, a Birth Certificate must be presented to the issuing authorities to proof that the information giving at the application is true. If foreigners try to apply for a CURP, they must present the document that gives the right to be legally residing in Mexico. Foreign-born Mexican naturalized citizens must present their naturalization certificate. On 21 August 2008 the Mexican cabinet passed the national security act, which oblige all Mexican citizens to have a biometric identity card cédula de identidad ciudadana before 2011.

On 13 Feb 2009 the Mexican government designated the state of Tamaulipas to start procedures for issuing a pilot program of the national Mexican id card.

Montenegro

In Montenegro every resident citizen over the age of 14 can have their Lična karta issued, and all persons over the age of 18 must have ID cards and carry them at all times when they are in public places. It can be used for international travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia instead of the passport.

Pakistan

In Pakistan, all adult citizens must register for the Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC), with a unique number, at age 18. This card is regularly used because of the multiple uses of the card across Pakistan's organizations.

Earlier on, a National Identity Card (NIC) was issued based on a non-electronic database. Then the national database authority NADRA set up an electronic database for registration of all Pakistani citizens and started issuing the new machine readable identity cards, the CNIC.

Philippines

The Philippine Government had plans for a single national ID system but it has abandoned the plan due to several protests from civil society groups regarding the privacy of citizens. Instead, the Philippine passport, Social Security ID, Postal ID, Driving Licence, or School ID are commonly accepted identification documents for citizens.

Serbia

In Serbia every resident citizen over the age of 10 can have their Lična karta issued, and all persons over the age of 16 must have ID cards and carry them at all times when they are in public places. It can be used for international travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro instead of the passport.

Singapore

In Singapore, every citizen, and permanent resident (PR) must register at the age of 15 for an Identity Card (IC). The card is necessary not only for procedures of state but also in the day-to-day transactions of registering for a mobile phone line, obtaining certain discounts at stores, and logging on to certain websites on the internet. Schools frequently use it to identify students, both on-line and in exams.

South Africa

All South African citizens and permanent residents, aged 16 years and older, must be in possession of an identity document. The South African identity document resembles a passport but is not valid as a travel document or outside South Africa. Although carrying the document is not de facto required in daily life, it is necessary to show the document or a certified copy as proof of identity when:

• Signing any contract, including
  • Opening or closing a bank account
  • Taking up employment
  • Registering at a school or university
  • Applying for a mobile phone contract
• Interacting with most government agencies, including
  • Applying for or renewing a driver's license
  • Applying for a passport
  • Applying for any social grants
  • Registering to vote, and voting in elections

Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, all citizens over the age of 16 need to apply for a National Identity Card (NIC). Each NIC has a unique 10 digit number, in the format 000000000A (where 0 is a digit and A is a letter). The first two digits of the number are your year of birth (eg: 88xxxxxxxx for someone born in 1988). The final letter is generally a 'V' or 'X'. An NIC number is required to apply for a passport (over 16), driving license (over 18) and to vote (over 18). In addition, all citizens are required to carry their NIC on them at all times as proof of identity, given the security situation in the country. NICs are not issued to non-citizens, who are still required to carry some form of photo identification (such as a photocopy of their passport or foreign driving license) at all times.

Republic of China ("Taiwan")

The "Republic of China National Identification Card" (Chinese: 中華民國國民身分證) is issued to all Republic of China citizens who have a household registration in the Taiwan Area. The Identification Card is used for virtually all other activities that require identity verification within Taiwan such as opening bank accounts, renting apartments, employment applications and voting. It is the possession of the Republic of China National Identification Card and not the ROC Passport which grants the holder the right of abode within the Taiwan Area.

The Identification Card contains the holder's photo, ID number, Chinese name, and (Minguo calendar) date of birth.

The back of the card also contains the person's registered address where official correspondence is sent, parents', and even spouse's names.

If the person moves, one must re-register at a municipal office (Chinese: 戶政事務所).

Unlike the Republic of China passport which can be issued overseas at Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Offices, the National Identification Card is issued only in Taiwan at municipal offices. Dual Passport holders that have a household registration can apply for the Identification Card only after they enter Taiwan using a Republic of China Passport.

United Arab Emirates

Emirates Identity Authority is responsible for the processing of residents and nationals for the mandatory identity card and population register in the United Arab Emirates.

United States

The United States of America passed a bill entitled the REAL ID Act on May 11, 2005. The bill compels states to begin redesigning their driver's licenses to comply with federal antiterrorist standards by December 2009. Federal employees would reject licenses or identity cards that do not comply, which would force Americans accessing everything from airplanes to national parks and some courthouses to have the federally mandated cards. At airports, those not having compliant licenses or cards would simply be redirected to a secondary screening location.

The bill takes place as governments are growing more interested in implanting technology in ID cards to make them smarter and more secure. In 2006, the U.S. State Department studied issuing passports with Radio-frequency identification, or RFID, chips embedded in them. Virginia may become the first state to glue RFID tags into all its driver's licenses. Seventeen states, however, have passed statutes opposing or refusing to implement the Real ID Act.

Uruguay

All Uruguayan citizens must have a national identity card—known as a Cédula de Identidad—from birth. The card contains the bearer's name, photo, right thumb print, as well as place and date of birth. Cards must be renewed every 5 years until the bearer turns 20 and then, from then on, every 10 years. It can be used in place of a passport to travel into Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile and Paraguay. A separate, multi-paged document, used as identification to vote in elections, must be obtained by all Uruguayans over the age of 18, and is known as the "Credencial Cívica".

See also

• List of identity card policies by country
• Access badge
• Anthropometry
• Biometrics
• Biometric passport or E-passport
• Common Access Card
• Credential
• Home Return Permit, a special kind a national ID card issued for PRC citizens living in Hong Kong and Macau.
• Identifier
• Identity document forgery
• Keycard
• Magnetic stripe card
• Pass Law, which mandated people carry a pass book in apartheid South Africa
• Passport and International Civil Aviation Organization
• Police certificate
• RFID
• Physical security
• Proximity card
• Smart card
• Visa (document)
• NO2ID – campaigning against ID cards in the UK

References

1. Joinson, Adam N. (2006). "Watching me, watching you: privacy attitudes and reactions to identity card implementation scenarios in the United Kingdom" (Abstract). Journal of Information Science. 18 (12): 334–343. doi:10.1177/0165551506064902. Retrieved 2006-12-09. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
2. Ben Quarmby (2003-01-31). "The case for national identification cards". 2003 Duke L. & Tech. Rev. 0002. Duke University. Retrieved 2008-01-11. If there is no reasonable expectation of privacy with regards to one's DNA information, the obtention of that information will not constitute a search. The DNA card scheme at issue here would not therefore come under 4th Amendment scrutiny {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
3. "DNA ID Profiling and Banking". Identigene website. 2008-01-03. Retrieved 2008-01-11. The powerful DNA profiling technology is encouraged to be used by parents when adopting newborn children. Insurance companies use DNA profiling as a precautionary tool to protect against life insurance fraud. Lawyers are bundling these services with packages, such as the Last Will and Testament, to assist in protecting the assets of large estates. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
4. "Surveillance & Identification: Identity". Caslon Analytics research, analysis and strategies consultancy. 2006-12-13. Retrieved 2008-01-11. As a German policeman once said, you are who your papers say you are. Take away those papers and you have no identity. Identification schemes - whether based on an individual's innate characteristics (eg DNA) or external attributes such as password or code number - facilitate participation by individuals with the requisite credentials in the "economic, social and political dimensions of society", {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); line feed character in |quote= at position 119 (help)
5. "BEEsafe Personal ID program". Laboratory Collection Services. Retrieved 2008-01-11. The area of the DNA molecule used for identification testing is known as a non-coding region. This region gives absolutely no genetic information about your race, medical history, or pre-disposition to a disease. DNA is the ultimate tool for personal identification. Every individual has a unique set of DNA markers, which are inherited from their parents. Therefore, your loved one can be easily identified by their specific DNA profile. DNA Profiling is highly recommended by Law Enforcement Agencies nationwide as an identification method for all of your family. Acquiring a DNA Profile for your loved one is easy, painless, affordable, and need only be performed once, since his or her profile will not change over time. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |quote= at position 213 (help)
6. Garfinkel, Simson (2001) . "3". Database Nation (Paperback) The Death of Privacy in the 21st Century. O'Reilly & Associates. ISBN 0-596-00105-3. When the technology was first introduced, scientists, lawyers, and civil libertarians argued over whether the underlying science was sound, and if the technology actually worked. Today, DNA identification is widely accepted as absolutely accurate--and we are struggling with the social implications of this newfound precision. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |origdate= and |coauthors= (help); External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |origmonth= ignored (help); line feed character in |title= at position 28 (help)
9. http://www.cato.org/pubs/handbook/hb109/hb_109-27.pdf, Cato Handbook, December 2004
   • Some people believe this may be the Mark of the beast
10. "EU: UK Presidency advances EU-wide ID card standards, data retention and intelligence sharing to fight terrorism". eGovernment News. 2005-07-14. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
11. ^
13. Identification cards - Certified identity card type ID-1, Swedish Standard SS 614314:2004. SIS, Swedish Standards Institute
14. "Sagem Securite to produce biometric passports for Albania". Secureidnews News. 2008-03-26. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
15. China Enacting a High-Tech Plan to Track People - New York Times
16. Yearbook.gov.hk. "Yearbook.gov.hk." Hong Kong 2006. Retrieved on 2008-02-07.
18. http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:EdF1mH2UVF8J:www.maurinet.com/allform/pportnew.pdf+mauritius+national+card&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=nz
19. Serbian new biometric ID card Template:Sr icon
20. http://www.ica.gov.sg/services_centre_overview.aspx?pageid=264&secid=72
21. Real Nightmare

External links

• Documenting Individual Identity: Historical and Comparative Perspectives since 1500 Academic network exploring the history of identity documents.
• Telegraph story: the case for and against identity cards
• Scotsman story: ID Cards will lead to "massive fraud"
• ID Card – Is Big Brother Stalking You? –
• EU site detailing document security technologies
• MP3 recording and reference list from Diffusion science radio program on 2SER broadcast on 1 March 2007.

• Authentication methods
• Personal documents
• Personal identification
• International travel documents