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An identity document, also called a piece of identification (ID), is a document 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 an identity card is compulsory while in others it is voluntary. In countries which do not have formal identity documents, informal ones may sometimes be required.

In the absence of a formal identity document, driving licenses tend to be accepted as the most effective method of proof of identity. National passports are also accepted and are usually also recognised as a form of identification outside of the issuing country.

Possible information inclusions 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.

Identity cards

The use of identity cards is supported by law enforcement officials who claim that it can make surveillance and identification of criminals much 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, to be more precise, 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.^[1]

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 their own personal identification in the form of their 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.^{[2][3][4][5][6]}
• In many countries ID Cards are only given 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 number) 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. http://www.newstatesman.com/Ideas/200505300020
• 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 only be useful 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. http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,,1494944,00.html
• 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 only state the religion 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.
• 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.^[7]
• Some people believe this may be the Mark of the beast

Information on European ID documents

Detailed information on European ID documents, including what they look like, you can find in PRADO, information pages provided to the general public by the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union.

Countries & their policies concerning ID documents

According to Privacy International, as of 1996, around 100 countries had compulsory identity cards.

The term "compulsory" may have different meanings and implications in different countries. The compulsory character may apply only after a certain age. Often, a ticket can be given for being found without one's identification document, or in some cases a person may even be detained until the identity is ascertained. In practice, random controls are rare, except in certain times.

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 renewed. The new version includes pages for a vote log, military service, wish to donate organs and legal address change log. There is also a card named Cedula de Identidad issued by the federal police, valid in Mercosur countries and several issued by the different provinces' police, but the latter are only valid in Argentinean territory. Any of these documents are required for driving (in addition to driver's license) and using credit or debit cards.

Belgium

In Belgium everyone above the age of 12 has 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 the years 2000, all new identity cards have a chip. In 2012 all Belgians will have an eID card, this card will be more and more used to replace existing cards like social security, drivers license, etc... The eID card is also used in various applications of private company's who use it as identification system.

Brazil

In Brazil, at the age of 18, all Brazilian citizens must carry a Registro Geral (RG), in Portuguese. The cards are needed to obtain job, vote, make and use credit cards. Foreigners living in Brazil have a different kind of ID card. Since the RG is not unique, 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.

Bulgaria

Identity card (Bulgarian - ????? ?????, 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.

China

People's Republic of China requires every citizen (Except Hong Kong and Macau, which have their own identity cards) to carry (????? Pinyin J?mín Sh?nfènzhèng). It becomes compulsory at 16. The identity 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 check points in domestic terminals of Chinese airports.

Colombia

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

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 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 inspect by any kind of scanner.

Besides this identification card, every vehicle driver must carry the drivers 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 the lesser of detention up to 6 hours or until the identity can be verified.

Croatia

In Croatia every person over the age of 14 can have ID card, and all persons over the age of 16 must have ID cards and carry them at all times when they are in public places. Refusal to carry or show this ID card to a police officer can lead to a money fine of 100 kuna or more and detention until their identity can be verified by fingerprints.

Cyprus

Citizens of the Republic of Cyprus have to get an identity card. Identity cards and travel documents are also issued to eligible Turkish Cypriots residing in the northern part of the island upon application to the Republic's authorities in the southern areas.

Denmark

The 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.

Until 2004 the national debit card Dankort contained a photo of the holder and was widely accepted as identity card. As the Danish banks lobbied not to have pictures on the national debit cards and so in 2004 the Dankort no longer contains a photo and hence 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.

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.

Estonia

The Estonian ID card () 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 picture are also widely used for general identification purposes, even though they are not officially recognized as such.

France

France has had a national ID card since 1940, when it helped the Vichy authorities identify 76,000 for deportation as part of the Holocaust. Italian philosopher Giorgio Agamben often underlines this, showing how anthropometry may be used by the state.

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, and 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 http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/WAspad/UnCode?code=CPROCPEL.rcv) only mentions 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 appreciation 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's 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"). http://vosdroits.service-public.fr/particuliers/F1036.xhtml#titreN100F0 http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/WAspad/UnCode?code=CPROCPEL.rcv

For financial transactions, ID cards and passports are almost always accepted as proof of identity. Due to common forgery, driver 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 are non-compulsory. 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

Specimen of a German identity card.

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 it. 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

Greek ID card (front)

Greek ID card (back)

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 [reply to Enquiry 36581], 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 Schengen Treaty 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 workday. 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 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 has one, original photo of the owner embedded, with original signatures by 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 - these sensitive information are contained on a separate card, called Authority ID. The Personal ID has its roots in the communist aera; 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 Drivers license; an individual is required to have at least one of them on hand all the time. By law, you're not required to hold a Personal Identity Card, but for example it is mandatory to open a bank account in the country.

Indonesia

Citizens over 18 are required to have the KTP (Kartu Tanda Penduduk) identity card.

Italy

Everybody in Italy over 18 must have (but it may be requested by 15) a 4-page Identity Card issued by the town of residence. The first page includes the ID card number, the issuing town, and the name and surname. On the second page the card shows again the name and surname, together with the birth date and place, the gender, and the current address. The third page of the document includes a colour photograph and the signature. It also contains the issue date. The card has a validity of 5 years.

The ID number is two letters followed by seven or more digits and is unique.

In Italy, an ID card is the most important document of a citizen. It can be used instead of a passport to create a bank account, to validate a credit card transaction, to vote, to enter many countries in Europe (including Switzerland) and to check in on flights to these countries, etc. However, for most of these uses it can be replaced with other documents, including the driving licence. Citizens are not required to carry the ID card with them always but are required to present it to the authorities if requested.

As of 2007 a new Italian electronic identity card is being phased in.

Iran

Every permanent resident of Iran , whether a citizen or not, must have an identification card () in Persian or Remember their NID Code () in Persian.

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 () in Hebrew or bi??qat huw?ya () 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, he or she may contact the relevant authority within five days to avoid a penalty.

Until the mid-nineties, 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 driving 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

All individuals in Japan are required to carry identification on their persons at all time, but no particular card is required (Driver's license, student ID, social insurance card, passport or the others are permitted.) Foreigners are not exempt from this requirement, and must carry their passport unless they have an Alien registration card.

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^[8].

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.

Poland

Polish national ID card (front and back)

Portugal

Portuguese national ID card (front and back)

Romania

Romanian ID card

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.

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.

More information on the compulsory Singapore Identity Card and accompanying procedures can be found on this government website: http://app.ica.gov.sg/serv_citizen/identity_card/ic_registration.asp

Slovakia

Slovak ID card (front and back) New EU template

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 won't lead to arrest and detention unless there are other lawful reasons for it. If a policeman requests the 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.

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
  • Applying for a mobile phone contract
• Interacting with most government agencies, including
  • Applying for or renewing a drivers license
  • Applying for a passport
  • Applying for any social grants

Sweden

Sweden does not, in law, have compulsory identity cards. In reality there are nation-wide issuers of SIS-certified^[9] 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 are issued by commercial companies, like banks and post offices. The police also issue them, 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 or buying prescribed medications without them.

Since 2007 it has been impossible for many people, mainly immigrants, to get an identity card since the 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.

A solution to this problem is envisaged for 2009 when the police will begin to issue Swedish identity cards for foreign citizens having a foreign passport.

Taiwan

The "Republic of China National Identification Card" () is issued to all Republic of China citizens that have a household registration in the Free Area of the Republic of China (Taiwan). While the Republic of China Passport allows for entry into Taiwan, 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, they must re-register at a municipal office ().

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

Uruguay

All Uruguayan citizens must have a national identity card - known as a Cédula de Identidad - from birth. The card contains the bearers 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 from there 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 elctions, must be obtained by all Uruguayans over the age of 18, and is known as the "Credencial Civica".

Nations without

A number of countries do not use country-wide identity cards to verify identity. These include Australia, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States.

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, drivers licences, issued by the states and territories, are the most widely used ID document.

United Kingdom

Since the early 1950s there has been no national identity card in the United Kingdom, but the Identity Cards Act (effective 30 March 2006) makes one compulsory for anyone getting a new or renewed passport from 2008. Driving licences and passports are now the most widely used ID documents. There are also various PASS-accredited cards, used mainly for proof of age purposes.

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 drivers' licenses to comply with federal antiterrorist standards by December 2009. Federal employees would reject licenses or identity cards that don't 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. Since 2006, the U.S. State Department has been issuing passports with radio frequency identification, or RFID, chips embedded in them, and Virginia may become the first state to glue RFID tags into all its drivers' licenses. 17 states, however, have passed statutes opposing or refusing to implement the Real ID Act.^[10]

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.

Nations currently implementing

Albania

Albania In 2007 the Government of Albania approved opening an international tender on issuing the National Identity Cards. Issuance of these cards is expected to begin by the end of 2008^[11].

Bangladesh

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

China

China is 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.^[12]

India

India is beginning to issue national ID cards, see MNIC - Multipurpose National Identity Card (India) http://www.ibnlive.com/news/a-smart-card-thatll-unite-india/41427-3.html

Non-compulsory schemes

A number of countries have non-compulsory 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 European Union identity cards meeting an European standard can be used by European citizens as a travel document replacing passports.

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."^[13]

In the United States, some states issue non compulsory 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.

Non-sovereign state

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 taxi 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.

See also

• List of identity card policies by country
• Access badge
• Alien registration card (Japan)
• 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.
• Identity document forgery
• Keycard
• Magnetic stripe card
• Pass Law, which mandated people carry a pass book in apartheid South Africa
• Passport and ICAO
• RFID
• Physical Security
• Proximity card
• Smart card
• Swipe card
• Visa (document)
• NO2ID – campaigning against ID cards in the UK

References

External links

• Privacy International identity card FAQ
• Telegraph story: the case for and against identity cards
• ID Card ? Is Big Brother Stalking You? ? MP3 recording and reference list from Diffusion science radio program on 2SER broadcast on 1 March 2007.

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