An identity document, or also called a piece of identification (ID), is a document which evidences aspects of a person's identity. Documentation may refer to the process of providing evidence ("to document something" or to the communicable material used to provide such documentation (i 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 the absence of a formal identity card, driving licenses tend to be accepted as the most effective method of proof of identity. A driver's license, driver license, driver licence, or driving licence is an official document which states that a person may operate a National passports are also accepted and are usually also recognised as a form of identification outside of the issuing country. A passport is a document issued by a national government which certifies for the purpose of international travel the identity and nationality of its holder

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. Technology is a broad concept that deals with a Species ' usage and knowledge of Tools and Crafts and how it affects a species' ability to control and adapt Biometrics ( ancient Greek: bios life metron measure refers to two very different fields of study and application A photograph (often shortened to photo) is an Image created by Light falling on a light-sensitive surface usually Photographic film or an electronic A facial recognition system is a computer application for automatically identifying or verifying a person from a digital image or a video frame from a video source Hand geometry is a biometric that identifies users by the shape of their hands Iris recognition is a method of biometric authentication that uses pattern recognition techniques based on high-resolution images of the irides of an individual's A fingerprint is an impression of the friction ridges of all or any part of the finger Electronic identity cards or e-IDs are already available in some territories such as Hong Kong, Malaysia, Estonia, Finland, Belgium, Portugal and Spain. The electronic identity card (eID is an official electronic proof of one's identity Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia ( Eesti or Eesti Vabariik) is a Country in Northern Europe in the Baltic region Finland, officially the Republic of Finland ( is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Morocco is also planning to launch a new identity card of biometric type by January 2007. Morocco (المغرب "al-Maghrib" officially the Kingdom of Morocco (المملكة المغربية is a country located in North Africa Biometrics ( ancient Greek: bios life metron measure refers to two very different fields of study and application

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. A smart card, chip card, or Integrated circuit card ( ICC) is any pocket-sized card with embedded integrated

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. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Privacy is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves or information about themselves and thereby reveal themselves selectively thumb| |Broken Liberty Istanbul Archaeology Museum Civil liberties are freedoms that protect the Individual from the Government. 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. Open University is also the name of other institutions See Distance education or the Open Universities category for a list ^[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. A passport is a document issued by a national government which certifies for the purpose of international travel the identity and nationality of its holder
• Eligibility or ownership verification would be facilitated (for example, when paying with a credit card or cheque, or attempting to buy age-restricted products). A credit card is part of a system of Payments named after the small Plastic card issued to users of the system A cheque (spelled check in American English) is a Negotiable instrument instructing a Financial institution to pay a specific amount of
• 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. In the field of computer security phishing is the Criminally Fraudulent process of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames Passwords Identity theft is a term used to refer to Fraud that involves stealing money or getting other benefits by pretending to be someone else
• 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. Alzheimer's disease ( AD) also called Alzheimer disease or simply Alzheimer's, is the most common form of Dementia. Amnesia (from Greek) is a condition in which Memory is disturbed g. , due to dissociative identity disorder, as in the case of Billy Milligan). Dissociative Identity Disorder ( DID) as defined by the American Psychiatric Association 's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM William Stanley Milligan (born 1955 known as Billy Milligan, was the subject of a highly publicized court case in Ohio in the late 1970s
• 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. Illegal immigration refers to Immigration across National Borders in a way that violates the Immigration laws of the destination Country 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. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. 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. Deoxyribonucleic acid ( DNA) is a Nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known 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

Further information: freedom of movement and propiska

• 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". Freedom of movement, mobility rights or the right to travel is a Human rights concept which is respected in the Constitutions of numerous Propiska (пропи́ска full term Прописка по месту жительства, "The record of place of residence" was a regulation in the Soviet 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. Lobbying includes all attempts to influence Legislators and officials whether by other legislators constituents or organized groups
• Cards with centralised database could be used to track anyone's movements and private life, thus endangering privacy. Privacy is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves or information about themselves and thereby reveal themselves selectively 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. [1]
• 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). Police are agents or agencies usually of the executive, empowered to enforce the law and to effect public and social order through the legitimatized use of force 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. Scope creep (also called focus creep, requirement creep, feature creep, and sometimes kitchen sink syndrome) in Project management In the United States, a Social Security number (SSN is a 9-digit number issued to citizens Permanent residents and temporary (working residents under section 205(c(2
• 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. The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the United Kingdom Home Office Charles Rodway Clarke (born 21 September 1950 is a British Labour Party Politician. 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. A driver's license, driver license, driver licence, or driving licence is an official document which states that a person may operate a A passport is a document issued by a national government which certifies for the purpose of international travel the identity and nationality of its holder This article refers to medicare a name for Canada's publicly-funded health insurance system for hospital and physician services
• 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. [2]
• 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. Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία Unlike most discrimination policies discrimination between, which is the discernment of qualities and recognition of the differences focused here discrimination against is Under some interpretations of Sharia law, apostate Muslims may be sentenced to death. Sharia ( Arabic: ar شريعة) is the body of Islamic Religious law. Malaysia's identity cards only state the religion if a person's religion is Islam. For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and Arguments critical to religion in general or specific to monotheism such as the Existence of God, are not dealt with here 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. The Data Protection Act ( DPA) is a United Kingdom Act of Parliament. 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]

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. PRADO is hosted by the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union (GSC General Directorate for Justice and Home Affairs (DG H 1 A The Council of the European Union is the principal decision making institution in the European Union (EU

Countries & their policies concerning ID documents

Main article: List of identity card policies by country

According to Privacy International, as of 1996, around 100 countries had compulsory identity cards. This is a list of Identity documents by country Identity card policies by country Countries with compulsory identity cards According to Privacy International Privacy International (PI is a UK-based Non-profit organisation formed in 1990, "as a Watchdog on Surveillance and Privacy invasions Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar)

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. Role and potential Some South Americans see Mercosur as giving the capability to combine resources to balance the activities of other global economic powers especially the North 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 - 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.

China

People's Republic of China requires every citizen (Except Hong Kong and Macau, which have their own identity cards) to carry (居民身份证 Pinyin Jūmín Shēnfènzhèng). Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Macau topics. Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use 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. Carabineros de Chile are the uniformed Chilean national Police force and Gendarmery, created on April 27, 1927.

Croatia

Main article: Croatian identity card

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. Croatian identity card (Osobna iskaznica is a compulsory Identity document issued in Croatia. 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. Cyprus (Κύπρος transliterated: Kýpros,; Kıbrıs officially the Republic of Cyprus (Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία Kypriakī́ Dīmokratía 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. Turkish Cypriots ( Turkish: Kıbrıs Türkleri or Kıbrıslı Türkler Greek: Τουρκοκύπριοι are the ethnically Turkish inhabitants of the

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. As the Danish banks lobbied not to have pictures on the national debit cards, a driver's license or passport are the only ID cards issued by the government containing both the Personal identification number and a photo. The Danish Personal Identification number ( Danish: CPR-nummer or personnummer) is a National identification number

Estonia

Main article: Estonian ID card

The Estonian ID card (Estonian: ID-kaart) is a chipped picture ID in the Republic of Estonia. The Estonian ID card (ID-kaart is a chipped Picture ID issued in the Republic of Estonia. Estonian (; ˈeːsti ˈkeːl is the official language of Estonia, spoken by about 1 A smart card, chip card, or Integrated circuit card ( ICC) is any pocket-sized card with embedded integrated An identity document, also called a piece of identification ( ID) is a document used to verify aspects of a person's Identity. Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia ( Eesti or Eesti Vabariik) is a Country in Northern Europe in the Baltic region An Estonian ID card is officially recognised by all member states of the European Union for intra EU travel. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in For travelling outside the EU, Estonian citizens may also require a passport. Estonian Passport is an identity document as well as a travel document of an Estonian citizen

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

Main article: French national identity card

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. The French national identity card ( Carte nationale d’identité sécurisée or CNIS) is an official non-compulsory Identity document consisting of a laminated Vichy France, or the Vichy regime are the common terms used to describe the government of France from July 1940 to August 1944 The Holocaust (from the Greek el ''ὁλόκαυστον'' (el-Latn holókauston holos, "completely" and kaustos, "burnt" also known as Italian philosopher Giorgio Agamben often underlines this, showing how anthropometry may be used by the state. Giorgio Agamben (born 1942 in Rome) is an Italian philosopher who teaches at the Università IUAV di Venezia. Anthropometry ( Greek άνθρωπος man and μέτρον measure literally meaning "measurement of humans" in Physical anthropology, refers to the

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 [3]) 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"). [4] [5]

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. The Commission nationale de l'informatique et des libertés or CNIL (knil is an independent French administrative authority whose mission is to ensure that Data Another non-compulsory project is being discussed.

Greece

Greek ID card (front)

Greek ID card (back)

A compulsory, universal ID system based on personal ID cards has been in place in Greece since World War II. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including 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, electoral district (Demotologion), and the issuing police precinct. There are also two optional fields designed to facilitate emergency medical care: ABO and Rhesus factor blood typing. The term Rhesus (Rh blood group system refers to the 5 main Rhesus Antigens (C c D E and e as well as the many other less frequent Rhesus antigens A blood type (also called a blood group) is a classification of Blood based on the presence or absence of inherited Antigenic substances on the

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. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. 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. The term Schengen Agreement is used for two agreements concluded among European states in 1985 and 1990 which deal with the abolition of systematic Border controls

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. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 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. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in Green card may refer to United States Permanent Resident Card, an identification document issued by the United States of America affording non-citizens of that For non-residents, the passport acts as the ID card. EU citizens may produce any document that is valid in their own country. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in

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. Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation However, for most of these uses it can be replaced with other documents, including the driving licence. A driver's license, driver license, driver licence, or driving licence is an official document which states that a person may operate a Citizens are not required to carry the ID card with them always but are required to present it to the authorities if required.

As of 2007 a new Italian electronic identity card is being phased in. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Carta d'Identità Elettronica (Italian Electronic identity card, normally identified with the Acronym CIE) is a personal identification document

Iran

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

Israel

Main article: Teudat Zehut

Every permanent resident of Israel above the age of 16, whether a citizen or not, must carry an identification card called te'udat zehut (Hebrew: תעודת זהות‎) in Hebrew or biţāqat huwīya (بطاقة هوية) in Arabic. Teudat Zehut ( or biţāqat huwīya (ar بطاقة هوية in Arabic is the Israeli compulsory Identity document, as prescribed in the Identity Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language

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 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. The new Israeli driving licenses which include photos and some extra personal information are now considered equally reliable for most of these transactions.

Malaysia

Main article: MyKad

In Malaysia, the MyKad, or Government Multipurpose Card, (GMPC) is the official compulsory identity card. MyKad, or Government Multipurpose Card, (GMPC is the official compulsory Identity card of Malaysia. For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and An identity document, also called a piece of identification ( ID) is a document used to verify aspects of a person's Identity. It is regarded as the world's first smart identity card. SMart is a British CBBC television programme based on the subject of Art, which began in 1994 An identity document, also called a piece of identification ( ID) is a document used to verify aspects of a person's Identity. 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. Situated in Malaysia, the MSC Malaysia or formerly known as Multimedia Super Corridor is a Government initiative designed to leapfrog Malaysia into the Events 1590 - Alexander Farnese 's army forces Henry IV of France to raise the siege of Paris. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Microchipsjpg|right|thumb|200px|Microchips ( EPROM memory with a transparent window showing the integrated circuit inside Biometrics ( ancient Greek: bios life metron measure refers to two very different fields of study and application As of 2006, MyKad has eight current and several planned applications which are mostly related to proof of identity or electronic money. Electronic money (also known as e-money, electronic cash, electronic currency, digital money, digital cash or digital currency From March 2003, a variant issuable to newborn babies was introduced, known as MyKid.

Pakistan

In Pakistan, all adult citizens must register for the Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC), with a unique number, at age 18. Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and 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. National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA is a federal department of the Government of Pakistan that is responsible for issuing identification cards to the citizens

Poland

Main article: Polish National Identity Card

Polish national ID card (front and back)

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

Portugal

Portuguese national ID card (front and back)

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 required. The old format of the cards (yellow paper document) is currently being replaced by grey plastic cards.

Romania

Romanian ID card

Every citizen of Romania must register for an ID card (Carte de identitate, abbreviated CI) at the age of 14. Romania ( dated: Rumania, Roumania 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.

Singapore

In Singapore, every citizen, and permanent resident (PR) must register at the age of 15 for an Identity Card (IC). Singapore 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

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 bearers signature, an id number, the issue date and the expiration date. In most Spanish -speaking countries people have two surnames. 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. Optical character recognition, usually abbreviated to OCR, is the Mechanical or electronic translation of Images of handwritten typewritten

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. A cyclic redundancy check (CRC is a type of function that takes as input a data stream of any length and produces as output a value of a certain space commonly a 32-bit integer This id number is unique, and is used by the Spanish Hacienda Pública (equivalent to the United States Department of the Treasury) to keep track of each citizen's income taxes and financial status. The United States Department of the Treasury is a Cabinet department and the Treasury of the United States government.

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. A smart card, chip card, or Integrated circuit card ( ICC) is any pocket-sized card with embedded integrated 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. South Africa rewrote its Nationality law since the end of Apartheid in 1994 and the establishment of majority rule in the country under the African National Congress 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

Main article: Identity documents in Sweden

Sweden does not, in law, have compulsory identity cards. There are several Identity documents used in Sweden. None are compulsory In reality there are nation-wide issuers of SIS-certified^[8] 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. Population registration in Sweden (folkbokföring is the Civil registration of vital events (e The personal identity number ( personnummer) is the Swedish National identification number. 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

Main article: Republic of China National Identification Card

The "Republic of China National Identification Card" (traditional Chinese: 中華民國國民身分證) is issued to all Republic of China citizens that have a household registration in the Free Area of the Republic of China (Taiwan). TaiwanID_backsidejpg|left]] The Republic of China National Identification Card ( is an Identity document issued to all Taiwan citizens that have a Household REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES The " Free Area of the Republic of China " ( is a Legal and Political description referring to the territories of the Republic of China under 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. The Republic of China passport ( Zhōnghuá Mínguó hùzhào) is the National Passport issued 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 right of abode refers to an individual's freedom from immigration control in a particular Country.

The Identification Card contains the holder's photo, ID number, Chinese name, and (Minguo calendar) date of birth. A national identification number is used by the Governments of many countries as a means of tracking their Citizens Permanent residents and temporary residents The Republic of China calendar (民國紀元 is the method of numbering years currently used in the Republic of China ( Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen 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 (traditional Chinese: 戶政事務所).

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. A Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office ( TECRO) sometimes known as a Taipei Economic and Cultural Office ( TECO) or a Taipei Representative 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 Uurguayans 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. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The United States of America —commonly referred to as the

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. The Australia Card was a controversial proposal for a national identification card for Australian citizens and resident foreigners Robert James Lee (Bob Hawke, AC (born 9 December 1929 was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia and longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister The health and social services access card is a proposed Australian Government non-compulsory health and social services access card See also Howard Government John Winston Howard AC (born 26 July 1939 was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia from 11 March 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. The Commonwealth of Australia is made up of 8 states and territories controlled under a federal system of government

United Kingdom

Main article: British national identity card

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. Enabling legislation for the British national identity card was passed under the Identity Cards Act 2006 The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Events 240 BC - 1st recorded Perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Driving licences and passports are now the most widely used ID documents. A driver's license, driver license, driver licence, or driving licence is an official document which states that a person may operate a A passport is a document issued by a national government which certifies for the purpose of international travel the identity and nationality of its holder There are also various PASS-accredited cards, used mainly for proof of age purposes. PASS (the Proof of Age Standards Scheme) is a government-backed scheme in the UK that gives young people a valid and accepted form of Proof of Age identification

United States

Main article: Identity documents in the United States

The United States of America passed a bill entitled the Real ID Act on May 11, 2005. There is no true national identity card in the United States of America, in the sense that there is no federal agency with nationwide jurisdiction that directly issues such cards The REAL ID Act of 2005 is US federal law which imposes certain security authentication and issuance procedures standards for the state driver's licenses and state ID cards Events 330 - Byzantium is renamed ''Nova Roma'' during a dedication ceremony but is more popularly referred to as Constantinople Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 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 don't comply, which would force Americans accessing everything from airplanes to national parks and some courthouses to have the federally mandated cards.

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 driver's licenses. Radio-frequency identification ( RFID) is an automatic identification method relying on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or 17 states, however, have passed statutes opposing or refusing to implement the Real ID Act. ^[9]

Nations currently implementing

Albania

Albania In 2007 the Government of Albania approved opening an international tender on issuing the National Identity Cards. This article is about the country in southern Europe For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Albania topics. Issuance of these cards is expected to begin by the end of 2008^[10].

Bangladesh

Bangladesh has also started a National Biometric ID Card system and is in the process of completing it by 2008. ( Bengali: বাংলাদেশ inc-Latn Bangladesh) officially

China

China is instituting biometric ID cards, beginning with the city of Shenzhen. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Biometrics ( ancient Greek: bios life metron measure refers to two very different fields of study and application Shenzhen is a city of sub-provincial administrative status in southern China's Guangdong province situated immediately 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. ^[11]

India

India is beginning to issue national ID cards, see MNIC - Multipurpose National Identity Card (India) [6]

Non-compulsory schemes

A number of countries have non-compulsory identity card schemes. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The Multipurpose National Identity Card (MNIC project is an initiative of the Indian government to create a National ID for every Indian citizen with the objective The Multipurpose National Identity Card (MNIC project is an initiative of the Indian government to create a National ID for every Indian citizen with the objective 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. Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich Finland, officially the Republic of Finland ( is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Hungary (Magyarország 'mɔɟɔrorsaːg) officially in English the Republic of Hungary ( Magyar Köztársaság, literally Magyar (Hungarian Republic Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland ( ( Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland ( "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation

In the European Union identity cards meeting an European standard can be used by European citizens as a travel document replacing passports. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in Citizenship of the European Union was introduced by the Maastricht Treaty signed in 1992 A travel document is an Identity document issued by a government or international treaty organization to facilitate the movement of individuals or small groups of persons across A passport is a document issued by a national government which certifies for the purpose of international travel the identity and nationality of its holder

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. Presidency of the Council of the European Union is the responsibility for the functioning of the Council of the European Union which is rotated between European Union In this respect, the UK Presidency has put forward a proposal for EU-wide use of biometrics in national ID cards. "^[12]

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. In the United States of America, a Department of Motor Vehicles (or DMV) is a state-level Government agency that administers Vehicle registration

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. Western Sahara ( Arabic: الصحراء الغربية; transliterated: as-Ṣaḥrā' al-Gharbīyah; Sahara Occidental is a territory They would thus be allowed to vote in an eventual self-determination referendum. A referendum (plural referendums or referenda) ballot question, or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita

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. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located 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. Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern corner of the mainland continent A background check or background investigation is the process of looking up public records commercial records and financial records (in certain instances such as employment Disambiguity In Queensland the blue card is another term for the Working with Children Check which is undertaken by the Commission for Children and Young People

See also: Warrant card

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. A Warrant Card is proof of identification and authority carried by Police Officers The term is normally used only within the United Kingdom and in current and former This is a list of Identity documents by country Identity card policies by country Countries with compulsory identity cards According to Privacy International An access badge is a Credential used to gain entry to an area having automated Access control entry points Anthropometry ( Greek άνθρωπος man and μέτρον measure literally meaning "measurement of humans" in Physical anthropology, refers to the Biometrics ( ancient Greek: bios life metron measure refers to two very different fields of study and application See also Passport A biometric passport is a combined paper and electronic identity document that uses Biometrics to authenticate the identity of travelers See also Passport A biometric passport is a combined paper and electronic identity document that uses Biometrics to authenticate the identity of travelers The Common Access Card (CAC is a United States Department of Defense (DoD Smartcard issued as standard identification for active duty military personnel reserve A credential is an attestation of qualification competence or authority issued to an individual by a third party with a relevant de jure or de facto authority or A Home Return Permit, also referred to as a Home Visit Permit, or China Back Home Pass, is the colloquial name for the national Identity document officially Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Macau topics.
• 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. 2SER is a Community radio station in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, broadcasting on the frequency 107