Country rankings
National Identity Card Policies by Country
National Identity Card Policies by Country: compare 142 countries on 6 metrics.
National Identity Card Registration Mandatory or Voluntary
2 values across 142 entries
Data
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142 countries
 Afghanistan | Mandatory | Tazkira (also Taskera) | Ministry of Interior Affairs | ID Number, Photo+4 | Not yet in use | — |
 Albania | Mandatory | Letërnjoftimi | Civil State Office | ID Number, Photo+5 | Fingerprints, Photo+1 | Compulsory upon 16 years old and costs 1200 lekë (€10). |
 Algeria | Mandatory | — | Ministry of Interior and Local Government | ID Number, Photo+4 | Digital photographs | Compulsory for all Algerian nationals and costs 2500 Algerian Dinar. |
 Angola | Mandatory | National ID Card | Ministry of Justice and Human Rights | ID Number, Photo+9 | Fingerprints, Digital Photographs+1 | More than 12 million Angolans do not possess a national identity card |
 Antigua and Barbuda | Mandatory | Electoral National Identification card | — | — | — | The Antiguan and Barbudan national identity card is compulsory for voting as well as for different government transactions |
 Argentina | Mandatory | Documento Nacional de Identidad (DNI) | Ministry of the Interior | ID Number, Photo+9 | Digital photograph, One fingerprint (right thumb) | Documento Nacional de Identidad (DNI) is issued at a person's birth, and updated at 8 and 14 years of age, and thereafter renewed every fifteen years |
 Armenia | Voluntary | Identification Card | — | Photo, Name+6 | Digital photo, fingerprints+1 | — |
 Austria | Voluntary | Personalausweis | — | ID Number, Photo+9 | — | — |
 Azerbaijan | Mandatory | Identity Card | Ministry of Internal Affairs | ID Number, Photo+7 | Digital photograph, Fingerprints+1 | The Şəxsiyyət vəsiqəsi is an ID card, compulsory upon 16 years old and costs 5 manats (€2,5). It is not compulsory to carry it at all time |
 Bahrain | Mandatory | National ID Card | Central Informatics Organisation | ID Number, Name+2 | — | In order to avail basic or any services, carry out financial transactions one must have CPR |
 Bangladesh | Mandatory | National Identity Card (NID) | Bangladesh Election Commission | ID Number, Photo+10 | Fingerprints | "National Identity" (NID) card is a compulsory electronic biometric identification for all citizens at the age of 18 and above |
 Barbados | Voluntary | — | Electoral and Boundaries Commission | ID Number, Name+3 | — | Optional, although compulsory for voting and other government transactions New biometric national ID cards were released since June 2022 |
 Belgium | Mandatory | Electronic Identity Card (EID) | — | Photo, Name+4 | Signature | The card is first issued at age 12, compulsory by 15. Since the beginning of 2005 the eID (electronic IDentity card) has been issued to Belgian citizens who apply for a new identity card |
 Benin | Mandatory | — | — | ID Number, Photo+11 | — | Compulsory. Biometric since 2016 |
 Bhutan | Mandatory | — | Immigration and Census | Photo, Fingerprint | — | The Bhutanese national identity card is an electronic ID card, compulsory for all Bhutanese nationals and costs 100 Bhutanese ngultrum |
 Bolivia | Mandatory | Registro Unico Nacional / Carnet de Identidad | Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto | Name, Sex+7 | Facial image and one fingerprint (right thumb) | Compulsory at 18, but rarely required by police. |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina | Mandatory | Lična Karta | Agency for Identification Documents, Registers and Data Exchange (IDDEEA) | ID Number, Photo+10 | Fingerprints, digital photograph, digital signature | Compulsory at 16 and is to be carried at all times after turning 18. |
 Botswana | Mandatory | Omang (National Identity Card) | Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs | ID Number, Photo+5 | — | It is compulsory for all citizens at age 16, and there are penalties for not obtaining it within one month of turning 16 or obtaining citizenship, whichever comes last. Includes the image of the individual (no headgear or eyewear), their particulars, and their right thumbprint… |
 Brazil | Mandatory | Registro De Identidade Civil | Justice Ministry - Federal Police | Name, Sex+4 | 10 fingerprints and a facial image (in the card’s chip), Facial image+1 | Compulsory to be issued since the age of 18 |
 Brunei | Mandatory | Yellow Card (Smart Identity Card) | Immigration and National Registration Department | ID Number, Photo+6 | Digital photograph, Fingerprints | Compulsory for all citizens at the age of 12 |
 Bulgaria | Mandatory | Lichna Karta | Ministry of Interior | ID Number, Photo+7 | Electronic microchip and fingerprints information | First issued and is compulsory after turning the age of 14. The new Bulgarian ID cards were introduced in 1999 |
 Burundi | Mandatory | Carte Nationale d'Identité (CNI) | — | ID Number, Photo+10 | Digital photograph, Fingerprints | Valid for international travel within the East African Community |
 Cambodia | Mandatory | Khmer Identity Card | Ministry of Interior | ID Number, Photo+7 | Digital photograph, Fingerprints | Compulsory and biometric since 2011 |
 Cameroon | Mandatory | Carte Nationale d'Identité / National Identity Card | Delegate General of National Security | ID Number, Photo+11 | Digital photograph, Fingerprints | Optional, although compulsory for voting, acquisition of both passports and driving licenses and for certain government transactions |
 Cape Verde | Mandatory | Cartão Nacional de Identidade (CNI) | Directorate General of Registries, Notaries and Identification | ID Number, Photo+9 | Digital photograph, Fingerprints+1 | The Cape Verdian national identity card (referred as “Citizen card”) is an electronic biometric ID card, compulsory for all Cape Verdian nationals |
 Chile | Mandatory | Rol Unico de Identidad / Cedula de Identidad | Servicio de Registro Civil e Identificacion - Ministry of Justice | ID Number, Photo+7 | Facial image and one fingerprint (right thumb) | Normally this is first issued at age 2 or 3, but it can be issued whenever the legal ascendant(s) request its issue. It is compulsory at 18, when it has to be carried at all times |
 China | Mandatory | Second Generation National ID Card | Ministry of Public Security | ID Number, Photo+8 | — | Normally this is first issued at school age, but it can be issued whenever the legal ascendant(s) request its issue |
 Colombia | Mandatory | Cédula de Ciudadanía | Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil | ID Number, Photo+9 | Digital photograph, Fingerprints+1 | Tarjeta de identidad is issued aged 7. From 26 June 2013, is available the new format (coloured sky blue) with biometric features |
 Costa Rica | Mandatory | Cédula de Identidad | Registro Civil - Supreme Electoral Court | ID Number, Photo+6 | Facial image (and fingerprints in the barcode) | Every citizen immediately must carry an ID card after turning 18 |
 Croatia | Mandatory | Osobna iskaznica | Ministry of the Interior | ID Number, Photo+8 | — | The Croatian identity card is compulsory for citizens of Croatia who have a permanent residence in Croatia and are at least 18 years old. By law, it must to be carried at all times |
 Cuba | Mandatory | Carné de Identidad | — | ID Number, Photo+5 | — | Compulsory for anyone 16 and older and must be carried at all times. It is routinely used for identification and is often necessary to conduct public and private business |
 Cyprus | Mandatory | Identity Card | Civil Registry and Migration Department | ID Number, Photo+11 | Digital photograph, Fingerprints+1 | Compulsory at 12 |
 Czechia | Mandatory | Občanský průkaz | Ministry of the Interior | ID Number, Photo+8 | Digital photograph, Digital signature | Compulsory at 15 for those with a permanent stay registered in the country |
 Djibouti | Mandatory | — | Ministry of Interior | ID Number, Photo+5 | — | Compulsory for all Djiboutians. Electronic since 2014 |
 Dominica | Voluntary | Multi-Purpose Identification Card | — | ID Number, Photo+7 | — | The Dominica national multpurpose identitification card is optional for all Dominiquais nationals and is valid for international travel within OECS countries |
 Dominican Republic | Mandatory | Cédula de Identidad y Electoral | Central Election Board (Junta Central Electoral) | ID Number, Photo+6 | — | If needed, an underage ID card may be obtained at the age of 16, yet the official ID (which will allow the individual to vote) is obtained at 18 |
 Ecuador | Mandatory | Cedula de Identidad | Dirección General de Registro Civil, Identificación y Cedulación | Name, Sex+10 | Facial image and one fingerprint | Every citizen over 18 years must have a national identity card. The renewal of the card is $10.00 |
 Egypt | Mandatory | — | Ministry of Interior | ID Number, Photo+10 | — | The Personality Verification Card is compulsory at the age of 16. Not carrying the ID card is only penalised by fine not exceeding £E200 |
 El Salvador | Mandatory | Documento Único de Identidad (DUI) | Registro Nacional de las Personas Naturales / Tribunal Supremo Electoral | ID Number, Photo+12 | Digital photograph, Fingerprints | Every citizen 18 years or older must carry this ID card |
 Eritrea | Mandatory | — | Department of Internal Affairs | Photo, Name+3 | — | Compulsory for all Eritrean citizens. New version rolled out in 2014 |
 Estonia | Mandatory | National ID Card | Police | Name, Sex+3 | Digital signature | Compulsory by law, but there is no penalty for not having one. Citizens carrying ID cards are not required to carry drivers licence and registration |
 Ethiopia | Mandatory | — | — | ID Number, Photo+4 | — | A foundational digital ID, that focuses on a unique number (instead of a card), and this unique number, known as Fayda Identification Number is the primary identifier and essentially serves as a legal ID |
 Finland | Voluntary | Identity Card | Police | ID Number, Photo+5 | Electronic chip contains electronic client identifier: (1) electronic signature (2) unique identitfication code. Electronic client identifier allows holder to use governmental e-services | A national identity card exists, usable all over the EU and a number of other countries, but commonly people use their driving licences or passports as ID |
 France | Voluntary | CNIS | Interior | Photo | — | The country has had a national ID card since 1940, when it helped the Vichy authorities identify 76,000 for deportation as part of the Holocaust. |
 Germany | Mandatory | Personalausweis | Home Office | Photo, Name+4 | Digital fingerprints, Facial recognition | Compulsory for all German citizens aged 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… |
 Greece | Mandatory | Tautotita | Ministry of Public Order | ID Number, Photo+3 | — | Police ID is the only legal identity document and no one has a right to ask for more identity documents. Since the 1980s all legal services in Greece must be done with this ID |
 Guatemala | Mandatory | Cedula de Vecindad | Registro Nacional de las Personas | Photo, Name+9 | — | Identity cards are issued to any Guatemalan and legal residents. For children between 0 and 12 years the document is golden shaded; between 13 and 17 years the document is silvered |
 Guyana | Mandatory | National Identification Cards | Elections Commission | — | — | The Guyanese national identity card is an electronic ID card, compulsory for all Guyanese nationals |
 Honduras | Mandatory | Honduran Identity Card | Civil Registry | Fingerprint | — | The Honduran national identity card is an electronic ID card, compulsory for all Honduran nationals at the age of 18 |
 Hong Kong | Mandatory | Smart ID Card | Immigration Department | ID Number, Photo+4 | Digital Signature | Identity cards have been used since 1949, and been compulsory since 1980. Children are required to obtain their first identity card at age 11, and must change to an adult identity card at age 18 |
 Hungary | Mandatory | — | — | ID Number, Name+3 | RFID | It is compulsory to possess an Személyi igazolvány (Identity card) or passport from the age of 14 |
 India | Mandatory | Multi Purpose National Identity Card (MNIC) | Register General of Citizens Registration | ID Number, Photo+5 | — | An Aadhaar number is a digital biometric identity issued voluntarily to residents of India, it can also be issued in card form, but it is not compulsory either. Proof of identity such as a passport, Aadhaar, ration card, PAN card, or driving licence is mandatory for issuing es… |
 Indonesia | Mandatory | National Identity Card | — | Photo, Birth Date+4 | — | The card is issued to Indonesian citizens and foreign nationals with permanent residence in the Republic of Indonesia. Possession of KTP is compulsory for residents whose age is 17 or older, and residents who is married before the age of 17 |
 Israel | Mandatory | Teudat Zehut | Minstry of Interior | ID Number, Photo+6 | — | The Teudat Zehut is first issued at age 16 and is compulsory by 18 |
 Italy | Voluntary | Electronic Identity Card (EIC) | Ministry of Interior | Photo, Name+2 | — | The Italian electronic identity card may be issued to anyone who is resident in Italy and to Italian citizens living abroad. A card issued to an Italian citizen is accepted in lieu of a passport in all Europe (except in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine) and in Turkey, Georgia, Egyp… |
 Japan | Voluntary | Individual Number Card | — | — | — | An Individual Number Card is issued to citizens of Japan as well as legal residents. It was introducted in 2016 and replaces the Juki-Card |
 Jordan | Mandatory | طاقة شخصية (Personal card) | — | — | — | First issued at age 16 and is compulsory by 18 |
 Kazakhstan | Mandatory | Jeke kuälık (Identity card) | — | — | — | The identity cards have been issued since 1994 and compulsory for all citizens at age 16. Biometric since 2009 |
 Kenya | Mandatory | Kitambulisho | — | — | — | All citizens (and permanent residents) are issued a national identification card at age 18. As at November 2023, IDs in Kenya cost about 2000 shillings (approx. $13.20) |
 Kiribati | Mandatory | Identity card | — | — | — | Mandatory national identity card was decided in Kiribati in 2018 and introduced soon after |
 Kuwait | Mandatory | Civil Identity Card | Public Authority for Civil Information | ID Number, Photo+7 | — | All residents of Kuwait must have a Civil ID card. The legal ascendant(s) of newborns should apply for registration of the child within 60 days after birth. An expatriate must apply for a civil ID card within 30 days of getting his residency |
 Kyrgyzstan | Mandatory | Инсандык карта (National identity card) | — | — | — | Compulsory at 16. Biometric since 2018 |
 Laos | Mandatory | ບັດປະຈຳຕົວ (identity card) | Police / Ministry of Home Affairs | — | — | Distribution of national ID cards started in 2015 and the card is compulsory for all national citizens aged 16 and above |
 Latvia | Mandatory | eID | Ministry of Interior | Fingerprint | — | An ID or passport is mandatory for a citizen of Latvia or a non-citizen who lives in Latvia and has reached 18 |
 Lebanon | Mandatory | — | Ministry of Interior | Photo | — | All Lebanese are obliged by law to carry their identity cards with them at all times and are subject to fines should they not. As of 30 June 2006, all Lebanese nationals must hold the new magnetic Identification Card |
 Lesotho | Mandatory | National ID card | — | — | — | Compulsory for all national citizens. ID cards were implemented in 2013 |
 Liberia | Mandatory | National identification card | — | — | — | New biometric national identity card have been rolled out in the late 2017 |
 Lithuania | Mandatory | Personal Identity Card | — | ID Number, Photo+3 | — | Compulsory at age 16 |
 Luxembourg | Mandatory | Carte nationale d'identité / Personalausweis / National Identitéitskaart (National identity card) | — | — | — | First issued at age 15 and only issued to Luxembourg citizens, who are required by law to carry it at all times |
 Macau | Mandatory | Bilhete de Identidade de Residente (Resident Identity Card) | — | — | — | It is compulsory for all Macau residents at the age of 5 |
 Madagascar | Mandatory | Kara-panondrom-pirenena / Carte nationale d'identité de citoyen malagasy | — | — | — | Possession is compulsory for Malagasy citizens from age 18 |
 Malawi | Mandatory | National Identification card (Chipaso cha Nzika) | — | — | — | Biometric. Distribution of national ID cards started in 2017 and the card is compulsory for all national citizens aged 16 and above |
 Malaysia | Mandatory | Government Multipurpose Smart Card (MyKad) | — | ID Number, Photo+2 | — | Issued at age 12, and updated at 18 |
 Maldives | Mandatory | Passport Card | — | — | — | New biometric credit-sized passport cards replaced both driving licenses, health insurance cards and certain types of credit cards. They are compulsory for acquiring a passport |
 Mali | Mandatory | Carte nationale d'identité NINA (NINA National identity card) | — | Fingerprint | — | Compulsory to all Malian citizens |
 Malta | Mandatory | Karta tal-Identità / Identity card | — | Fingerprint | — | Issued at 14, updated at 16, compulsory at 18 |
 Mauritania | Mandatory | بطاقة الهوية الوطنية / Carte nationale d’identité (National Identity card | — | Fingerprint | — | Compulsory at 15. Biometric since 2013, with information displayed in Arabic, French and English |
 Mauritius | Mandatory | National Identity Card | — | — | — | Every Mauritian citizen who has reached 18 years old has to apply for a National ID card, which is one of the few accepted forms of identification, including a passport |
 Mexico | Voluntary | Multiple cards (Acta de Nacimiento, Carta de Naturalizacion o Documento migratorio) | Registro Nacional de la Poblacion | — | — | This card is required to participate in Federal level elections and while it is the de facto ID for most legal transactions, it is not mandatory to have one |
 Moldova | Mandatory | Buletin de Identitate | Centre for State Information Resources (Registru) | ID Num ber, Photo+9 | — | Compulsory at 16 |
 Mongolia | Mandatory | Монгол Улсын иргэний үнэмлэхийн хуудас (Citizen Identity Card of Mongolia) | — | — | — | The national identity card is compulsory for all Mongol citizens. Electronic since 2012, with informations displayed both in Mongol and English |
 Montenegro | Mandatory | Lična karta | Ministry of Interior | Photo, Name+6 | — | Compulsory at the age of 16, but can be issued at 14 and has to be carried at all times after turning 18 |
 Morocco | Mandatory | البطاقة الوطنية للتعريف الإلكترونية / Carte nationale d'identité électronique (CNIE) / National electronic identity card | National Security Service | Birth Date, Nationality+2 | — | This is an official document which allows any citizen to prove his identity and therefore it is valid, his Moroccan nationality. It is compulsory for all citizens aged over 16 years, but it can be obtained at all ages |
 Mozambique | Mandatory | Bilhete de Identidade | — | ID Number, Photo+8 | — | — |
 Myanmar | Mandatory | Citizenship Scrutiny Card | — | — | — | Myanmar citizens are required to have a Citizenship Scrutiny Card |
 Namibia | Mandatory | National ID card | — | — | — | Compulsory for all Namibia citizens. New identity cards replaced previous “SWA” IDs in 2016 |
 Nepal | Mandatory | राष्ट्रिय पहिचान कार्ड National Identity Card | — | — | — | New biometric cards rolled out in 2018. Information displayed in both English and Nepali |
 Netherlands | Mandatory | Electronic Identity Card | Minstry of Interior | Photo, RFID+1 | — | Since 1 January 2005 it is compulsory to show identification, when an authorized officer asks for it, from the age of 14. An authorized officer can only do so under certain circumstances. Such circumstances include suspicious behaviour, committing any offence, or if a person i… |
 Niger | Mandatory | Carte nationale d'identité (National identity card) | — | — | — | — |
 Nigeria | Mandatory | Universal Identification Card | National Identity Management Commission | ID Number, Photo+4 | — | Compulsory. Electronic since 2013 |
 North Korea | Mandatory | National identity card | — | — | — | North Korea is probably the country which imposes the strongest fines for citizens not carrying ID cards. For travel, North Koreans need both an identity card, and a "travel pass", with specified destination and written permission |
 North Macedonia | Mandatory | Macedonian Identity Card | Ministry of Interior | — | — | It is compulsory at the age of 18 |
 Oman | Mandatory | Omani ID Card | Department for Civil Affairs of Police and Customs | Photo, Name+2 | Photo, Signature | It is compulsory for all citizens at age 16, and there are penalties for not obtaining it within one month of turning 16 or obtaining citizenship, whichever comes last |
 Pakistan | Mandatory | Computerized National Identity Card | — | Photo, Name+3 | — | The CNIC with a unique 13 digit identification number can be applied for aged 18 and above |
 Panama | Mandatory | Cedula de Identidad (National identity card) | — | Photo, Fingerprint | — | Cedula de Identidad. Required at 12 (cedula juvenil) and 18 years of age. Panamanian citizens must carry their Cedula at all times. New biometric national identity cards rolling out in 2019 |
 Paraguay | Mandatory | Cedula de Identida | Departamento de Identificaciones - Policia Nacional del Parguay | Name, Sex+8 | Facial image and right thumb | The Paraguayan national identity card is issued by the National Police and is compulsory for all citizens; with a cost of 8500 Paraguayan guaraní |
 Peru | Mandatory | Documento Nacional de Identidad | Registro Nacional de Identification y Estado Civil | ID Number, Name+11 | Facial image and one fingerprint (right index) | National Document of Identification or Documento Nacional de Identidad (DNI). Citizens can have a minor DNI but at the age of 17 they are encouraged to renew their DNI to get an Adult DNI. At 18, it is compulsory |
 Philippines | Mandatory | Pambansang Pagkakakilanlan (Philippine Identification Card) | — | — | — | The Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) ID also known as the Philippine identity card is issued to all Filipino citizens and resident aliens in the Philippines. The pilot implementation began in selected regions in 2018 and full implementation began in 2019 |
 Poland | Mandatory | Identity card | — | ID Number, Photo+4 | — | At 18, Polish citizens with their permanent residence in Poland must obtain Polish National Identity Card, however at 13 years of age some form of identification is required. The ID Card is issued free of charge |
 Portugal | Mandatory | Citizen Card | — | ID Number, Photo+2 | — | As of 2006 the government has issued the Cartão do Cidadão (Citizen Card). The older Bilhete de identidade which has been compulsory at 10, is still in limited use. All citizens starting at the age of 6 are required to obtain an identity card, but are not required to carry them |
 Qatar | Mandatory | Qatari ID Card | Ministry of Interior | ID Number, Photo+6 | — | As of 2014 the government has issued a Qatari ID Card to every Qatari citizen and resident over the age of 15 |
 Romania | Mandatory | Carte de Identitate | Ministry of Internal Affairs | ID Number, Photo+6 | — | The Carte de identitate is compulsory at 14 |
 Russia | Mandatory | Internal passport of Russia | — | — | Facial Recognition | A Russian identity document is issued to any citizen on request at the age of 14 and reissued at ages 20 and 45. People may use other documents for identity as well (e.g., driver's license, passport), but only in limited number of cases. Banks, post offices and authority offic… |
 Rwanda | Mandatory | National Identity Card | — | — | Digital photo, Fingerprint+1 | Compulsory for all Rwandan citizens living in the country, with a price of 1500 RWF. Valid for international travel to Kenya and Uganda |
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Mandatory | National Identity Card | — | — | — | — |
 San Marino | Mandatory | San Marino identity card | — | — | — | Compulsory for all Sanmarinese citizens. Biometric and valid for international travel since 2016 |
 Saudi Arabia | Mandatory | National Identity Card | Ministry of Interior | — | Photo, Fingerprint+1 | Compulsory for men 17 and older and optional for teenage men aged 15–16. Optional for women but issued to women 18 and older. Compulsory for citizens, expatriates, and residents |
 Senegal | Mandatory | National Identification and Voters Card | Ministry of Interior | Photo, Fingerprint+1 | — | Compulsory for all citizens. Biometric since 2017 |
 Serbia | Mandatory | Lična karta (Лична карта) (Identity card) | Ministry of Interior | ID Number, Name+5 | — | Compulsory for citizens 16 and older permanently residing in Serbia, and compulsory for non-citizens residing in Serbia. Optional for minors 10–15 |
 Seychelles | Mandatory | National Identity card | — | — | — | Compulsory for all Seychelles citizens, with a cost of SR50 |
 Sierra Leone | Mandatory | Sierra Leone identity card | — | — | — | Compulsory for citizens and permanent residents with a price of 10,000 SLL every 5 years |
 Singapore | Mandatory | National Registration Identity Card | — | ID Number, Photo+7 | — | Compulsory for citizens and permanent residents 15 and older and must be renewed upon turning 30 and upon turning 55 if born after January 1962. The NRIC does not need to be carried at all times, and it need not be produced to police officers who are merely screening passers-b… |
 Slovakia | Mandatory | Slovak ID Card | — | ID Number, Photo+3 | — | Compulsory for citizens 15 and older and is used to identify the bearer in daily interaction with authorities |
 Slovenia | Mandatory | Identity Card | — | ID Number, Photo | — | Osebna izkaznica (identity card) is issued for citizens 18 and older who have a permanent residence in Slovenia who do not have a passport Citizens younger than 18 may obtain an identity card with their legal ascendant(s) permission. It must be carried at all times |
 Somalia | Mandatory | Warqadda Aqoonsiga (identity card) | — | — | — | Compulsory for all Somali citizens. Electronic since 2014 |
 South Africa | Mandatory | South African identity card | — | Fingerprint | — | Compulsory for citizens 16 and older, and compulsory for all non-citizen permanent residents. The older form of Identity Document, in the form of a green booklet, began being phased out in 2013 |
 South Korea | Mandatory | 주민등록증 (Identity card) | — | — | — | — |
 South Sudan | Mandatory | National ID | — | — | — | Issued to every South Sudanese of at least eighteen years of age for purposes of employment or as required by a “competent authority.” |
 Spain | Mandatory | DNIe | Directorate General of Police | Photo, Fingerprint+1 | — | Compulsory for anyone 14 and older. Minors younger than 14 can obtain a DNI, for example, to travel to other European countries |
 Sri Lanka | Mandatory | Sri Lanka National Identity Card | Department for Registration | ID Number, Photo+3 | — | All citizens over the age of 16 need to apply for a National Identity Card (NIC), all citizens are required to carry their NIC on them at all times as proof of identity, given the security situation in the country |
 Sudan | Mandatory | National identity card | Ministry of Interior | Name, Birth Date+4 | — | Compulsory for all Sudanese citizens |
 Suriname | Mandatory | Identiteitskaart (national identity card) | — | — | — | Compulsory for all Surinamese citizens |
 Sweden | Voluntary | nationellt id-kort | Police | ID Number, Photo+6 | Digital photo | Having an identity card in Sweden is not mandatory, but it is needed in several situations, e.g. for bank services or when picking up a package at a post office |
 Switzerland | Mandatory | Identitätskarte | Federal Office of Police | ID Number, Photo+9 | — | The Swiss identity card is issued to any citizen. It is not mandatory to carry, but it or a passport is needed in some situations. Driver's licenses are not always valid as identity document as they don't expire and can be old |
 Syria | Mandatory | Special ID Card | — | Fingerprint | — | Compulsory for all Syrian citizens. Must be uptained at the age of 14. Information displayed in Arabic only |
 Taiwan | Mandatory | Republic of China National Identification Card | — | ID Number, Photo+2 | — | Compulsory for ROC nationals 14 and older whose household is registered in Taiwan |
 Tajikistan | Mandatory | Корти миллии миллӣ (national ID card) | — | — | — | Compulsory for all Tajik citizens. Electronic, with informations displayed in both Tajik and English since 2015 |
 Thailand | Mandatory | บัตรประจำตัวประชาชน (Thai national ID card) | Ministry of Justive | — | — | Compulsory for citizens who are 7 – 70 years of age. People older than 70 years and exempted citizen can still apply for a card. A fee of ฿100 is payable in case of loss, damage or information alteration |
 Timor-Leste | Mandatory | Bilhete de Identidade (Identity Card) | — | ID Number, Photo+11 | Digital photograph, Fingerprints+1 | Compulsory for all East Timorese citizens. Issued since 2018, with EU and Portuguese funds |
 Trinidad and Tobago | Mandatory | National Identification Card | — | Photo | — | The Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) is responsible for the issuing of National Identification Cards. A National Identification (ID) Card is issued to a citizen or eligible resident when they register to vote Eligible for the card are citizens of Trinidad and Tobago o… |
 Tunisia | Mandatory | طاقة التعريف الوطنية (Tunisian National Identification Card) | — | Fingerprint | — | Compulsory for citizens 18 and older. A minor can obtain a national identity card with a legal ascendant(s) approval |
 Turkey | Mandatory | Kimlik Kartı (Identity card) | Ministry of Interior | Photo, Fingerprint | — | Compulsory from birth and must be carried at all times. A photograph is optional until the bearer turns 15. It is often photocopied at government offices, banks, and the like |
 Uganda | Mandatory | Nationa Identity Card | Ministry of Internal Affairs | ID Number, Photo+8 | — | Compulsory for all Rwandan citizens living in the country, with a price of 1500 RWF. Valid for international travel to Kenya and Uganda |
 Ukraine | Mandatory | Паспорт громадянина України (Passport of Ukrainian citizen) | — | — | — | Compulsory for citizens 14 and older. Before 2016, the national identity card was a blue soft paper booklet like the typical international passport. In 2016, the government began issuing credit-card-sized biometric identity cards (a/k/a "internal passport" or "passport card") … |
 United Arab Emirates | Mandatory | طاقة الهوية الوطنية (National ID Card) | — | — | — | Compulsory for citizens, expatriates and residents. This is also known as Emirates ID |
 United Kingdom | Voluntary | Identity Card | Home Office | Photo, Name+4 | — | Identity cards were introduced on a limited voluntary basis in 2009 under the Identity Cards Act 2006 |
 Uruguay | Mandatory | Cedula de Identida | Ministerio del Interior y la Dirección Nacional de Indentificación Civil (D.N.I.C) | Photo, Name+5 | Facial image and one fingerprint (right thumb) | The Identity document (previously known as "Cédula de idenitdad"), are issued to all Uruguayan citizens and legal residents, Required for children older than 45 day |
 Uzbekistan | Mandatory | Shaxs Guvohnmasi (National identity card) | — | — | — | National identity card have officially Uzbek passports internally in 2021 |
 Venezuela | Mandatory | Documento de identidad nacional | Servicio Administrativo de identificación, Migración y Extranjería / Ministerio del Poder Popular para Relaciones Interiores y Justicia | Photo, Name+5 | Facial image and one fingerprint | Compulsory for anyone 10 and older, and it must be renewed every 10 years |
 Vietnam | Mandatory | National ID Card | — | Nationality, Fingerprint | — | All citizens above 14 years old must possess a citizen identification card (latest version is an electronic ID card), provided by the local authority, and must be reissued when the citizens' years of age reach 25, 40 and 60. Formerly a people's ID document was used |
 Zambia | Mandatory | National Registration Card | — | — | — | Compulsory for citizens aged 16 and older. It is laminated and must be carried at all times |
 Zimbabwe | Mandatory | National Registration Card | — | Fingerprint | — | Compulsory for citizens 16 and older. It is plastic and must be carried at all times |
Quick answers
- Where does this national identity card policies by country data come from?
- Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Identity Cards by Country - Identity-Cards.Net; List of national identity card policies by country - Wiki; DNA and biometrics - GeneWatch.