Top-Notch ID Document Processing Worldwide: Kyrgyzstan

The Kyrgyz Republic became independent in 1991 after the dissolution of the USSR. This historical background still influences its identity documents, many of which include text fields in Russian (an official language in Kyrgyzstan), while most data is provided in Kyrgyz and English. 

Kyrgyz, the state language, belongs to the Turkic language family, but its writing system uses the Cyrillic script. 

Another legacy of the Soviet era is the inclusion of patronymic names alongside given names. However, in modern Kyrgyzstan IDs, this field is often left blank. 

Now, let’s explore the three most common types of ID used in the country.

Over the past five years, the Kyrgyz Republic passport has been updated twice, and both versions are currently in circulation.

The first biometric Kyrgyzstan passport was introduced in 2021 — its first update since 2006. This version brought several changes, including a polycarbonate datapage, a redesigned layout, and modern security features such as Optically Variable Ink (OVI), a Multiple Laser Image (MLI), and a hologram.

In 2025, the passport of Kyrgyzstan was further upgraded with more than 30 security features. These include two transparent windows on the datapage, each incorporating national ornamental designs.

Despite these changes, the layout and dataset in the latest Kyrgyz Republic passport have remained largely the same.

Both Kyrgyz passport versions feature three portraits (two on the datapage, and one on the adjacent page) and standard identification information. 

In Kyrgyzstan passports, the patronymic (if present) appears next to the given name, making that field longer or shorter depending on the entry.

Personal data is printed in Kyrgyz and English, while the electronic chip stores mostly English-language data, as seen in the machine-readable zone (MRZ).   

The 2025 Kyrgyzstan passport update also coincided with the recent redesign of the State Flag, which appears on the inner cover of both passport versions.

With modern design and advanced security, Kyrgyz passports are well-suited for online verification. Dynamic security features (like MLI and OVI) are useful for liveness detection, while the electronic chip ensures a faster and more reliable process.

The Kyrgyzstan ID card has gone through several updates over the decades. Interestingly, five generations of the card are still in circulation today.

The earliest is the 2005 version. As of 2024, around 800,000 citizens still hold this card. It’s a plastic, non-biometric document that includes basic information like name, date of birth, and nationality, all in Kyrgyz. It also features three portraits and an MRZ code.

In 2017, the first biometric card was introduced, bringing a new design and updated security features. The document includes an MLI with a ghost portrait and the date of birth, a hologram, and two barcodes on the reverse side. These barcodes store the document and personal numbers, which can be matched against the visual and MRZ data.

The 2020 card brought no major design changes, but added an Ethnicity field on the back. While ethnic Kyrgyz people make up the majority of the population, the country is also home to Uzbeks, Russians, Dungans, Tajiks, and other groups. 

The fourth series of Kyrgyzstan ID cards was introduced in 2024. Key changes include using ‘I’ instead of ‘ID’ as the document code in the MRZ, and slight updates to some text field labels.

Then, in 2025, a newly designed card was launched alongside the updated Kyrgyzstan passport. This version introduced new security features, including a transparent window along one edge, and removed the barcodes.

While verifying the 2005 card is mostly OCR-based, biometric versions support NFC verification, MRZ and barcode analysis, and liveness checks, thanks to their dynamic security features and machine-readable elements. However, to perform any of these checks properly, you need a specimen for each series.

This identity document has a story of continuous updates. Since 2005, Kyrgyzstan has updated its driver’s license three times, with each version becoming more modern and secure. Like ID cards, Kyrgyzstan driver’s licenses are valid for ten years, though you may occasionally see documents without a specific expiration date.

The 2005 series is now obsolete but still relevant as a historical specimen. This non-biometric license featured one portrait and personal data in Kyrgyz (on the front) and Russian (on the back). It included details such as blood type, driving experience, and any restrictions.

In 2012, the license adopted an EU-style design and dataset. Text fields were replaced with numerical codes, and all information was presented only in Kyrgyz. Notably, the 4b field (which indicates the validity period) is sometimes left empty in this series.

The most widespread version today is the 2019 series. This version introduced a new design and layout, with data in both Kyrgyz and English. In addition to the holograms seen in previous versions, the 2019 license features an MLI and OVI on the front. The numeric field format remained unchanged. Like earlier versions, it doesn’t include a separate field for a patronymic.

The latest update arrived in 2025. This version not only had a new design but also changed the card’s orientation to portrait. Interestingly, as with the Kyrgyz passports, 2019-series licenses will continue to be issued until the current stock of blank forms is used up. 

The 2025 license includes more than 20 security features. One of its most distinctive elements is a transparent edge running across the top.

To verify these licenses online, you need a full toolkit to recognize each version. Although all Kyrgyzstan driver’s licenses are non-biometric, OCR and liveness checks are essential for confirming authenticity. Due to variations in layout and design across versions, valid templates are required for accurate verification.

Thanks to the recent updates, Kyrgyzstan now has some of the most secure travel and domestic IDs in the region. To check them reliably in remote identity verification scenarios, your software should support the following capabilities:

• Valid templates: This is essential when multiple document series are in circulation. Kyrgyzstan is a notable case, with three valid passports, five ID card versions, and three driver’s license formats. At Regula, we monitor these frequent updates and add them to our document template database, which now includes over 16,000 templates from 254 countries and territories.

• Document liveness checks: Dynamic security features, such as OVIs, MLIs, and holograms, are present in all Kyrgyzstan IDs. They enable effective liveness detection, helping to block AI-generated IDs, screen-based forgeries, and other tampering attempts. It’s also good to have an injection detector in your IDV toolkit to prevent attacks that target the video feed.

• NFC verification: Biometric Kyrgyz passports and ID cards significantly improve security in online verification. Kyrgyzstan chips are fully ICAO-compliant, meaning a standard NFC reader is enough to access and verify the data they contain.

• Kyrgyz-native IDV support: Kyrgyz uses a Cyrillic script, which can be challenging for solutions designed mainly for Latin-based documents. Make sure your system accurately reads and processes Kyrgyz text without issues.

• Face matching: Many Kyrgyzstan IDs include secondary or ghost portraits. These can be compared to a user’s selfie — and to each other — to improve the reliability of photo-based checks.

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