National identity (ID) cards play a critical role in domestic identity systems worldwide. They appear in a range of identity verification scenarios, from routine tasks like mobile banking and accessing government benefits to international travel.
Just like passports, ID cards must be periodically updated. While some countries treat this as a historic milestone—such as Iceland’s first update since 1967—most adhere to regular renewal cycles with time spans of five to ten years.
The result? A variety of ID cards from different series in circulation that companies need to handle during identity verification (IDV).
This article explores the key drivers behind ID card updates, presenting intriguing global examples and highlighting cases your IDV solution must address.
Reason 1: New ID series launch
The renewal of ID cards often coincides with the release of new passport series—a strategy adopted by many states.
In some cases, such as in Chile and Finland, both ID documents have a similar design. This unification is reasonable for cost efficiency and streamlining IDV procedures, as it makes the passport and ID card from a specific country easily recognizable by inspectors.
In 2024, Chile replaced its 2013 passport and ID card series, unifying them through consistent design and security features. In particular, both documents feature motifs of the South Andean huemul, Chile’s national animal, and its iconic mountain landscapes.
Finland updated its passport and ID card simultaneously twice, in 2017 and 2023. On both occasions, the documents featured consistent design elements.
However, a simultaneous release does not always mean the "similarity" rule is followed. For example, the new Paraguayan passport and ID card issued in 2024 feature distinct designs.
Updated in 2023, the Paraguayan ID card and passport received the award for Best New ID or Travel Document at the HSP Latin America event. The ID card features vibrant visual elements inspired by the country’s rich heritage, while the passport adopts a sleek, minimalist design.
Reason 2: Compliance with standards
When updating identity documents, including ID cards, countries often align with local agreements and international standards, such as the ICAO’s Doc 9303.
For example, in 2014, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) introduced a standardized biometric ID card for all the citizens of its member states. The card serves as both a travel document within the associated countries and a residence permit. It’s designed to meet ICAO standards for this type of ID.
Senegal is among six ECOWAS countries that introduced the new version of the document.
The Senegalese ID card complies with ECOWAS requirements, featuring the corresponding inscription and emblem.
There are also examples of ID card updates driven by regional compliance in the EU. One key requirement for ID cards there is the inclusion of the EU flag on the front. Croatia and the Netherlands incorporated this feature in their 2021 series.
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Since 2021, the Croatian ID card has featured the EU flag emblem.
In 2021, the Netherlands added the EU emblem to its ID cards. In 2024, the design was updated again to include the Dutch flag alongside the EU flag.
France is an example of a country with more conservative preferences regarding identity documents. The state updated its ID in 2024 for the first time since 1994. Along with the addition of the EU emblem, the latest version has enhanced security features and a new design. Interestingly, both the previous and the current series are laminated.
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In the latest 2024 series of the ID card, France retained the laminated upper layer despite using a polycarbonate substrate.
International standards for identity documents also influence the design of ID cards. For instance, Turkey previously issued non-machine-readable documents in a portrait-oriented format with gender-specific colors—orange or red for females and blue for males. In 2016, these were replaced with standard TD1 cards featuring modern security enhancements.
In 2016, Turkey replaced its laminated paper-based ID cards with ICAO-compliant polycarbonate documents. However, the old series IDs remain valid as they have no expiration date.
Reason 3: A format upgrade
The secure printing landscape is constantly evolving with new solutions. Not surprisingly, many states aim to keep up with the latest trends by updating their identity documents.
The evolution of ID card formats typically follows this progression:
Handwritten → Printed → Machine-readable → Biometric → Digital
Shifting to a new format can take years, especially in countries with large populations. For example, both handwritten and machine-readable ID cards are still in use in Sri Lanka.
A multi-phase transition to advanced ID formats often helps identify and address inconsistencies or technical issues during the verification of newly issued IDs. Italy provides a clear example, transitioning from paper-based IDs in the 1994 series to the current biometric version in 2022. Along the way, the ID card underwent several updates, including the addition of a machine-readable zone in 2001 and security features like a barcode on the reverse side, holograms, and Optically Variable Ink (OVI) in 2016.
Italy has updated its ID card four times, with the latest series from 2022 meeting EU regulations. However, the original paper-based ID cards are still valid.
The story behind the Greek ID card update is much shorter. The country skipped several steps altogether by transitioning from a printed, non-standard document to a polycarbonate biometric ID containing advanced features like a LASINK portrait, a multiple laser image (MLI), OVI, and a hologram.
Despite the introduction of a brand-new series in 2023, the older Greek IDs will remain valid until 2026.
While the number of states issuing biometric ID cards continues to grow, many are moving to the next stage: digital formats. Countries adopting digital IDs include Chile, India, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the Philippines, among others.
As the most advanced form of identity verification to date, digital IDs come in various formats, ranging from printed A4 documents with unique QR codes to fully digital assets integrated into government-managed mobile apps.
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As of 2024, Saudi Arabia issued over 28 million digital IDs to its citizens. Launched as part of the country’s Vision 2030 development goals, the service is also available to temporary residents and Hajj pilgrims.
Reason 4: Security enhancement
Almost all ID card updates, including many of the examples mentioned above, aim to enhance the document’s security. In fact, improving security is often the primary goal behind any identity document update project.
As ID cards progress along the path from handwritten to digital formats, each step forward strengthens their resistance to counterfeiting. Fraudsters must continually evolve their methods to imitate advanced features found in polycarbonate documents that paper-based ID cards lack.
Germany introduced a polycarbonate ID card in 2010, replacing the paper laminated version. Later, it updated the design to meet EU standards, including an EU flag on the front. The 2021 series features advanced security, compared to the previous versions.
Also, the presence of RFID chips in biometric documents poses a significant challenge for counterfeiters, further bolstering security.
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Bulgaria began issuing biometric ID cards in 2024. Along with a larger photograph of the holder, the document includes an electronic record of fingerprint and facial biometric data to enhance security.
Barcodes also enhance the security of ID cards. For example, many EU countries include them on the reverse side of their documents. Barcodes, which can only be authenticated by authorized document readers, store additional information about the holder, including their biometrics.
Adding a QR code to the reverse side was one of the key updates made to the Austrian ID card in 2021.
The number of security features can also be increased when enhancing ID cards. For example, El Salvador’s updated ID card, introduced in 2022, includes 37 security features. Among these is an MLI, which incorporates the holder’s birth date and portrait through laser engraving.
El Salvador's updated ID card features two ghost portraits, one of which is presented as an MLI.
Another essential security feature found in many modern ID cards is the hologram. As a dynamic security feature, holograms enable reliable authentication of identity documents, even in online verification scenarios that include liveness detection checks.
Austrian ID cards from the 2010 and 2021 series also differ in their holograms. The security feature in the latest version is larger and has a more intricate design.
Final thoughts
ID cards have many individual features that can make verification challenging, especially when comparing documents issued by different countries or even administrative regions within the same country. For example, each US state has its own unique ID card design and layout. In India, ID cards can be issued in one of 13 national languages. Additionally, expiration terms vary widely—from a few years to several decades—and some ID cards are even permanently valid.
The solution to these challenges lies in having a comprehensive ID card template database that includes all existing options. This is essential for companies relying on ID cards for customer verification.
Regula offers precisely this with its advanced IDV tools. The Information Reference System and the identity document template database, integrated with Regula Document Reader SDK, simplify ID card verification for both manual and automated workflows.
What challenges do you face when verifying ID cards? Let’s discuss!