This is a list of identity card policies by country.
Contents
- Countries with compulsory identity cards
- Countries with non compulsory identity cards
- Countries with no identity cards
- References
A national identity card is defined as an identity card with photo, usable as an identity card at least inside the country, and which is issued by an official authority. Driver's licenses and other cards indicating certain permissions are not counted as national identity cards.
Countries with compulsory identity cards
According to a 1996 publication by Privacy International, around 100 countries had enacted laws making identity cards compulsory. In these countries, the card must be shown on demand by authorised personnel under specified circumstances. In some countries alternative proof of identity, such as a driving licence is acceptable. Privacy International said that "virtually no common law country has a card".
The term "compulsory" may have different meanings and implications in different countries. Possession of a card may only become compulsory at a certain age. There may be a penalty for not carrying a card or other legally valid identification (a passport, for foreigners); in some cases a person may be detained until identity is proven. This way the police can identify fugitives. In some countries, police need a reason, such as crime suspicion or security risk. In other countries, police can ask for id without stating a reason. Random checks are rare, except in police states. Normally there is an age limit, such as 18, from which the possession is mandatory, even if 15- to 17-year-olds might need a card in order to prove that they are under 18.
In countries of the European Union, a national identity card complying to certain standards can, in most cases be used by European citizens as a travel document, in place of a passport.
Countries with non-compulsory identity cards
These are countries where official authorities issue identity cards to those who request them, but where it is not illegal to be without an official identity document. For some services, identification is needed, but documents such as passports or identity cards issued by banks or driving licences can be used. In countries where national identity cards are fully voluntary, they are often not so commonly used, because many already have a passport or driving licence, so a third identity document is often considered superfluous.
Countries with no identity cards
These are countries where official authorities do not issue any identity cards. When identification is needed, e.g. passports, identity cards issued by banks etc., or cards that are not mainly identity cards like driver's licenses can be used. Most countries that are not listed at all in this page have no National ID Card.