European identity card

The European identity card[2][3] is an electronic identity document intended to replace and standardise the various identity card styles currently in use in the member states of the European Union (EU), and the European Economic Area (EEA).[lower-alpha 1] It was created by Regulation (EU) 2019/1157 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on strengthening the security of identity cards of Union citizens and of residence documents issued to Union citizens and their family members exercising their right of free movement, which is scheduled to enter into force on 2 August 2021.[5][6]

This article is about the upcoming identity document intended to replace current national identity cards in the European Union. For identity cards currently issued in EU member states, see National identity cards in the European Economic Area.

European identity card
Example of the new common design: The new German identity card as to be issued starting from 2 August 2021
TypeElectronic identity card
Issued by Member states of the European Economic Area[lower-alpha 1]
First issued2 August 2021
PurposeAccess to unified identity document in any of the EEA member states
Valid in
EligibilityCitizenship of:
The EU
Iceland
Liechtenstein
Norway
Switzerland
Regulation 2019/1157
European Union regulation
Text with EEA relevance
TitleRegulation (EU) 2019/1157 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on strengthening the security of identity cards of Union citizens and of residence documents issued to Union citizens and their family members exercising their right of free movement [1]
Made byEuropean Parliament & Council
Journal reference
Current legislation

Identity cards not meeting the new requirements shall cease to be valid at their expiry or by 3 August 2031. Identity cards which do not meet the minimum security standards or which do not include a functional MRZ shall cease to be valid by 3 August 2026. Identity cards of persons aged 70 and above at 2 August 2021, which meet the minimum security standards and which have a functional MRZ shall cease to be valid at their expiry.[7]

In August 2020, Cyprus began issuing ID cards conforming to the European identity card requirements.[8]

Use

Travel document

As an alternative to presenting a passport, EEA and Swiss citizens are entitled to use a valid national identity card as a stand-alone travel document to exercise their right of free movement in the European Economic Area and Switzerland.[9][10][11] The United Kingdom will accept it until 30 September 2021 for tourism and until at least 31 December 2025 for specific reasons.[12]

Strictly speaking, it is not necessary for an EEA or Swiss citizen to possess a valid national identity card or passport to enter the EEA and Switzerland. In theory, if an EEA or Swiss citizen can prove their nationality by any other means (e.g. by presenting an expired national identity card or passport, or a citizenship certificate), they must be permitted to enter the EEA and Switzerland. An EEA or Swiss citizen who is unable to demonstrate their nationality satisfactorily must, nonetheless, be given 'every reasonable opportunity' to obtain the necessary documents or to have them delivered within a reasonable period of time.[13][14][15][16][17]

Identification document
Identity documentation requirements for citizens

There are varying rules on domestic usage of identity documents. Some countries demand the usage of the national identity card or a passport. In other countries, e.g. Austria, Finland and Sweden, national identity cards are fully voluntary and not needed by everyone, as identity documents like driving licences are accepted domestically.

Common design and security features

Articles 3/4/5 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1157 state that:[7]

  • Identity cards shall be in ID-1 format and shall contain a machine-readable zone (MRZ).
  • Security standards shall be based on ICAO Document 9303.
  • The document shall bear the title ‘Identity card’ in the official language and in at least one other official language of the institutions of the Union.
  • The front side shall contain the two-letter country code of the Member State issuing the card printed in negative in a blue rectangle and encircled by 12 yellow stars.
  • It shall include a highly secure storage medium which shall contain a facial image of the holder of the card and two fingerprints in interoperable digital formats. The storage medium shall have sufficient capacity and capability to guarantee the integrity, the authenticity and the confidentiality of the data. The data stored shall be accessible in contactless form and secured as provided for in Implementing Decision C(2018) 7767.
  • Identity cards shall have a minimum period of validity of 5 years and a maximum period of validity of 10 years. But Member States may provide for a period of validity of less than 5 years for minors and more than 10 years for persons aged 70 and above.

Overview of national identity cards

Member-states are responsible for issuing national identity cards that meet the technical requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/1157, in accordance with their own issuing procedures and requirements.

Member state Front Reverse Compulsory/ optional Cost Validity Issuing authority Latest version

Cyprus
 Link to image Link to image Compulsory for Cypriot citizens aged 12 or over
  • €30 (adults)
  • €20 (children)
  • 10 years (adults)
  • 5 years (children)
 12 August 2020
Germany Optional; however, a national identity card or passport is compulsory for German citizens aged 16 or over, and valid identity documentation is compulsory for other EEA citizens
  • €28.80 (applicants aged 24 or over)
  • €22.80 (applicants aged under 24)
  • 10 years (applicants aged 24 or over)
  • 6 years (applicants aged under 24)
  • City or town of residence
  • German embassy in country of residence (for German citizens living abroad)
 From 2 August 2021

See also

Notes
  1. The legal acquis has been identified as EEA-relevant by the EU Commission, which makes it under scrutiny for incorporation into the EEA Agreement by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. However, the legal basis rely on Article 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, an article which is not reflected in the EEA Agreement.[4]

References
  1. "EUR-Lex - 32019R1157 - EN - EUR-Lex". eur-lex.europa.eu. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  2. "The legal and political context for setting up a European identity document" (PDF). Directorate-General for Internal Policies. 2016.
  3. "Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on strengthening the security of identity cards of Union citizens and of residence documents issued to Union citizens and their family members exercising their right of free movement" (PDF). European Commission. 2018.
  4. "Fri bevegelse av personer: styrket sikkerhet av ID-kort og oppholdsdokumenter | europalov". europalov.no. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  5. "Regulation (EU) 2019/1157 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on strengthening the security of identity cards of Union citizens and of residence documents issued to Union citizens and their family members exercising their right of free movement". European Free Trade Association. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  6. "Improving security for EU ID cards" (PDF). European Parliamentary Research Service. 2020.
  7. "EUR-Lex - 32019R1157 - EN - EUR-Lex". eur-lex.europa.eu. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  8. Chrysostomou, Annette. "New type of ID cards now being issued | Cyprus Mail". cyprus-mail.com/. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  9. Articles 4 and 5 of the Citizens’ Rights Directive 2004/38/EC (L 158, pp. 77–123)
  10. "APPENDIX 1 Movement of persons (Art. 20)" (PDF). Article 1.
  11. "EUR-Lex - 22002A0430(01) - EN". Official Journal L 114. 30 April 2002. pp. 0006–0072. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  12. "Visiting the UK: information for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens". GOV.UK. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  13. Article 5(4) of the Citizens’ Rights Directive 2004/38/EC (L 158, pp. 77–123)
  14. Practical Handbook for Border Guards, Part II, section I, point 2.9 (C (2019) 7131)
  15. Judgment of the European Court of Justice of 17 February 2005, Case C 215/03, Salah Oulane vs. Minister voor Vreemdelingenzaken en Integratie
  16. Regulation 11 of the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016
  17. "Processing British and EEA Passengers without a valid Passport or Travel Document" (PDF).
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