List of national identity card policies by country

A national identity document is an identity card with a photo, usable as an identity card at least inside the country, and which is issued by an official national authority. Identity cards can be issued voluntarily or may be compulsory to possess as a resident or citizen.

Driving licences and other cards issued by state or regional governments indicating certain permissions are not counted here as national identity cards. So for example, by this criterion, the United States driver's license is excluded, as these are issued by local (state) governments.

Identity card policies by country Generally, most countries in the world issue identity cards, with fewer than 10 countries worldwide not issuing them, mostly confined to the anglosphere, microstates and unrecognised states. Many states issue voluntary identity cards to citizens as a convenience. As of 1996, identity cards were compulsory in over 100 countries. In these countries, the meaning of compulsory varies.

In the European Union, an EU/EEA national identity card can be used to travel freely within the EU/EEA in lieu of a passport.Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Right of Citizens of the Union and their Family Members to Move and Reside Freely Within the Territory of the Member States, 2004 O.J. L 158/77. Similarly, in South America, citizens may use an identity card to travel between MERCOSUR states. In many other areas of the world, simplified travel arrangements are in place for neighbouring countries, allowing the use of identity cards for travel.

Countries with compulsory identity cards The term "compulsory" may have different meanings and implications in different countries. of a card may only become compulsory at a certain age. There may be a penalty for not a card or identification such as a driving licence. In some cases a person may be detained until identity is proven. This facilitates police identification of fugitives. In some countries, police need a reason to ask for identification, such as suspicion of a crime or security risk, while in others, they can do so without stating a reason. Random checks are rare, except in police states. Normally there is an age limit, such as 18, after which possession is mandatory, even if minors aged 15–17 may need a card in order to prove that they are under 18.

CountryName Description Аҧсны Атәылауаҩшәҟәы(Abkhaz Internal Passport) The Abkhaz passport is issued to citizens of the Republic of Abkhazia for the purpose of international travel and for the purpose of legal identification within Abkhazia (internal and international passports are combined, similar to other post-Soviet countries). As Abkhazia is only recognised by Russia, Venezuela, Syria, Nicaragua and Nauru, for all other destinations Abkhazian citizens must use another passport (most of them use Russian passports) for international travel. Tazkira(National Identity Document) The Tazkira includes a certificate of citizenship and an electronic ID card, which contain a 13-digit national identification number. Both of these documents are issued by the National Statistics and Information Authority to a citizen of Afghanistan. The 13-digit national identification number also appears in an Afghan passport, which is issued by the General Directorate of Passports. Letërnjoftimi(Albanian Identity Card) The Letërnjoftimi is an electronic biometric ID card, compulsory upon 16 years old and costs 1,200 lekë (€10). بطاقة التعريف الوطنية / Carte nationale d’identité (Algerian National Identity card) The Algerian national identity card is an electronic biometric ID card, compulsory for all Algerian nationals and costs 2,500 Algerian Dinar. Bilhete de identidade de cidadão nacional (national citizen identity card) The Angolan national identity is compulsory. It contains the person's name, date of birth, date and place of issue, validity, filiation, photo, marital status, fingerprint of the citizen's right indicator, a signature and address. Nevertheless, more than 12 million Angolans do not possess a national identity card. Electoral National Identification card The Antiguan and Barbudan national identity card is compulsory for voting as well as for different government transactions. Documento Nacional de Identidad (DNI)(National Identity Card) The 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. For many years, the DNI was issued as a small booklet (libreta). In 2009, the DNI was revamped and digitalized; and booklets were issued along with a card (tarjeta) simultaneously. Since 2012, DNIs are issued only in card format, and starting in 2015, it was announced that they should have a chip with information of the holder and NFC payment. However, this wasn't done until 2023, when there was a new ID with a chip inside for both citizens as well foreigners. The new DNI card is required to obtain a new Argentine passport and there are penalties if they aren't renewed in time. Şəxsiyyət vəsiqəsi(Azerbaijan Identity Card) The Şəxsiyyət vəsiqəsi is an ID card, compulsory upon 16 years old and costs 5 manats (around €2.50). It is not compulsory to carry it at all time.Central Popular Registration (CPR)Central Population Register (CPR) is a nine digit (all numeric) identification number which is also called as personal number issued for all the residents living in Bahrain. In order to use basic or any services, carry out financial transactions one must have CPR. National Identity Card (NID-Card)জাতীয় পরিচয়পত্র"National Identity" (NID) card is a compulsory electronic biometric identification for all citizens at the age of 18 and above. All Bangladeshis are issued with an NID Card which is required to obtain a passport, driving licence, or credit card, and to register land ownership, SIM Card, various allowance provided through Social Welfare Division of Bangladeshi Government etc. Moreover, Each citizen of Bangladesh is directed to have "Birth Registration Certificate" (BRC) immediately after birth. BRC is mandatory for obtaining NID and usually protect the identity of minors who are not eligible for NID due to age restriction. Нацыянальная ідэнтыфікацыйная карта (Belarus national identity card (since 2021)) Belarus did until 2021 combine the international Belarusian passport and the internal passport into one document. Issued passports are valid until its 10 year expiry. the old passport follows the international passport convention but has extra pages for domestic use. New biometric identity cards and new biometric passports were rolled out in 2021. The Belarusian passport or identity cards is compulsory at 14. Could be issued before 14 for travelling purposes. Identiteitskaart / Carte d’Identité / Personalausweis (Identity Card) 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. Apart from being a form of identification, the card also is used for authentication purposes. Future usages include using the eID as a library card, keycard for restricted areas or chatrooms and the digital signing of documents. It is expected that in 2009 all Belgians will have an eID card. They have to be carried at all times. Carte nationale d'identité (National identity card) Compulsory. Biometric since 2016. Bhutan citizenship card The Bhutanese national identity card is an electronic ID card, compulsory for all Bhutanese nationals and costs 100 Bhutanese ngultrum. Cédula de identidad (Identity Card) Compulsory at 18, but rarely demanded by police. Lična Karta / Osobna iskaznica (Identity Card) At the age of 16 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, one can obtain an ID card, but it does not grant any legal authority until turning 18 and then becomes mandatory and is to be carried at all times after turning 18. Omang (National Identity Card) 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. Valid for 10 years, whereupon it must be renewed and a new photograph taken. Must be presented upon request by any agent of the state, and the state requires all non-state institutions to use the national ID card as the only acceptable means of identification for citizens – passports and driver's licences should not be used, even though they contain most of the information on the ID card, including the ID card number. There are penalties for being issued a replacement card when it has been lost, however, if it is changed to update information on it only the application fee must be paid (e.g., upon expiry, and legal name changes as when a woman gets married and assumes her husband's surname). Every time a new one is issued for whatever reason, a new photograph must be taken. The individual keeps their national ID card number for life, and in recent years it has been linked to the birth certificate number of newborn infants (it is the same number). The national ID card must be surrendered to the government upon the demise of the individual, at which time it will be exchanged for an official death certificate. Brazil Identity Card (Identity Card) Compulsory to be issued since the age of 18 (though it can be substituted by a series of equivalent documents, see below). It is usually issued, for civilians, by the secretariat of public security of each unit of the federation, but other – including the Armed Forces, the Police and some professional councils – can issue alternate identity cards, too. All must meet certain specifications – they are all coloured green – but each unit of the federation can include minor differences such as the numbering scheme, font, printed seal, and background pattern.