Global InformationNational identity cards in the European Economic Area and Switzerland information
| National identity card | |
|---|---|
  Examples of European standard ID cards issued in Greece and Norway. ID cards issued in EFTA countries do not feature the EU flag. | |
| Type | Identity card |
| Issued by |  Member states of the European Economic Area |
| First issued | 2 August 2021 (new EU-standard) |
| In circulation | 53 million (2023, new EU-standard)[1] ~200 million (total)[2] |
| Valid in | EU[3] and  EFTA[4]    European microstates Albania[5] Bosnia and Herzegovina[6] Faroe Islands French Overseas Territories Georgia (excluding Abkhazia and South Ossetia)
Various other countries and territories depending on the country of issue |
| Eligibility | Citizens of the European Economic Area |
| Expiration | New cards: Maximum 10 years Non-MRZ: 2 Aug 2026 |
| Size | ID-1 |
National identity cards are identity documents issued to citizens of most European Union and European Economic Area (EEA) member states, with the exception of Denmark[12] and Ireland (which however issues an equivalent passport card).[13] As a new common identity card model replaced the various formats in use from 2 August 2021, recently issued ID cards are harmonized across the EEA, while older ID cards are currently being phased out according to Regulation (EU) 2019/1157.
As of 2021, there are approximately 200 million national identity cards in use in the EU/EEA, including 53 million of the new EU-standard cards.[1] They are compulsory in 15 EEA/EFTA countries, voluntary in 11 countries and in 5 countries they are semi-compulsory (some form of identification required). Where the card is compulsory, in some member countries it is required to be carried at all times, while in other countries the mere possession of the card is sufficient.[14]
Citizens holding a national identity card, which states citizenship of an EEA member state or Switzerland, can use it as an identity document within their home country, and as a travel document to exercise the right of free movement in the EEA and Switzerland.[15]: Articles 4 and 5 [16][17] However, identity cards that do not state citizenship of an EEA member state or Switzerland, including residence permits or residence cards issued to non-citizens, are not valid as travel documents within the EEA and Switzerland.[18][19][20]
- ^ a b REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE pursuant to Article 13(1) of 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
- ^ "UK bars more than 200 million EU citizens who have ID cards but no passports". The Independent. 1 October 2021.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:5was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
:4was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Who can enter Albania without a Visa" (PDF). ambasadat.gov.al.
- ^ "BASIC INFORMATION ON ENTRY AND STAY OF ALIENS IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA". Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 27 September 2016.
- ^ "Sherbimet Konsullore". Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Republic of Kosovo.
- ^ "Lista documentelor de călătorie emise de ţări terţe, entităţi şi autorităţi teritoriale, acceptate de Republica Moldova" [List of travel documents issued by third countries, entities and territorial authorities, accepted by the Republic of Moldova]. lex.justice.md (in Romanian). 18 September 2014.
- ^ "Montengro Visa Regime: Norway". visit-montenegro.com.
- ^ "Traveling to Macedonia - Visa Policy and Information". Travel Macedonia. 15 December 2021.
- ^ "Visa regime". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia.
- ^ "Legitimationskort". Borger.dk. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- ^ "Get a Passport Card". Department of Foreign Affairs.
- ^ 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
- ^ Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States amending Regulation (EEC) No 1612/68 and repealing Directives 64/221/EEC, 68/360/EEC, 72/194/EEC, 73/148/EEC, 75/34/EEC, 75/35/EEC, 90/364/EEC, 90/365/EEC and 93/96/EEC
- ^ "APPENDIX 1 Movement of persons (Art. 20)" (PDF). Article 1.
- ^ Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation, of the other, on the free movement of persons - Final Act - Joint Declarations - Information relating to the entry into force of the seven Agreements with the Swiss Confederation in the sectors free movement of persons, air and land transport, public procurement, scientific and technological cooperation, mutual recognition in relation to conformity assessment, and trade in agricultural products
- ^ "How to use the identity card". Police. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ "Om pass og ID-kort". Politiet (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ "What is it? - Applying for an ID card for an adult". Police and Border Guard Board. Retrieved 20 March 2021.