Improving security, slashing ID fraud and identity theft and creating an infrastructure of trust for new on-line access are high on every government's agenda, with a call for greater security features and the necessary legislation to implement them.
Many advanced countries are now demonstrating that, beyond the security benefits for both states and individuals, national ID cards with their derived digital IDs can provide citizens and businesses with real services and benefits, without infringing upon new rules on data protection and civil liberties.
Secure national ID cards
Many countries are now upgrading their national documents and rolling out government-issued IDs in the form of a credit card.
These new ID documents are including high-security printing features to deter fraud.
Polycarbonate as a material of choice
Polycarbonate is an increasingly popular choice for many ID programs around the world, as it significantly enhances the level of ID document security.
We explain in detail what sets polycarbonate apart from other materials and why its layered structure is also ideally suited to the deployment of security features in our 2019 web dossier.
A digital identity for each citizen
These National ID programs are also the opportunity to create a secure digital identity for each cardholder. These secure electronic identity cards generally referred to as eID cards or simply eID's are opening the gate to secure and trusted online services.
The most common applications for these smart cards are in smart travel documents, electronic ID's, electronic signatures, municipal cards, key cards used to access secure areas or business infrastructures, social security cards, etc.
As the leading provider of secure, tailor-made ID solutions, Gemalto can help governments improve security and deploy electronic applications to offer better public services and cut administration costs.
Our expertise in numerous government ids around the world can also help accelerate the dynamics of your national digital framework of trust.
Gemalto's eID card solutions increase citizen protection, contribute to better control immigration and offer an effective means of ID checking such as
biometric authentication, using security that is always one step ahead. Gemalto offers a variety of secure eID cards with a range of professional solutions for a complete solution, which can be delivered as individual systems or using a managed service option.
ID cards and eID initiatives: a wealth of best practices to share
Gemalto is contributing to 40 national eID programs:
- in Europe (Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Italy, Finland, Norway, Sweden,
Portugal, Lithuania, Luxembourg),
- in the Middle East (Jordan, Kuwait Civil ID, Qatar, Oman, UAE, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia),
- in Africa (Algeria,
Cameroon,
Nigeria, South Africa),
- in Asia and Latin America with Macao, Hong Kong, Mongolia, or Uruguay to name a few.
The military CAC card used by the United States Department of Defense personnel is a very interesting example of a large deployment of an identification card with a strong online authentication mechanism.
National ID card and electronic ID: Benefits and trends
The idea of a National ID card that is valid for both the physical and digital domains has become a reality for millions of people.
In some countries, citizens, public and private organizations are starting to reap benefits.
We investigated in our recent report on what are these so-called digital dividends.
The past 10 years have been filled with incremental tech developments that are serving as a foundation for a much smarter citizen ID future.
Want to know more about trends?
In our web dossier on 2016-2018 facts and trends, we detail 5 major national ID trends that you may want to discover.
Understand why biometrics is intimately linked with identity. See how countries are implementing biometric authentication and create a state-of-the-art ID program.
Residence Permits
Gemalto eResidence Permit offers the most complete, versatile electronic European Residence Permit (eERP) solution tailored to customer needs.
The eResidence Permit enables governments to realize significant cost savings and reduce fraud and illegal immigration.
Gemalto has supplied its Residence Permit solutions to numerous countries, including the first generation of chipless products and now the second generation smart card-based solutions.
Multi-application national ID cards
Gemalto MultiApp ID is a Global Platform smart card solution for eID, eDriving License, eRegistration Certificate, and eHealthcare. It is a Public Key Java Card designed to meet the most advanced security requirements of long-term multi-application programs such as the ones launched by governments and health insurance initiatives.
MultiApp ID supports RSA up to 4096 bits and Elliptic Curves up to 521 bits in particular and has been Common Criteria EAL 5+ certified.
Gemalto MultiApp is the leading secure, open and standard-compliant operating platform for electronic document issuance. It supports a wide range of identity applications serving the deployment of a raft of citizen-centric government programs.
An innovative turnkey solution to federate eID programs
With contributions to more than 100 eGovernment programs to date, Gemalto has played a front-line role in making the new paradigm of secure multi-service electronic ID cards a reality.
Drawing on its extensive experience, the company has devised an innovative turnkey solution to federate eID programs across multiple government agencies, bringing together the best of smart card technology, software solutions, and multi-service apps.
Mobilize our financial and PPP experts
The development of secure and robust identity management systems is becoming ever more technically complex and involve significant investments.
The good news?
A number of convincing business models can be built around Identity Management projects and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is an effective instrument of delivery of services.
Gemalto’s experience in Public-Private Partnership financing models - such as BOO or BOT - also translates into a significant reduction in the Total Cost of Ownership for you.
And it works.
Related whitepapers
Enhanced Polycarbonate : Making the most of Polycarbonate for ID documents
Recent innovations, such as color laser-printing as well as enhanced visual and tactile effects, are giving additional opportunities to government authorities and national printers to seriously consider this enhanced polycarbonate environment for their document projects.
This white paper is describing the major benefits of the new generation of enhanced polycarbonate secure documents.
The lessons of European and Middle Eastern implementations of e-ID
The smart card technology that has transformed monetary transactions can bring similar benefits to public service delivery. This paper examines the technology's potential to create a virtuous circle of increasing take-up supporting expanded functionality and enhanced appeal to citizens.
Protecting Identities and Stopping Crime with Digital eIDs
A Brief for Policy Makers
In the United States, lack of security in government-issued identity credentials is a major contributing factor to identity theft. This paper examines progress made establishing eID digital identity credentialing. It also explores other eID implementation opportunities currently under consideration.
