National identity cards in the European Economic Area
National identity cards are issued to their citizens by the governments of most European Economic Area (EEA) member states, the exceptions are Denmark and Ireland. Ireland however issues a passport card which is a valid document in the EEA and Switzerland. Denmark issues simpler identity cards that are not valid as travel documents. From 2 August 2021, new identity cards are harmonized as a common identity card model replaced the various formats already in use. There are approximately 200 million national identity cards in use in the EU/EEA, including 53 million of the new EU-standard cards. 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.
| National identity card | |
|---|---|
| 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) ~200 million (total) |
| Valid in | EU and EFTA European microstates Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Faroe Islands French Overseas Territories Georgia (excl. Abkhazia/South Ossetia) Gibraltar (British overseas territory) 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 |
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.: Articles 4 and 5 However, identity cards that do not state citizenship of an EEA member state or Switzerland, including national identity cards issued to residents who are not citizens, are not valid as travel documents within the EEA and Switzerland.