e-ID Cards

The Belgian e-ID card

In the example, the card is used as an e-ID card in a scheme which has seen over 5.2 million cards being distributed to Belgian citizens since 2004. This is a ‘credit-card’ type version of the former identity card. It is described as electronic because it contains an electronic microchip.

e-ID contains the same information as the previous card. Some information is both on card and chip, and other information on the chip only.

e-ID also enables remote identification via the microchip on the card. This chip contains:

• The holder’s details (which also appear on the card),
• The holder’s official address.

The address isn’t visible on the e-ID card but is recorded on the chip. As a result, moving house does not require a new card. The information on the chip is simply updated.

How do they work?
When are they used?
European applications