ID Document Types Worldwide
Definition
An overview of the identity documents used globally for eKYC — passports, national IDs, driving licenses, and residence permits — covering formats, security features, and regional variations.
Document Categories
| Category |
Examples |
Key Features |
| Passport |
Booklet, card format |
ICAO 9303 standard, MRZ, increasingly NFC-chipped |
| National ID |
Aadhaar, NIE, Carta d'identità |
Country-specific format, most common for domestic eKYC |
| Driving License |
US DL, EU DL, Indian DL |
Varies enormously (US: 50+ state formats) |
| Residence Permit |
EU residence card, green card |
Proof of right to reside |
| Voter ID |
India EPIC, various |
Common in developing countries |
Regional Highlights
| Region |
Primary ID Document |
Key Characteristic |
| India |
Aadhaar (1.4B issued) |
12-digit number, QR code, linked to biometrics |
| EU |
National ID card (eID) |
Standardizing under eIDAS, NFC chip |
| USA |
State driving license / passport |
No national ID — 50+ different DL formats |
| Singapore |
NRIC / Singpass |
Linked to MyInfo digital identity |
| UAE |
Emirates ID |
Smart card with biometric chip |
| Africa |
National ID / voter ID |
Rapidly digitalizing (Nigeria NIN, Kenya Huduma) |
Standard Document Sizes
| Format |
Dimensions |
Used For |
| ID-1 (CR80) |
85.6 × 53.98 mm |
Credit card-sized ID cards, driving licenses |
| ID-2 |
105 × 74 mm |
Some national IDs (Germany old format) |
| ID-3 |
125 × 88 mm |
Passports (data page) |
| Custom |
Varies |
Aadhaar letter (A4), some voter IDs |
Key Takeaways
Summary
- 6,000+ document types globally with hundreds of format changes annually
- Passports are most standardized (ICAO 9303); driving licenses are most variable
- USA has no national ID — making document verification harder (50+ DL formats)
- India's Aadhaar is the world's largest biometric ID (1.4B), with QR code for offline verification
- eKYC providers must continuously update their document databases
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