Identification Cards, Chip Cards, and Biometrics: The Crucial Standards Powering Secure Digital Identity

Digital identity is the bedrock of modern business, commerce, and governmental operations. From accessing bank accounts and secure facilities to enabling frictionless travel and regulatory compliance, accurate personal identification is non-negotiable. As new technologies—like mobile eIDs, chip-based credentials, and biometrics—redefine how we interact, a framework of robust standards is vital to guarantee interoperability, efficiency, and security.

With over four major international standards in the spotlight, this comprehensive guide unveils the pivotal specifications that enable identification cards, chip cards, and biometric solutions to thrive in a connected world.

Overview / Introduction

In the Information Technology sector, the stakes for secure, scalable, and interoperable identity solutions have never been higher. Organizations need to balance privacy, security, operational excellence, and regulatory demands—often across borders and platforms. Standards provide the essential toolkit for harmonizing system design, supporting innovation, and ensuring digital trust.

This article guides you through four essential standards in digital identification:

• ISO/IEC 15693-3:2026: Protocols for contactless vicinity cards

• ISO/IEC TS 23220-2:2026: Data objects and encoding for mobile eID systems

• ISO/IEC TS 23220-3:2026: Protocols and services for secure eID installation and issuing

• ISO/IEC TS 7367-2:2026: Schemas for mobile vehicle certificates (mVC)

You’ll learn how these standards underpin a secure and productive digital ecosystem—from public transportation and mobile banking to eGovernment and vehicle registration. Whether you’re a CTO, compliance manager, or systems architect, understanding these standards is critical for scaling operations, enhancing cybersecurity, and future-proofing your technology investments.

Detailed Standards Coverage

ISO/IEC 15693-3:2026 - Anticollision and Transmission Protocol for Contactless Vicinity Cards

Cards and security devices for personal identification — Contactless vicinity objects — Part 3: Anticollision and transmission protocol

What it covers: ISO/IEC 15693-3:2026 specifies the essential communication protocols and data exchange methods for contactless vicinity integrated circuit cards (VICCs) and their readers (vicinity coupling devices, or VCDs). The standard defines how these cards initiate and maintain communication—including the method by which one card can be selected among many (anticollision)—and ensures reliable, secure transactions up to a range of one meter, ideal for public transport, access control, and logistics.

Key requirements and specifications:

• General protocol concept for VICC-VCD communication (including addressed, non-addressed, and select modes)

• Mandatory and optional commands (such as inventory, read/write, authentication)

• Anticollision processes and timing constraints for identifying and handling multiple cards simultaneously

• Security frameworks, including authentication, secure communication modes, CRC integrity checks

• Flexibility for integrating with other card standards (such as ISO/IEC 7816-6)

Who needs to comply:

• Card manufacturers and chip designers

• Transport and ticketing system integrators

• Secure facility and event access management companies

• Any organization deploying contactless ID systems in public or semi-public environments

Practical implications for implementation: Adherence to ISO/IEC 15693-3 ensures that contactless cards can be safely and efficiently used in environments where numerous credentials are present, reducing transaction errors, enhancing user experience, and minimizing operational risks. Its anticollision protocol is vital for throughput in high-density use-cases such as metro turnstiles or warehouse tracking.

Notable features:

• Comprehensive anticollision scheme for seamless card selection

• Support for extended security, key updates, and challenge-response authentication

• Structured error handling and timing for robust operation

Key highlights:

• Enables reliable operation with multiple cards present

• Builds secure, scalable, and interoperable contactless card solutions

• Reduces risk of card conflicts and unauthorized access

Access the full standard: View ISO/IEC 15693-3:2026 on iTeh Standards

ISO/IEC TS 23220-2:2026 - Generic Data Objects for Mobile eID Systems

Cards and security devices for personal identification — Building blocks for identity management via mobile devices — Part 2: Data objects and encoding rules for generic eID systems

What it covers: This Technical Specification is foundational for building mobile electronic ID (eID) systems. It defines standard data objects and encoding rules that ensure interoperable and consistent information exchanges between mobile document (mdoc) apps and verification applications—regardless of the underlying device or platform.

Key requirements and specifications:

• Structure and encoding of generic data objects (CBOR, JSON, JWS, JWT)

• Meta-attributes and namespaces for diverse identity scenarios (e.g. personal, issuer, document attributes)

• Cipher suites for secure communications (elliptic curves, TLS, HMAC, signature algorithms)

• Support for a broad range of application domains (e.g. driving licenses, health cards, student cards, member cards)

• Backwards compatibility with previous mobile ID standards (notably ISO/IEC 18013-5 for mobile driving licenses)

Who needs to comply:

• Developers and architects of mobile identity apps

• Governments issuing eID or mobile driving licenses

• Banks and health insurance providers using mobile credentials

• Technology vendors building verification and onboarding systems

Practical implications for implementation: By standardizing data models and encoding, ISO/IEC TS 23220-2:2026 eliminates ambiguity in identity verification, simplifies integration across platforms, and reduces development and compliance costs. It guarantees that digital credentials will be interoperable now and in the future.

Notable features:

• Unified data object schema for varied identification purposes

• Standardized encoding for easy parsing, validation, and signature verification

• Comprehensive support for cryptographic primitives and secure transmission

Key highlights:

• Ensures reliable, cross-domain identity exchange

• Supports privacy and data integrity in mobile IDs

• Future-proofs digital identification systems

Access the full standard: View ISO/IEC TS 23220-2:2026 on iTeh Standards

ISO/IEC TS 23220-3:2026 - Protocols and Services for Mobile eID Installation and Issuing

Cards and security devices for personal identification — Building blocks for identity management via mobile devices — Part 3: Protocols and services for installation and issuing phase

What it covers: ISO/IEC TS 23220-3:2026 defines the secure, standards-based processes for installing mobile eID applications (mdoc apps) and issuing digital credentials or attributes. It encompasses interfaces, protocols, and privacy-enhanced mechanisms needed to provision trusted identities on mobile devices—addressing both the installation and credential issuance phases.

Key requirements and specifications:

• Standardized APIs for device/app discovery, attestation, and secure installation of mdoc apps

• Protocols for secure binding of personal credentials to devices (to prevent cloning and unauthorized use)

• Data structures for attribute collection, session encryption, feedback, and error management

• Privacy protection through minimal, purpose-bound data exposure

• Cryptographically protected attestation objects and lifecycle management

Who needs to comply:

• Government agencies and authorities issuing mobile IDs or credentials

• Mobile app developers and eID platform providers

• Organizations deploying onboarding systems or bring-your-own-device (BYOD) solutions with secure credentials

Practical implications for implementation: This standard ensures that sensitive identity credentials are securely installed and managed throughout their lifecycle, supporting trust models that involve multiple roles and external systems. It reduces barriers for issuing authorities, improves user onboarding, and enhances overall security.

Notable features:

• Multilevel attestation and trust model—secure area, app, and document

• Flexible, privacy-preserving issuance workflows adaptable to national and organizational policy

• Robust session encryption and feedback mechanisms

Key highlights:

• Reduces deployment friction and cost for businesses and agencies

• Protects user privacy while enabling strong identity proofing

• Scalable for large user populations and federated identity ecosystems

Access the full standard: View ISO/IEC TS 23220-3:2026 on iTeh Standards

ISO/IEC TS 7367-2:2026 - Mobile Vehicle Certificate (mVC) Schema

Personal identification — mdoc schemas — Part 2: Mobile vehicle certificate

What it covers: ISO/IEC TS 7367-2:2026 defines the logical data structure and schema for the mobile Vehicle Certificate (mVC)—a secure, digital credential confirming vehicle registration and regulatory conformity, suitable for use on smartphones or dedicated mdoc devices. The standard is harmonized with the structure for generic eIDs (notably ISO/IEC TS 23220-2) and leverages industry-recognized schemas for vehicle identification.

Key requirements and specifications:

• Definition of core data elements: issuing authority, country, registration number, expiration, vehicle specs, user/owner identity

• Encoding formats and namespace conventions for seamless integration

• Support for international requirements based on the UN Convention on Road Traffic and ISO vehicle identification standards

• Optional elements to accommodate regional or legal specifics

Who needs to comply:

• National and regional transport authorities

• Automotive industry partners (OEMs, registration agencies)

• App developers and platform vendors providing digital vehicle credentials

Practical implications for implementation: This standard streamlines roadside and administrative verification, minimizes fraud, and paves the way for advanced mobility services, such as digital proof of vehicle compliance and cross-border registration.

Notable features:

• Data model compliant with international transport law and best practices

• Extensible design to meet local jurisdictional rules

• Supports both verification and issuance scenarios in digital workflows

Key highlights:

• Enables trusted digital vehicle credentials

• Reduces paperwork and improves compliance

• Facilitates cross-border and smart mobility services

Access the full standard: View ISO/IEC TS 7367-2:2026 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

Modern businesses face increasing regulatory demands and technological challenges around identity management. Adopting up-to-date standards such as ISO/IEC 15693-3, ISO/IEC TS 23220-2, ISO/IEC TS 23220-3, and ISO/IEC TS 7367-2 presents organizations with a host of crucial advantages:

• Security: Ensures strong authentication, resistance to fraud, and protection from data breaches or cloning attacks.

• Operational Efficiency: Streamlines issuance, activation, and verification processes, reducing time and errors in large-scale deployments.

• Scalability: Supports millions of cards or mobile credentials with robust anticollision and discovery mechanisms, making scaling hassle-free.

• Interoperability: Guarantees that identity solutions work across borders, platforms, and evolving technology stacks.

• Compliance: Aligns with GDPR, local regulations, digital trust standards, and industry-specific mandates—lowering legal and audit risks.

• Customer Experience: Accelerates onboarding, travel, and digital transactions, building trust and loyalty among users.

Neglecting these standards risks security incidents, regulatory penalties, skyrocketing integration costs, and damage to customer trust.

Implementation Guidance

Rolling out standards-compliant identification and biometrics solutions requires a methodical approach:

1. Assess Needs and Regulatory Requirements:

• Identify use cases (access control, eGovernment, mobile banking, vehicle registration).

• Map relevant regulations and standards.

2. Architect for Interoperability and Scalability:

• Choose hardware and software conforming to covered standards.

• Design for future expansion and smooth integration.

3. Prioritize Security and Privacy:

• Implement the full range of authentication, key management, and secure communication features.

• Apply privacy-by-design principles to minimize sensitive data exposure.

4. Develop and Test According to Standards:

• Use provided schemas, protocols, and command sets as the only source of truth during design and validation.

• Test with reference implementations and simulation tools.

5. Train Staff and Stakeholders:

• Ensure all team members understand the specifications and business rationale for compliance.

6. Monitor and Update:

• Stay abreast of new revisions and evolving compliance requirements.

• Engage with international standards organizations for best practices.

Recommended Resources:

• iTeh Standards platform for full standards access and updates

• Open-source test suites and reference implementations where available

• Industry working groups and technical communities focused on secure ID and biometrics

Conclusion / Next Steps

The digital transformation of identification—powered by robust contactless cards, mobile eIDs, and biometric solutions—demands unwavering standards support. ISO/IEC 15693-3:2026, ISO/IEC TS 23220-2:2026, ISO/IEC TS 23220-3:2026, and ISO/IEC TS 7367-2:2026 together provide the essential blueprint for building secure, flexible, and future-ready identity solutions.

Investing in these standards is no longer optional; it’s a strategic necessity for forward-thinking businesses, governments, and technology providers aiming to:

• Enhance productivity and user experience

• Minimize security and compliance risks

• Unlock seamless, scalable innovation in digital identity management

Next steps:

• Review your current identity infrastructure for alignment with these key standards

• Consult with standards bodies, solution providers, and qualified assessors

• Access the full text of the latest standards at iTeh Standards and subscribe for continuing updates

Building on these standards, your organization can confidently embrace the next wave of secure, scalable, and user-centric identity technologies.