Verifying a person’s identity is necessary in a multitude of sectors to avoid fraud and impersonation.
The European ID card / biometric ID card / electronic ID card appeared in 2021 and is gradually replacing the French identity card version 1995: so how do you check a European biometric identity card and make sure that the document presented is authentic? Find out in this article!
We also have an article on the 1995 version of the identity card that you will find at this address.
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Control 1: General appearance of the European Biometric Identity Card
The first step in verifying a European biometric identity card when you can access the original document is the overall appearance of the document: it must not show any trace of cutting, peeling, modification/rectification of any kind.
Pay particular attention to the level and around the photo.
The new European biometric identity card is in ID-1 format, the size of a bank card, like a driving licence, for example.
Check 2: Read, cross-reference and verify the numbers and information on the European Biometric Identity Card
The second step in verifying a European biometric identity card online is to check the consistency of the information on the document.
Document number
The document number can be found in two different places: on the lower part of the front, and in the first line of the MRZ strip.
Both must be identical:
Date of birth
Here again, the cardholder’s date of birth can be found in two distinct places: in the middle of the front of the card, and at the beginning of the second MRZ line in YYMMDD format:
Last name and first name(s)
The same goes for the first and last names, which can be found on the front of the card and in the third line of the MRZ stripe:
Type of owner
The gender of the holder is symbolized by “M” for men (male) and “F” for women (female). This information can be found on the front and in the second line of the MRZ strip:
Card expiry date
Finally, the last element present in triplicate on the card: the expiry date, which can be found on the front, on the back overprinted on the thumbnail photo as well as in the second line MRZ in YYMMDD format:
Control 3: MRZ (Machine Readable Zone) or ZLA (Zone de Lecture Automatique) tape
The lower part of the new CNI is made up of three lines which repeat the information on the card, with validation keys to prevent misreading or falsification.
You can find a very complete article detailing the information present as well as how the security keys to verify a European biometric identity card online are calculated on our article available at this address.
Control 4: safety features
An identity document has various elements to validate its authenticity.
This is the last step to verify a European biometric identity card online, as it is the longest.
In the case of the 2021 version of the identity card, there are 6 in total, 4 of which can be verified with the naked eye.
Secure bottom
The first security element that can be checked quickly and visually: the safety bottom is extended into the transparent edge of the board, making the whole thing coherent:
Holographic device
A new-generation holographic device is used to protect the cardholder’s photograph.
The latter changes color depending on the orientation:
Visible electronic stamp / 2D-Doc barcode
A new security feature that is used on other official documents (such as income tax notices), a visible electronic seal (VDS) or 2D-Doc code is used to encode the information on the card, and allows a European biometric identity card to be verified online by cross-referencing the information with the information on the card.
It appears on the back, top right:
Electronic chip
An electronic chip is implanted in the card, enabling contactless reading of the information on the document.
A Marianne and three “RF” are engraved on it.
Here again, it is possible to verify a European biometric identity card online by cross-referencing the information on the card or from the CEV / 2D-Doc barcode.
It can be found just below the CEV / 2D-Doc code:
Multiple Laser Image
The photo and expiry date of the document are shown on a map of metropolitan France.
The image is changing depending on the orientation of the map.
The device is shown on the reverse side, top right of the card:
Ultraviolet control
Some elements are visible only under ultraviolet light, but this requires specialized equipment (so not suitable for checking a European biometric identity card online).
Front of card under ultraviolet light :
Back of card under ultraviolet light :
Conclusion
You now have all the keys to verify a European biometric identity card online and make sure it is authentic!
No need for specialized equipment: a little vigilance, time and you will be able to avoid most of the fraud that can be encountered on a daily basis!
Finally, if you need to verify the authenticity of documents as part of a rental application, we offer a dedicated service at the following address:
