Optical Security: The Ongoing Shield for National IDs

The evolution of identity documents is accelerating. As countries modernise their national ID systems, a noticeable shift is emerging – not just in digital functionality but also in the physical layout of the cards themselves.

© PWPW.

Leading this transformation are portraitoriented identity cards, which are now receiving formal recognition under ICAO’s updated TD1 specifications. At the heart of these changes, optical security features – such as holograms and optically variable inks – remain critical tools in the fight against fraud.

Iceland’s Portrait ID

In March 2024, Iceland became the first country to issue a portrait-oriented ID card that fully complies with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) revised TD1 standards. Published in September 2023, these guidelines allow national authorities to choose between horizontal (landscape) or vertical (portrait) card layouts.