Earlier ID cards

Passports had been in use since at least the early 1900s for international travel but were uncommon.^[9] In 1941, during the British occupation of Iceland of the Second World War, emergency laws were introduced allowing passports to be used domestically. From 1942 until 1945, a simplified version of 'passports', essentially acting as identity documents, were issued by Icelandic police to all residents, and were required to bear them at all times.^[10] The design was different from previous passport booklets, being a simple blue printed paper card with a photograph.^[11][12] The requirement to bear them at all times was abolished after the occupation.^[10]

Icelandic passport used as compulsory identification during the Second World War. Images were not compulsory

In 1947, a temporary ID cards were issued by local sheriffs in 1947 for the purpose of confirming the declared ownership and legitimate tax status of personal assets as Iceland recovered in the post-WWII period and the black market financial manipulations. These were abandoned shortly after the tax survey was complete.^[10][13]

Unusually, in 1960, a bylaw was introduced on the island of Vestmannaeyjar, based on the authority of the 1941 law, whereby all children aged 12 to 18 were required to carry their passports at all times. This was presumably due to unruly children on the island.^[10]

1965 identity cards

In 1951 a new agency, Registers Iceland, was created and began the Icelandic national register. In 1959 a new form of ID number was taken into use, called a 'name number' (Icelandic: Nafnnúmer).^[14]

The passports in use during the Second World War were not designed for everyday use and a new identification solution needed to be found. After the new 'name numbers' launched, 'name cards' (Icelandic: Nafnskírteini), the current form of identity cards, were created in 1965. Icelandic citizens, as well as those legally resident in Iceland were eligible for the ID card.^[2]

The identity cards are not compulsory. Use of the cards was somewhat necessary for children, as they were subject to curfews until the age of 16, and must prove their age after hours.^[15]

Debit and credit cards

In 1993, debit cards were launched and contained a picture and national identity number of the owner of the card (thereby indicating age). These were intended for a cashiers to be able to verify the identity of the person paying and act as a cheque guarantee card.^[16] In 1995 photographs were also added to credit cards.^[17]

As a result of their ubiquity and relative security compared to other forms of ID, bank-issued payment cards became a de facto form of identification, with most businesses and domestic airlines accepting them. In conjunction with over 90%^[3] of citizens possessing driving licenses (which are domestically an official form of ID), the Icelandic ID cards became somewhat redundant.^[18]

With the advent of cheap card printers, bank cards became farily easy to falsify due to their lack of security features, mostly by youngsters to purchase alcohol underage.^[19] Eventually in 2019-2022, banks stopped printing photographs and ID numbers on payment cards as cheques were phased out.^[20]

Need for a new ID card

Icelandic identity card issued in 1966. As of 2023, the current design remains mostly unchanged.

Identity cards issued until 2023 remain unchanged from their original 1965 design, a laminated white paper card, with a personal photograph stamped by the issuing authority. They are becoming increasingly popular with issuances increasing from 649 in 2019 to 1,555 in 2020. They are important for citizens who live a car-free lifestyle and do not possess a passport, who previously relied on debit/credit cards as ID.^[6]

There was a plan in 2007 was to introduce an updated ID card with a chip for digital capability, as most other European countries have done, and would have allowed their use abroad.^[21][20] The combined ID solution never came to fruition and separate digital ID smartcards (Icelandic: Einkaskilríki) were introduced in 2008 (see below).^[22]

The Icelandic ID cards are fairly easy to falsify with the right equipment, however identity fraud remains low in Iceland.^[23] In the late 2010s issues began to arise from faudulent collections of pharmacy prescriptions using falsified Icelandic ID cards.^[24]

Around same time, the EU regulations on the design of national identity cards were updated in 2019 and the current ID cards do not fulfil security requirements.^[25]

New EU-Standard ID cards

In 2022 it was announced that an updated design in line with EU standards would be introduced. A new law took effect in December 2023, restricting the issuance only to Icelandic citizens and new ID cards are due to be introduced in 2024.^[6]

The new credit card-sized ID cards will be made of plastic and include digital biometric features. Personal data on the card may include fingerprints and 'other biometric data', if deemed necessary at a later date. The new cards issued to Icelandic citizens will be valid abroad as travel documentation for travel within the EU and European Economic Area. The new cards remain voluntary and compliment other existing forms of identification. The new law also restricts the issuance solely to Icelandic citizens.^[7]

Older design ID cards issued before 2013 will cease to be valid in 2023, and all previous designs will cease to be valid by 2026.^[7]

History

Digital ID cards initially rolled out in 2000 to a limited number employees of government departments, large companies and the healthcare system who regularly accessed sensitive information. In late 2008 digital ID's were rolled out more widely in the healthcare and accountant sectors. A phyiscal eID card can be paired with a smartcard reader on the client's computer to enable eID functions.^[30] It was also previously possible to store one's eID on an EMV debit card.^[22]

In November 2013 the SIM card implementation for mobile phones was introduced, which led to a much quicker take-up of eIDs due to its ease of use.^[31] By 2014, 40% of Icelanders were using eIDs, rising to 97% in 2022.^[32]

Some issues arose with the mobile SIM implementation as an Icelandic SIM card was required, precluding Icelandic citizens living abroad. Additionally, with eSIM becoming more prevalent, the previous implementation was not secure enough to be certifiably stored on an eSIM according international eID standards. Therefore in 2022, a new smartphone app implementation was introduced, along with the ability to biometrically enroll using an ePassport, simplifying the enrollment process for Icelandic living abroad.^[5]

Acceptance

Most airlines which fly between Iceland and the Nordic counties accept the current Icelandic ID card as sufficient identification, such as Icelandair^[36] and Play.^[37] As the Icelandic ID card is not registered by the Icelandic government in the EU document database (PRADO), and its relative obscurity, cardholders may encounter issues travelling to the Nordic countries soley on their Icelandic ID card.

For travel within the Nordic countries no identity documentation is legally required for Nordic citizens due to the Nordic Passport Union. However, one must prove their citizenship of a Nordic country by acceptable means.^[8]

New EU-Standard ID cards

After the introduction of new ID cards in 2024, as an alternative to presenting a passport, Icelandic citizens will be entitled to use their ID card to exercise their right of free movement in EFTA, EEA and EU.^[7] Strictly speaking, it is not necessary for an EEA or Swiss citizen to possess a valid national identity card or passport to enter the EEA and Switzerland. In theory, if an EEA or Swiss citizen can prove their nationality by any other means (e.g. by presenting an expired national identity card or passport, or a citizenship certificate), they must be permitted to enter the EEA and Switzerland. An EEA or Swiss citizen who is unable to demonstrate their nationality satisfactorily must, nonetheless, be given 'every reasonable opportunity' to obtain the necessary documents or to have them delivered within a reasonable period of time.^[38]

Current Design Information^[2]

• Full name
• Icelandic identification number (Icelandic: Kennitala), containing date of birth
• Place of birth
• Citizenship (RF.XX, where XX is the two letter country code e.g. RF.IS for Icelandic citizen)
• Date of issue
• Photograph (stamped by issuing authority, usually Registers Iceland)

Previous Information displayed

• Name number
• Birth number
• Full address of residence
• 4-digit postal number of residence (not the same as Icelandic post codes but the postal number)

New EU-Standard ID cards

The new credit card-sized ID cards, issued from 2024 will be made of plastic, and include digital biometric features. Personal data on the card may include fingerprints, and 'other biometric data', if deemed necessary at a later date. The new cards will only be issued to Icelandic citizens and will be valid abroad as travel documentation for travel within the EU and European Economic Area.^[7]