ISO/IEC 7810:2019

Overview

ISO/IEC 7810:2019 - Identification cards - Physical characteristics defines the minimum physical requirements for identification cards intended for international interchange. The standard specifies card dimensions, materials, construction, and performance criteria for four card sizes (including ID‑1, ID‑2, ID‑3 and the ID‑000 variant). It addresses both human and machine aspects of card use and sets criteria to ensure consistent performance across issuers, manufacturers and card readers. Test procedures referenced to verify compliance include ISO/IEC 10373‑1 and ISO/IEC 24789‑2.

Key Topics

• Card dimensions and tolerances: Nominal sizes are given for common formats (for example, ID‑1: 85.60 × 53.98 × 0.76 mm, ID‑2 and ID‑3 nominal sizes also defined).
• Card construction and materials: Requirements for core materials, overlays, signature panels and surface finishes to ensure durability and readability.
• Mechanical and physical properties: Tests and minimums for bending stiffness (ID‑1), warpage, peel strength, surface distortions (raised/depressed areas), opacity and overall durability.
• Environmental resistance: Criteria for stability under temperature and humidity changes, light exposure, resistance to chemicals and contamination.
• IC card considerations: Specific requirements for cards containing integrated circuits (ICs) - including X‑ray tolerance, electrostatic discharge (ESD) robustness, mechanical strength (contacts and contactless antennas), electrical surface resistance and electromagnetic interaction.
• Card interface devices: Minimum requirements for devices that interact with cards (readers, terminals), including ESD immunity following IEC/EMC guidelines.
• Scope exclusions and measurement notes: Thin flexible cards are excluded (see ISO/IEC 15457 series); both SI and Imperial units are published, with rounding cautions.

Applications

ISO/IEC 7810:2019 is used by:

• Card manufacturers to design and produce compliant ID, payment and access cards.
• Issuers (banks, government ID and passport authorities) to specify card production and acceptance criteria.
• Terminal and reader designers to ensure reliable mechanical and electrical interaction.
• Test laboratories and QA teams to validate card durability and conformity using referenced test methods.
• Systems integrators and procurement teams selecting cards or readers for secure identification and transaction systems.

Related Standards

Commonly used together with:

• ISO/IEC 10373‑1 (Test methods)
• ISO/IEC 24789‑2 (Card service life)
• ISO/IEC 7816 (IC cards with contacts)
• ISO/IEC 7811, 7812, 7813 (recording, issuer ID, financial cards)
• ISO/IEC 14443, 15693 (contactless cards)
• ISO/IEC 15457 (thin flexible cards - out of scope)

Keywords: ISO/IEC 7810:2019, identification cards, physical characteristics, card dimensions, ID‑1, card materials, card construction, test methods, ISO/IEC 10373.