ISO/IEC 7816-6:2023

Overview

ISO/IEC 7816-6:2023 - "Identification cards - Integrated circuit cards - Part 6: Interindustry data elements for interchange" defines the standardized data elements used at the interface between contact/contactless smart cards (integrated circuit cards) and external devices. The fourth edition (2023) specifies identifiers, names, descriptions/references, and the format/coding for interindustry data elements (including composite elements) as seen during interchange. It updates the series (ISO/IEC 7816) and extends the IC manufacturer identifier format from one byte to multiple bytes.

Key topics and requirements

• Data element definitions: For each interindustry data element the standard lists the identifier (tag), name, description/reference, and format & coding (when not covered by other ISO standards).
• Interface layout: Elements are described as they appear at the interface between the card and the interface device (BER-TLV structure - tag, length, value).
• Templates and tags: Provides interindustry templates and rules for nesting context-specific class tags under templates (except where reserved).
• Specific data elements: Examples include Name of an individual, magnetic stripe data (tracks mapped to tags), PIN usage policy, login and qualified-name templates, cardholder/application image templates, and display control templates.
• Manufacturer identification: Rules and formats for identifying integrated circuit manufacturers (identifier assignment and maintenance).
• Scope limits: The document defines data elements without imposing usage restrictions and does not cover internal card implementation or outside-world systems. Except for login data objects, only application-class tags are included.
• Maintenance: Procedures for adding, amending, or deleting data objects (incorporation from ISO/IEC 7816 parts or other standards).

Practical applications and users

Who uses ISO/IEC 7816-6:

• Smart card and IC manufacturers - to assign data tags and format card data consistently.
• Payment and banking systems - mapping magnetic stripe and application track data to card objects.
• Government ID and e‑passport programs - standardizing name, image and other cardholder data elements.
• Terminal and reader vendors - implementing correct PIN policies, templates and BER-TLV handling.
• System integrators and security architects - ensuring interoperability across cards, terminals and back-end systems.
• Software developers - building card-interchange applications that parse/construct standardized data objects.

Related standards

• ISO/IEC 7816 series (notably 7816-4, 7816-5, 7816-8, 7816-13, 7816-15)
• ISO/IEC 7813 and ISO/IEC 4909 (magnetic stripe and financial card data)
• Image and compression references: ISO/IEC 10918-1, ISO/IEC 11544

For implementation details or to obtain the full normative text, consult the official publication at iso.org.