Belgian national identification card

All Belgians aged 12 and above are issued with a national identification card. Belgians 15 and above are required to always carry it with them unless they are within a 200 meter range of their homes. (Foreigners too must at all times be able to provide identification, either a passport, or an ID issued by the Belgian Government.)

Use

Belgians aren't required to show their IDs unless dealing with:
* Particular Governmental Agencies
* The police
* Authorised bus and train personnel

Data

The card holds the following information: [ [http://www.belgium.be/eportal/application?languageParameter=nl&pageid=contentPage&docId=2956#anchor_1 Elektronische identiteitskaart ] ]
* Photograph
* Names of the holder (Surname and two first given names. Initials of further given names)
* Date and place of birth
* Sex
* Nationality: Belgian
* ID card number, 12 digits in the form xxx-xxxxxxx-yy. yy is the remainder of the division of xxxxxxxxxx by 97.
* Period of validity (normally 5 years)
* Signature
* Identification number of the National Register (each individual is issued unique number for administration purposes) This number consists of 11 digits of the form yy.mm.dd-xxx.xx where yy-mm-dd is the birth date of the person.
* Place of issue

If the holder wishes, the following info will also be mentioned on the card:
* Marital status

Before 2005 the ID did not contain a chip and the address of the holder was printed on the card. Currently this is only written on the chip.

The ID card may be used as a form of identification when travelling within the EU. For most countries outside the EU, a Belgian citizen must ask for a passport. [ [http://www.diplomatie.be/nl/travel/reiswijsReisDocDetail.asp?TEXTID=21693 Reis Wijs - Reisdocumenten - Identiteitskaart ] ]

ee also

*Identity documents in the United States
*British national identity card
*French national identity card
*Biometric passport
*Mass surveillance

References