New Portuguese Citizen’s Card launched on 11 June

Applications and renewals of the Portuguese citizen’s card will be delivered in their new version as of today, due to a European imposition that seeks to boost security and standardisation of IDs.

The new cards come with contactless technology, which enables adding new features in the future, such as travel cards for public transportation or access to cultural events.

EU template

The new template conforms to the joint template and the security standards set by the European Unio for IDs for Member State citizens.

This European regulation amended the information included in the citizen’s card and the way it is stored and accessed, namely being mandatory to allow contactless access, that is, without inserting the card in a reader.

As a travel document, the card is based on the security standards issued by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Dual Chip 

The chip is on the back of the card and is contactless. It contains three applications: identification, authentication, and signature (IAS), travel, and biometric verification.

The contactless chip cuts barriers and enables the secure validation citizens’ biometric and biographical data, allowing the citizen’s card to be used as a travel document within the European Union and Schengen area states.

Added security

The card itself has several layers and anti-copy background It has printed elements that change colour depending on the angle or background. Other elements are only visible through UV light. 

As for electronics, to keep contactless reading from happening without the holder’s permission, access to the chip’s da tis done through a Card Access Number (CAN), a new number at the front of the card. For instance, when bringing the card close to a contactless reader, you must first input the CAN to "open the chip" and then the card’s PIN.

Travel information in the chip is also available through contactless means, enabling the card to be used for travelling within the European Union and Schengen area states. It will be able to validate IDs through contactless means at airport boarding gates in those states.

The Brazilian citizen’s card, issued under the Treaty between Portugal and Brazil will also be updated and will follow a template close to the Portuguese citizen’s card but without the possibility of travelling within the EU.