National identity cards are issued to their citizens by the governments of most European Economic Area (EEA) member states, with the exception of Denmark[13][14] and Ireland (which however issues an equivalent passport card).[15] In the European Union, identity cards have been harmonized as a new common identity card model replaced the various formats in use on 2 August 2021.
There are approximately 200 million national identity cards in use in the EU/EEA, including 53 million of the new EU-standard cards.[1] They are compulsory in 15 EEA/EFTA countries, voluntary in 11 countries and in 5 countries they are semi-compulsory (some form of identification required). Where the card is compulsory, in some member countries it is required to be carried at all times, while in other countries the mere possession of the card is sufficient.[16]
Citizens holding a national identity card, which states citizenship of an EEA member state or Switzerland, can use it as an identity document within their home country, and as a travel document to exercise the right of free movement in the EEA and Switzerland.[17]: Articles 4 and 5 [18][19] However, identity cards that do not state citizenship of an EEA member state or Switzerland, including national identity cards issued to residents who are not citizens, are not valid as travel documents within the EEA and Switzerland.[20][21][22]