Online and Digital Identification, Securing Web 2.0, PKI and Digital Certificates

Smart ID cards now available for expats

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Qatar expatriates can now upgrade their existing ID cards for new smart ID cards. Although expats are not required to upgrade their ID cards at this time, all citizens of Qatar are required to hold one of the new Smart ID cards.

The cards have four main functions, according to the GulfTimes.com.


The cards identify the person, they can make transactions through the Internet, perform E-gate services at the airport and also are compatible with self-serve kiosks.

The cards include a chip which hold personal info, but is inaccessible without a PIN or a fingerprint scan.

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The South African Ministry of Home Affairs announced the expansion of its smart ID card pilot program, reports IT Web.

According to Home Affairs director-general Mkuseli Apleni, the smart ID card program is part of an effort by the national government to shed its racist past and create one identification card for all citizens. It will replace the current civic and immigration identity systems and capture demographic and biometric data of all South Africans and foreign nationals.

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Kuwait’s Public Authority for Civil Information (PAIC) will be phasing out identity cards for foreigners working in the country’s public service sector in favor of smart cards, reports the Gulf News.

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Access IS is gearing up for Security Document World (SDW) 2012 where it will be showcasing its latest range of security document readers.

There the company will introduce its new passport reader - the OCR601 - which is able to quickly and accurately verify the machine readable zone (MRZ) and enables the data in an e-passport’s chip to be read, all in a single action.

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The South Africa Department of Home Affairs announced a new plan for its smart card-based national identity system that will eventually replace the current civic and immigration systems, according to Business Day.

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