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Countries Where Citizens Travel Without Mandatory National Identity Cards

Pranay Jain March 19, 2025 08:20 PM

In India, identity documents like Aadhaar, PAN, and Voter ID are essential for banking, government schemes, and daily transactions. However, several countries around the world do not require their citizens to have a national identity card. Instead, documents like passports, driving licenses, or state-issued photo IDs serve as sufficient proof of identity.

1. Australia

Australia does not have a national identity card. Citizens use passports, driving licenses, and state-issued photo cards for identification.

In 1985, the government proposed an identity card called ‘Australia Card’, but it was never implemented.
In 2007, another attempt was made with the ‘Access Card’, but this plan also failed.

2. Canada

Canada also lacks a national ID card. Instead, identification is done through passports and provincial driving licenses.

All provinces (except Quebec) issue photo ID cards for non-drivers.
Health cards are commonly used as identity proof.
The Canadian Citizenship Card, once a valid identity document, was discontinued in 2012.

3. Andorra

This small European nation does not issue a national identity card.

Citizens use passports or driving licenses for identification.
When traveling to France or Spain, Andorran driving licenses are often accepted informally as ID.

4. United Kingdom (UK)

The UK attempted to introduce identity cards in 2009-10, but the plan was abandoned in 2010.

Citizens rely on passports, driving licenses, birth certificates, and utility bills for identity verification.
Private proof-of-age cards exist but are not recognized for official purposes like banking or government services.

5. New Zealand and Tuvalu

Both countries do not have a national identity card system.

In New Zealand, citizens use passports, driving licenses, firearm licenses, or the Kiwi Access Card (for age verification).
In Tuvalu, a small island nation, no specific national ID card is required.

How Does the System Work Without National ID Cards?

In these countries, identity verification for government services, travel, and financial transactions is managed using:
✅ Passports
✅ Driving licenses
✅ Bank statements & utility bills
✅ Other state-issued photo IDs

However, with increasing digitalization, some governments are now considering national identity cards. For example, the Bahamas announced plans for an ID system in 2022, though it has yet to be fully implemented.