ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 17 Cards and Security Devices for Personal Identification

September 2025

Standardization in the area of:

  • Identification and related documents,
  • Cards,
  • Security devices and tokens, and interfaces associated with their use in inter-industry application and international interchange

Working Groups

Working Group

Name
Short description of scope of work

CAG

Chairman’s Advisory Group

AG 1

Registration Management Group

To serve as the RMG for ISO/IEC 7812 Parts 1 & 2 and ISO/IEC 7816-5.

To effectively manage the numbering system for the identification of card issuers

(Formerly known as SWG 1)

AG 2

Virtual ID and related technologies – Disbanded

WG1

Physical Characteristics and Test Methods for ID-cards

Physical characteristics, embossing, magnetic stripe, and test methods for conformance and card durability

WG3

Traveller identification

Coordinate the JTC1 liaison with ICAO for the definition and maintenance of standards and specifications supporting ICAO’s Traveller Identification Programme (TRIP).

WG4

Generic interfaces and protocols for security devices
To define specifications related to the Integrated Circuits Card and programing interfaces within the area of SC17, such as the ISO/IEC 7816 series

(Formerly known as “Integrated Circuit Cards with Contacts”)

WG5

Identification of issuers – Disbanded

WG7

Financial Transaction Cards – Disbanded

WG8

Contactless Integrated Circuit(s) Objects
The scope of WG8 is to develop standards for Contactless Integrated Circuit(s) Objects, such as the ISO/IEC 14443 series, which does not preclude the incorporation of other standard technologies on the card.

WG9

Optical Memory Cards – Disbanded 2017

WG10

Motor Vehicle Drivers License and Related Documents
Standardization in the field of Motor vehicle driver licenses, such as the ISO/IEC 18013 series

WG11

Application of Biometrics to cards and personal identification
Interoperability for inter-industry and government applications using personal identification technologies, e.g. biometrics. Excludes generic biometrics as undertaken by SC37

WG 12

UAS License and Drone/UAS Security Module

Develop standards relating to UAS Licence and Drone/UAS Security module taking recognition of ISO/IEC 18013 mDL Framework;

• Develop communication protocols and cryptography communication and mutual authentication associated with Drones.

AG 3

Digital Wallets – established in October 2022 –  extended until October 2026 to co-ordinate work with external groups

Published standards

The full list of standards for which ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 17 are responsible is available at:

https://www.iso.org/committee/45144/x/catalogue/p/1/u/0/w/0/d/0

A list of on-going work items is available at:

https://www.iso.org/committee/45144/x/catalogue/p/0/u/1/w/0/d/0

History

1969
• SC 17 was formed as ISO/TC 95/SC 17.

1979
• SC 17 was realigned as ISO/TC 97/SC 17.

1988
• SC 17 was realigned as ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 17. The title of the committee was “Identification cards and credit cards” when formed.
• First plenary meeting held in Toronto, Canada.
• The title was changed to “Identification cards and related devices”.
• SC 17/WG 8 and the latter WGs were formed.

1989
• Plenary meeting held in Tokyo, Japan.

1990
• Plenary meeting held in Washington, USA.

1991
• Plenary meeting held in Cannes, France.

1992
• Plenary meeting held in Istanbul, Turkey.

1993
• Plenary meeting held in Stockholm, Sweden.

1994
• Plenary meeting held in The Hague, The Netherlands.
1995
• Plenary meeting held in London, United Kingdom.

1996
• Plenary meeting held in Seoul, Korea.

1997
• Plenary meeting held in Madrid, Spain.

1998
• Plenary meeting held in Berlin, Germany.

1999
• The title of the committee was changed to “Cards and personal identification”.
• Plenary meeting held in Phoenix, USA.

2000
• Plenary meeting held in Yokohama, Japan.

2001
• Plenary meeting held in Ottawa, Canada.

2002
• Plenary meeting held in Roskilde, Denmark.

2003
• Plenary meeting held in Singapore.

2004
• Plenary meeting held in Sydney, Australia.

2005
• Plenary meeting held in Sun City, South Africa.

2006
• Plenary meeting held in Paris, France – meeting report SC 17 N3172.

2007
• Plenary meeting held in Berlin, Germany– meeting report SC 17 N3379.

2008
• Plenary meeting held in London, United Kingdom – resolutions SC 17 N3592.

2009
• Plenary meeting held in Beijing, China– meeting report SC 17 N3776.

2010
• Plenary meeting held in Takamatsu, Japan – resolutions SC 17 N4063.

2011
• Plenary meeting held in Songdo, Korea– resolutions SC 17 N4341.

2012
• Plenary meeting held in New Orleans, USA– meeting report SC 17 N4759.

2013
• Plenary meeting held in Singapore– resolutions SC 17 N5074

2014
• Plenary meeting held in Salamanca, Spain – meeting report SC 17 N5588.

2015
• Plenary meeting held in Vienna, Austria– resolutions SC 17 N5658

2016
• SC 17 Plenary and working group meetings are held in Berlin, Germany in October – meeting report SC 17 N5911.
• Special Working Group created to serve as the RMG for ISO/IEC 7812 Parts 1 & 2 and ISO/IEC 7816-5, now known as AG 1
• Mr Richard Mabbott retired after 21 years leading SC 17 as the Chairman.  He was replaced by Dr Peter Waggett.

2017
• The title and scope of SC 17 are changed, as follows, to reflect changes in the identification industry and the current work programme:

Cards and Security Devices for Personal Identification

  • Scope

Standardization in the area of:

    • Identification and related documents,
    • Cards,
    • Security devices and tokens, and interfaces associated with their use in inter-industry application and international interchange
  • ISO/IEC 7812 (5th Ed) published to reflect the need for 8 digit IINs
  • Creation of WG 12 : Drone license and drone identity module
  • SC 17 Plenary and working group meetings held in Paris, France in October – meeting report SC 17 N6211.

2018

  • Creation of ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 17 Study Group on Virtual ID – now known as AG 2
  • NWI Approved on Mobile ID (ISO/IEC 22320)
  • Revision of ISO/IEC 18745 Test methods for machine readable travel documents (MRTD) and associated devices – Part 1: Physical test methods for passport books (durability), (See press release https://www.iso.org/news/ref2311.html)
  • SC 17 Plenary and working group meetings held in Okayama, Japan in October – meeting report SC 17 N6367

2019

  • SC 17 Plenary and working group meetings held in Brainerd, MI, USA in October – meeting report SC 17 N6584

2020

  • SC 17 Plenary and working group meetings were held as virtual meetings in September – meeting report SC 17 N6764
  • AG 2 Disbanded
  • WG 5 Disbanded – activities passed to AG 1
  • WG 3 – Changed Scope and terms of reference

2021

  • SC 17 Plenary and working group meetings were held as virtual meetings in September – meeting report SC 17 N6953
  • Mr Tom Kinneging stood down as WG 3 Convenor – Mr Joost van Prooijen appointed as new Convenor

2022

  1. SC 17 Plenary and WG meetings were held in Berlin, Germany in October
  2. Transfer of Registration Authority for ISO/IEC 7816-6 to DIN

 2023

  • SC 17 Plenary and WG meetings were held in Singapore in September 2023.

2024

  • ICAO were approved as Category A Liaisons with JTC 1 to enable the fast-track of ICAO standards as part of the ISO/IEC 7501 series on Machine Readable Travel Documents.
  • Mr R Rajeshkumar appointed as WG 3 Convenor
  • AG 3 (Digital Wallets) extended to October 2026
  • SC 17 Plenary and WG meetings will be held in Sydney, Australia in October 2024

2025

  • Mr Lin Yih (Singapore) was nominated by BSI as ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 17 Chair. The nomination was balloted by SC17 NSBs and was approved with 18 positive votes, and no negative votes. The appointment is subject to endorsement by JTC 1 in November 2025.
  • SC 17 have scheduled regular meetings in 2025 with the European Commission to discuss the adoption of the ISO/IEC 18013 and ISO/IEC 23220 series of standards
  • SC 17 Plenary and WG meetings will be held in Madrid, Spain in September/October 2025