ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 17

Cards and Security Devices for Personal Identification

September 2026

 

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

WG 1

Physical Characteristics and Test Methods for ID-cards

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

WG 3

Traveller identification

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

WG 4

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”)

WG 5

Identification of issuers – Disbanded

WG 7

Financial Transaction Cards – Disbanded

WG 8

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.

WG 9

Optical Memory Cards – Disbanded 2017

WG 10

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

WG 11

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:

ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 17 – Cards and security devices for personal identification

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

2026

  • Mr Lin Yih started his initial term as SC 17 Chair after approval by JTC 1 in November 2025
  • Co-operation continues with the European Union who have a particular interest in the work of WG 4 and WG 10
  • Research has begun on potential new work in the following areas:
    • Personal identification – Power consumer personal identification system: General’
    • Technical Specification for Dual Interface IC Cards Module
    • DIgital wallets, in discussion with ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 27
  • SC 17 Plenary and WG meetings will be held in Chengdu, China in September 2026
  • SC 17 Community mourns the passing of Mr Micheal Hegenbarth, the longstanding Convenor of ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 17 WG 8. His presence will be missed by the committee