Egyptian National Identity Card Explained

National Identity Card, officially known as the Identity Verification Card in Egypt, is a personal identification document issued by the Civil Registry Authority, which operates under the jurisdiction of the Egyptian Ministry of Interior. The card serves as identifying Egyptian citizens, in compliance with Law No. 143 of 1994 on Civil Status.

This law mandates that all citizens aged 16 and above obtain and carry the identity card and present it to public authorities upon request. Failure to acquire the card, update personal data within three months of any changes, or present the card when requested by public officials may result in a fine.

The validity period of the National Identity Card is determined by a decree from the Minister of the Interior, currently set at seven years from the date of issuance.^[1] Once this period expires, the card becomes invalid.^[2]

Card data

The card contains the following information:

• Name
• Birth date
• Gender (Options: Male | Female)
• Religion (Options: Muslim | Christian | Jewish | "-" for non-religious or other)^[3]
• Residence Address
• Issuing office^[4]
• Profession (As per the relevant registration certificate, depending on applicable laws such as the University Organization Law, the Trade Union Law, the Civil Service Law for the government sector, the Labor Law for the private sector, etc.^[5]
• Husband's name (for women)
• National number
• Personal photo
• Card issuance date
• Card expiration date (for cards issued after January 1, 2009)^[6]
• Card number (printed number)

National Number

The national number is a unique 14-digit identifier assigned to each citizen. It encodes specific personal information and remains linked to the individual throughout their lifetime.^[7]

• First Digit from the Left: Represents the century of birth.
• Next Six Digits: Represent the date of birth.
• Next Two Digits: Represent the province of birth.
• Next Four Digits: Serve as a serial number.
• Last Digit: An optional check digit used to verify the validity of the national number.

Note: The province of birth number is assigned by the civil registry computer, along with the serial number and confirmation number. The back of the card is printed with an optical code that complies with the PDF417 standard, and the encoded data is encrypted.

National ID description

Each citizen's national number represents the following:

Examples	7	9	5	4	0	3	1	5	1	8	0	2	8	2
Code	C1	Z1	Z	Z	Z	X	X	D	D	M	M	Y	Y	C
Description	Check digitverification number(check digit)	Unique Four-Digit Number:A number assigned by the systemthat is distinct for births occurringon the same day within the same province.				Province Code:Denotesthe specificprovince of birth.		Date of birth						Denotes the century of birth,representing a spanof one hundred years.Starting from 1900 to 1999 = C = 2Starting from 2000 to 2099 = c = 3
		Odd Number:Indicates that the baby is male.Even Number:Indicates that the baby is female.						Day		Month		year

Provincial codes

Code	01	02	03	04	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	21
Governorate	Cairo	Alexandria	Port Said	Suez	Damietta	Dakahlia	Sharqia	Qalyubia	Kafr El Sheikh	Gharbia	Monufia	Beheira	Ismailia	Giza
Code	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	31	32	33	34	35	88
Governorate	Beni Suef	Fayoum	Minya	Asyut	Sohag	Qena	Aswan	Luxor	Red Sea	New Valley	Matruh	North Sinai	South Sinai	Outside the republic

See also

• Identity document

External links

• National ID card, Egyptian Consulate website
• Interior Ministry clarifies what the code number on the back of the national ID is - Ahram Gate - June 16, 2011

Notes and References

1. https://redir.masrawy.com/404?aspxerrorpath=/News/Egypt/Politics/2008/december/21/interior.aspx Interior: Renewal of national ID cards from 97 to 2001
2. In accordance with Articles 78 and 50 of Law No. 143 of 1994 on Civil Status.
3. According to the amendment of Decree No. 1121 of 1995, which issued the executive regulations of the Civil Status Law.
4. https://books.google.com.eg/books/about/%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1_%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B1_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9_%D8%B1%D9%82.html?id=DPR5QgAACAAJ&redir_esc=y Decree No. 1121 of 1995, which promulgates the executive regulations of the Civil Status Law, specifically refers to Article 34.
5. In accordance with Article 33 of Decree No. 1121 of 1995, which issues the executive regulations of the Civil Status Law.
6. In accordance with Sections 1 and 2 of Minister of Interior Decree No. 1723 of 2008.
7. In accordance with Sections 1, 2, and 3 of Decree No. 1121 of 1995, which issues the Executive Regulations of the Civil Status Law.