This publication, developed jointly by the Document Security Alliance (DSA), the Secure Identity Alliance (SIA), and Intergraf, provides a practical framework for governments and issuing authorities to strengthen the security of identity documents—such as passports, ID cards, and driver’s licences—against increasingly sophisticated fraud and counterfeiting threats. It outlines best practice guidelines and minimum security standards for document design, focusing on the effective integration of physical and digital security features, robust manufacturing techniques, and secure personalisation processes. The paper explains common types of document fraud, classifies security features by their function and inspection level, and sets out both technical and ergonomic design principles to enhance usability and verification. Rather than prescribing specific technologies, it offers strategic guidance to help authorities make informed decisions, improve resilience against forgery and alteration, and continuously elevate document security in line with evolving risks and operational constraints.

Download the guidelines here. 

{K2Splitter}