Cédula de identidad
Encyclopedia
A Cédula de Identidad also known as cédula de ciudadanía or Documento de identidad (DNI) is a national identity document
used in many countries in Central
and South America
. The word cedula means, in general, an order or authorization; in earlier times such a document on the authority of a king, or a royal decree.
In certain countries, such as Costa Rica
, a cédula de identidad is the only valid ID document for many purposes; for example, a driving license or passport
is not valid to open a bank account
. The term "cédula" may also colloquially refer to the number on the identity document.
, Honduras
, El Salvador
, and Nicaragua
.
, in recent years, a cédula de identidad, has been a credit card
-sized plastic
card. On one side, it includes a photo of the person, a personal identification number, and the card's owner personal information (complete name
, gender
, birth
date, and others), and the user's signature
. On the reverse, it may include additional information such as the date when the ID card was granted, expiration date of the ID card, and other such as their fingerprint
s, and all the owner's information in PDF417 code
.
The cards may include several security measures, including the use of ultraviolet coating.
In the near future in Costa Rica, the cédulas de identidad will also be used in the digital signature
process.
, cédulas are made of paper, folded and stapled booklet style, with a blue cover. They are about the size of credit cards. Municipal governments typically issue them for their residents. Cédulas are authenticated by the signature of the local Civil Registry.http://justgottahangon.blogspot.com/2007/03/attention-anyone-adopting-from.html
Identity document
An identity document is any document which may be used to verify aspects of a person's personal identity. If issued in the form of a small, mostly standard-sized card, it is usually called an identity card...
used in many countries in Central
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. The word cedula means, in general, an order or authorization; in earlier times such a document on the authority of a king, or a royal decree.
In certain countries, such as Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
, a cédula de identidad is the only valid ID document for many purposes; for example, a driving license or passport
Passport
A passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth....
is not valid to open a bank account
Bank account
A Bank account is a financial account recording the financial transactions between the customer and the bank and the resulting financial position of the customer with the bank .-Account types:...
. The term "cédula" may also colloquially refer to the number on the identity document.
Central America
In Central America, the cédula de identidad is valid for border crossings between four Central American countries: GuatemalaGuatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
, Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
, El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
, and Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
.
Costa Rica
In Costa RicaCosta Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
, in recent years, a cédula de identidad, has been a credit card
Credit card
A credit card is a small plastic card issued to users as a system of payment. It allows its holder to buy goods and services based on the holder's promise to pay for these goods and services...
-sized plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
card. On one side, it includes a photo of the person, a personal identification number, and the card's owner personal information (complete name
Name
A name is a word or term used for identification. Names can identify a class or category of things, or a single thing, either uniquely, or within a given context. A personal name identifies a specific unique and identifiable individual person, and may or may not include a middle name...
, gender
Gender
Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females, particularly in the cases of men and women and the masculine and feminine attributes assigned to them. Depending on the context, the discriminating characteristics vary from sex to social role to gender identity...
, birth
Birth
Birth is the act or process of bearing or bringing forth offspring. The offspring is brought forth from the mother. The time of human birth is defined as the time at which the fetus comes out of the mother's womb into the world...
date, and others), and the user's signature
Signature
A signature is a handwritten depiction of someone's name, nickname, or even a simple "X" that a person writes on documents as a proof of identity and intent. The writer of a signature is a signatory. Similar to a handwritten signature, a signature work describes the work as readily identifying...
. On the reverse, it may include additional information such as the date when the ID card was granted, expiration date of the ID card, and other such as their fingerprint
Fingerprint
A fingerprint in its narrow sense is an impression left by the friction ridges of a human finger. In a wider use of the term, fingerprints are the traces of an impression from the friction ridges of any part of a human hand. A print from the foot can also leave an impression of friction ridges...
s, and all the owner's information in PDF417 code
PDF417
PDF417 is a stacked linear barcode symbol format used in a variety of applications, primarily transport, identification cards, and inventory management. PDF stands for Portable Data File. The 417 signifies that each pattern in the code consists of 4 bars and spaces, and that each pattern is 17...
.
The cards may include several security measures, including the use of ultraviolet coating.
In the near future in Costa Rica, the cédulas de identidad will also be used in the digital signature
Digital signature
A digital signature or digital signature scheme is a mathematical scheme for demonstrating the authenticity of a digital message or document. A valid digital signature gives a recipient reason to believe that the message was created by a known sender, and that it was not altered in transit...
process.
Guatemala
In GuatemalaGuatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
, cédulas are made of paper, folded and stapled booklet style, with a blue cover. They are about the size of credit cards. Municipal governments typically issue them for their residents. Cédulas are authenticated by the signature of the local Civil Registry.http://justgottahangon.blogspot.com/2007/03/attention-anyone-adopting-from.html
See also
- Identity documentIdentity documentAn identity document is any document which may be used to verify aspects of a person's personal identity. If issued in the form of a small, mostly standard-sized card, it is usually called an identity card...
- List of identity card policies by country
- Community Tax Certificate (Philippines)