Do you check identities or identity documents?
Date: 2015-11-13
Institutions: General Secretariat of the Council
Subjects: Internet site, access to information, area of freedom, security and justice, identity document, selective dissemination of information

PRADO
Public Register of Authentic identity 
and travel Documents Online

DO YOU CHECK IDENTITIES  
OR IDENTITY DOCUMENTS?

PRADO provides easy online access to technical descriptions 
of the most commonly used travel and identity documents

www.consilium.europa.eu/prado

PRADO is available in all 24 official languages of the EU

WHAT IS PRADO?

l  PRADO stands for ‘Public Register of Authentic Documents On-

line’.

l  PRADO  contains  images  of  the  most  commonly  used  identity 

and travel documents.

l  PRADO provides technical descriptions of the most important 

security features of identity and travel documents.

l  PRADO provides indicative information on the validity and prin-

cipal uses of identity and travel documents.

QUALITY AND RELIABILITY OF 
PRADO CONTENT

l  PRADO is regularly updated with information taken from the 
steadily growing Expert FADO (False and Authentic Documents 
Online) database, which contains classified restricted information 
and was established under Council Joint Action 98/700/JHA.
l  Each document is validated online for correctness by document 

experts from all over Europe.

l  High-quality translations are provided by specialist translators at 

l 

the General Secretariat of the Council of the EU.
Information on new authentic documents is available in PRADO 
the day after it is validated in Expert FADO.

WHY IS PRADO IMPORTANT?

l  Undetected identity fraud is dangerous and expensive.
l  Legal obligations to check identities are increasing.
l  PRADO aims to raise awareness and help detect identity fraud, in 

particular document fraud.

WHO USES PRADO?

PRADO is used by anybody with a legal duty or professional need 
to check identities and identity documents (for example employers, 
postal services, banks and credit institutions, security and guarding 
companies, car rental outlets, notaries and lawyers) and by the gen-
eral public at large.

WHAT IS PRADO?

l  PRADO stands for ‘Public Register of Authentic Documents On-

line’.

l  PRADO  contains  images  of  the  most  commonly  used  identity 

and travel documents.

l  PRADO provides technical descriptions of the most important 

security features of identity and travel documents.

l  PRADO provides indicative information on the validity and prin-

cipal uses of identity and travel documents.

QUALITY AND RELIABILITY OF 
PRADO CONTENT

l  PRADO is regularly updated with information taken from the 
steadily growing Expert FADO (False and Authentic Documents 
Online) database, which contains classified restricted information 
and was established under Council Joint Action 98/700/JHA.
l  Each document is validated online for correctness by document 

experts from all over Europe.

l  High-quality translations are provided by specialist translators at 

l 

the General Secretariat of the Council of the EU.
Information on new authentic documents is available in PRADO 
the day after it is validated in Expert FADO.

WHY IS PRADO IMPORTANT?

l  Undetected identity fraud is dangerous and expensive.
l  Legal obligations to check identities are increasing.
l  PRADO aims to raise awareness and help detect identity fraud, in 

particular document fraud.

WHO USES PRADO?

PRADO is used by anybody with a legal duty or professional need 
to check identities and identity documents (for example employers, 
postal services, banks and credit institutions, security and guarding 
companies, car rental outlets, notaries and lawyers) and by the gen-
eral public at large.

USER-FRIENDLY – EASY NAVIGATION

USEFUL FEATURES

l  You  can  find  documents  easily  either  by  issuing  country  or  by 

l  Useful features include the context-sensitive online help: 

title.

illustrated explanations of expert terms.

l  PRADO  is  mobile-friendly,  with  an  optimised  screen  display  for 

l  Zoom function.

handheld devices.

HOW SHOULD I EXAMINE  
A DOCUMENT?

When  examining  a  document  it  is  important  to  know  what  the 
document should look like. 
PRADO  provides  images  of  the  most  commonly  used  travel  and 
identity  documents  and  a  description  of  the  technical  features 
used. Technical features include watermarks, UV reaction, optical-
ly  variable  devices,  optically  variable  ink  and  some  printing  tech-
niques. 
These security features can be checked relatively easily -  
‘FEEL, LOOK, TILT’:
l  Always check for impersonation: carefully compare the photo-
graph in the document with the holder’s appearance. In addi-
tion, check the age, height and signature.
l  Look for signs of alterations to the document.
l  Examine  the  watermark  or  the  see-through  register:  hold  the 

document page against the light.

l  Check  optically  variable  features  and  optically  variable  ink:  tilt 
the document in order to view it at an oblique angle or under 
oblique light. 

l  Special  printing  makes  the  ink  feel  raised  or  thicker.  To  feel 
raised intaglio print, run your finger over it or scratch it gently 
with your fingernail.

l  Check microprint, miniprint as well as photo integration using a 

magnifying glass.

l  Check UV features if you have a UV light available.

WHO DO I CONTACT IN THE EVENT 
OF SUSPECTED DOCUMENT FRAUD?

Please contact your nearest police station.  
PRADO provides contact information under  
www.consilium.europa.eu/prado
PRADO contacts > National Contact Points.

For questions or further information, please contact:
helpline.PRADO@consilium.europa.eu
Tel. +32 (0)2 281 56 00

Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 175
1048 Bruxelles/Brussel
BELGIQUE/BELGIË
Tel. +32 (0)2 281 61 11
www.consilium.europa.eu

Document  experts  in  all  EU  member  states  and  in 
Iceland,  Norway  and  Switzerland  own,  supply  and 
select the information released to the general  public 
via PRADO.

The PRADO system is hosted by the General Secretariat 
of the Council of the European Union.

This  leaflet  is  produced  by  the  General  Secretariat  of 
the Council and is intended for information purposes. It 
is not binding on the EU institutions or the EU member 
states.

© European Union, 2015

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