In Uruguay, the "**Documento de Identidad**," before known as "***Cédula de identidad***", is delivered by the Ministry of the Interior and the National Directorate of Civil Identification (DNIC) to the people. Everyone in Uruguay has to have this card for different things they need to do, whether it's with the government or private companies. This rule applies to everyone living in Uruguay, whether they were born there, became a citizen, or are just living there temporarily or permanently. Even babies who are 45 days old or older need to have this ID card.

Characterictics
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### Old *Cédula de Identidad*

Old *Cédula de Identidad* in 1999
Before 2015, the original name was "*Cédula de identidad*." It was a small card, about 9 cm wide and 5 cm tall, mostly light green in color. In the middle, it had the flag of the Thirty-Three Orientals with the words "*Libertad o muerte*." On the other side, there was a photo of the person, a unique number given by the D.N.I.C. (with a self-generated or verification digit), their full name and last names, and their signature (or a note if they couldn't sign).

The back of the card had information like nationality, date of birth, when the card was given, and when it would expire (usually 10 years after it was issued, but if you got it after you turned 70, it was valid for life, and for kids, it was valid for five years). It also had a thumbprint of the right thumb and any important notes. Since 2010, it also had a photo and a barcode.

People use this ID card for all sorts of things, like buying stuff with credit cards, proving who they are, showing their age, and more.

### Name modifcation and new electronic style

Frente de la cédula de identidad electrónica de UruguayThe front of Uruguay's electronic ID card looks different. Below the person's face, there's a symbol that shows it can be used as an electronic travel document.
In 2015, Uruguay's ID card went through some big changes to make it more secure. It stopped 

Dorso de la cédula de identidad electrónica de UruguayBack of uruguyan electronic identification document. The contact chip can be seen.
being called the "Cédula de identidad" and became the "Documento de identidad."

The new ID card is made of a tough material called polycarbonate and is engraved with lasers. This makes it last for 10 years and stops people from erasing or changing the information because the laser burns the polycarbonate. It also has translations into Portuguese for words like "Apellido/Sobrenome" (Surname), "Nombre/Nome" (Name), "Vencimiento/Vencimento" (Expiry date), and others.

Uruguayan identification document for non-citizens delivered to an Argentine citizen.
It has three levels of security:

1. Can be seen r a microscope. These include tiny text and holograms that glow under UV light.
2. There are secret security features that only the D.N.I.C. knows about and need special equipment to check.

The adult ID card has two chips:

1. One chip you can see and touch, which has electronic travel info. It's like an electronic passport, but it can't replace a real passport. It works in some South American countries, and can be used use it at certain airport gates.
2. The other chip is invisible and works without contact. It helps with electronic identification and can be used for many electronic services, both government and private. The user can read the information, compare your fingerprint to the data on the card to make sure it's you, and it has keys and a certificate for secure electronic stuff.

For foreigners, the ID card is yellow and says "Extranjero" (Non-citizen) on it.

But, for naturalized citizens (people who became Uruguayan citizens), have an issue. Their ID cards don't follow international rules (ICAO 9303-3 7.1) because the D.N.I.C. lists the place where they were born instead of saying they are "Uruguayan." This can cause issues at airport gates and with immigration in other countries because it doesn't match up.

Minor's ID have no chips.

### Applications and uses of the chip without contact

The chip without contact in the electronic ID card has a special application for electronic travel documents that follows the rules set out in the ICAO 9303 document for these types of documents. This application includes biometric info, which means it can be used for automatic immigration controls. Systems like eGates can wirelessly read and confirm the data on your ID card. They can even use facial recognition to make sure it's really you, providing strong authentication. It can also check your personal info against travel clearance lists for legal reasons.

While passports are the main travel document, and they also use this electronic technology, the ID card can be used for travel within South America. Basically, it can be used electronically in many systems.

To stop people from reading your data without the user permission (like with a hidden reader on the street), the chip has *Basic Access Control* (BAC) protection. This means the person need to know a secret code to read the data, usually in the Machine-Readable Zone (MRZ), which machines can read.

The chip also has Active Authentication, which means the issuing authority, in this case, the DNIC, electronically signs the data. The chip has a private key to confirm it's real and hasn't been copied.

All of these features and security measures follow the ICAO 9303 standards, which are widely accepted and used.

### Applications and uses of the chip with contact

The chip with contacton the ID card follows the ISO/IEC 7816 standards in all its parts. To access this chip, the user need a standard smart card reader, which use the same physical interface as EMV cards (commonly used for credit and debit cards). Some personal computers, including certain Windows PCs and Macintosh macOS, also have integrated smart card readers.

### Identification

The visible data on the ID card can be extracted from the plastic in electronic format. This electronic format allows computer systems to automatically read this information, removing the need for manual data entry. This streamlines various registration processes and makes them more efficient.

### Match on card

The ID card allows for a biometric comparison of a captured fingerprint with the fingerprints stored in the document. This comparison ensures a reliable verification that the person holding the ID card is indeed its rightful owner. It replaces the traditional method of visually comparing the person to the printed photo, and as a result, it significantly reduces the risk of identity theft.

### Validation and advanced electronic signature

The ID card has a special feature that lets the suer sign documents electronically using a pair of keys and a certificate. To use it, the user needs PIN that you choose when you get the card.

The card works with a system using special commands and responses called Application Protocol Data Unit (APDU). This means the user can do different things with the card by sending these commands. They are flexible and let you access each function of the ID card in a detailed way, but they are a bit complicated because they are just sequences of bytes with minimal structure. Also, the suer can only use them on the machine where your electronic ID card is connected directly, like your computer in a web or client-server setup.

Abroad use
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People who have the Uruguayan ID Document can go to all the countries in the Mercado Común del Sur (Mercosur) without needing a passport. There are nine countries in South America where this rule applies.

Related pages
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* Uruguay