Cartao de Cidadao or Citizen Card will replace all the existing cards (Health Insurance, Voter's Id & Social Security). This card will bring the Portuguese Nationals into the digital world. The card acts on the principles of the smart card which will carry all the information of an individual in the digital format. Moreover the card will replace the already existing BI.
The card will contain the holders address and two digital certificates that will permit the holders secure authentication.
What is the Citizen's Card and what is it for?
The Citizen's Card is a physical and digital document, easy to use, that allows the citizens identification through various channels of communication, within the Public Administration and private entities.
Besides the identification, the card enables the accomplishment of electronic services, in the physical presence of an entity, on the Internet or by telephone. In those interactions the security level and the legal valour are the same of the traditional means.
The Citizen's Card presents itself as a true citizenship certificate, having a double form of a physical document, that identifies the citizen visually and physically (like the Identity Card), and of a digital document, that will allow its holder to electronically authenticate the transactions in which he/she takes part (through a personal PIN).
Technologically, Citizen's Card respects the international standards, especially the ones of the European Union. The card has the form of a smartcard, has an incorporated microchip with information storage and processing cryptographic capacities, which assure the security standards in the protection of the confidentiality and integrity of the personal information of the card, in the respect of the national legislation and of the corresponding European norms.
Where you can ask for the Citizen Card or Cartao de Cidadao?
The Citizen Card can be asked at
* At the services responsible for Civil Identification
* At the register offices designated by or of the Director General of Registeries.
* At the citizen shop or Consulates Abroad
Standard Card – Euro 12.00
Urgent – Euro 20.00 (At the moment urgent requests are not processed)
BI is issued for urgent cases.
