Citizen's Card celebrates its 16th anniversary with new features

15.02.2023

Launched in 2007, the Citizen's Card (CC) brought several documents together in a single card and enabled authentication and digital signature in public services online. In 16 years, more than 33,7 million cards were issued in Portugal and abroad. In 2023, the Citizen's Card will have a new image and new features.

At the beginning of the year, it became possible to activate the digital certificates of the Citizen's Card through biometrics (facial verification). 

Also in 2023, the Citizen's Card will become free of charge for all newborn Portuguese children up to the first 20 days of life. A new contactless card will also be launched.

The first Citizen's Card was issued on Faial Island, in the Azores, on 14 February 2007. This document brought together the Identity Card, the Taxpayer Card, the Health Beneficiary Card, the Social Security Beneficiary Card and the Electoral Card in a single card.

Over the years, the card has been improved and new related services have been launched, of which the following stand out:

  • 2014: launch of the Mobile Digital Key as an alternative authentication system to the Citizen's Card

  • 2016: inauguration of the Born Citizen Desk with the Citizen Card in maternity hospitals and hospitals throughout the country

  • 2017: the validity of the Citizen's Card for people over 25 years old is extended to 10 years 

  • 2019: the online renewal of the CC for people over 25 becomes possible

  • 2020: renewal of the CC by SMS and delivery of the card at home via CTT

  • 2021: automatically renewed Citizen's Cards can be delivered at home

  • 2022: in March, it became possible to request online the first CC for a newborn baby

  • 2023: the Citizen's Card for a newborn baby will become free of charge and at the end of the year a CC with a new design, contactless technology and facial verification will be launched.

Source: Government Portal