What Is a National ID for Business?

A National ID for business contains the business identification number used in some countries for business registration and tax collection. Examples include CRO numbers in the U.K. and the French Siren numbers.

Which National ID’s are available?

BoldData can deliver National ID numbers from almost all 300 million companies worldwide. This database can be used for validation, due diligence and customer onboarding (KYC). Please see which National ID’s are available in our database:

What is the National ID for consumers?

A national identity card is a portable document, usually a plastic card with digitally embedded information, that enables someone to confirm their identity. Since the September 11th World Trade Center tragedy, many countries have discussed issuing national identity cards to distinguish terrorists from law-abiding citizens.

Government officials in the United Kingdom have discussed using biometrics, such as iris or fingerprint recognition, to confirm a cardholder’s identity with a national identity card. There would be a national database of basic personal information as part of the controversial plan.

Countries with National ID

Many fear that a national identity card would violate their privacy rights and lead to government abuse. A national identity card has been discussed in the U.S. and Canada but, so far, has yet to be seriously advocated. But, several countries in the Third World already require their citizens to carry national identity cards.

Here is a list of some countries implementing the use of National IDs:

1. China

Currently, China is developing the world’s most powerful facial recognition system, aiming to match a citizen’s face with an ID photo 90% of the time. Isvision, a Shanghai-based security company, has been handling the system containing pictures of each of its 1.3 billion citizens.

According to reports, one of the purposes of the system is to track wanted suspects and improve public administration. Furthermore, China will digitize its national ID card to promote paperless transactions and streamline government processes.

Currently, China’s ID card can be used for obtaining residence permits and driving licenses, opening bank accounts, checking into hotels, purchasing railway tickets, and boarding domestic flights. By digitizing its national ID, it will be available on smartphones, and citizens will no longer require physical ID cards.

2. Thailand

47% of Thailand’s population uses its national identity card or Smart ID. Various agencies use it to verify eligibility for government services as proof of identity.

For example, the national ID is used by the government to determine which public health insurance is most appropriate for a citizen based on the citizen’s age, occupation, and civil status.

Additionally, Thailand’s SmartID can also be used with its 7.2 million farmer database. A farmer’s Smart ID can track crops, livestock, and geographic location here. In the event of a disease outbreak, drought, or other natural disaster, government officials can allocate targeted assistance.

3. Estonia

Estonia’s national ID serves as a health insurance card and identification when logging into bank accounts. A citizen’s ID card can also be a legal travel ID within the EU.

Apart from these functions, it can also be used for digital signatures, i-Voting, submitting tax claims, and checking medical records.

The Estonian government is the first nation to offer a “transnational digital identity” that is referred to as an e-Residency. This allows Estonia’s e-residents to access public e-services remotely and receive a digital ID.

Through the program, foreigners can manage and conduct EU business from anywhere in the world. Approximately 5,033 companies have already been established by e-residents, according to the government’s e-Residency website.

4. Pakistan

NADRA (National Database and Registration Authority) is an independent organization that administers Pakistan’s national ID program.

Following ITU-T, its national ID database is one of the largest face recognition projects in the world, covering 98% of its citizens. The Smart National Identity Card (SNIC) is its physical counterpart.

As part of the ID card fee, NADRA also includes insurance against accidental death in addition to branchless banking, e-commerce, and social transfers. Moreover, the country supports biometric-based secure health insurance and uses the SNIC to track vaccinations for children.

Aside from those, Pakistan’s national identification card can also serve as a passport in 100 international airports, as it adheres to the IATA’s standards for machine-readable travel documents.

5. India

Aadhaar, India’s identification system, does not issue physical ID cards to its citizens. Rather, it is a cloud-based system that issues 12-digit identification numbers (UIDs) in combination with biometric information.

It is estimated that 67% of India’s national population uses the identification system.The program provides government cash transfers, digital banking, and mobile money services. By linking bank accounts to Aadhaar, citizens can receive subsidies for government programs, such as liquid petroleum cooking gas subsidies.

Additionally, Aadhaar is linked to a text messaging platform that allows citizens to send funds by entering their unique ID number and specifying the amount.

As part of the election process, Aadhaar is synced with the electoral photo identity card database to filter out unqualified voters and remove them from the electoral rolls. Among its other functions, the UID tracks the attendance of federal government employees and verifies traveler identities when reserving railway tickets.

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Daan Wolff

Data Expert

Specialist in global CRM data and financial company information