Proof of identity is a legal document of a person’s identity that must be verified within the jurisdiction where it is presented. It typically contains personally identifiable information such as name, date of birth, address, gender, and other relevant personal data. Traditional forms of identification such as paper-based birth certificates, national IDs, and passports usually serve this purpose but these forms of verification can raise identification challenges, leaving millions of people worldwide without formal, secure proof of their identity. According to the World Bank, this issue is most acute in developing regions such as sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where inadequate administrative infrastructure is compounded by poor economies. Additionally, millions of refugees displaced by war, terrorism, violence, or persecution often have no paper-based means of identification.

Without legal proof of identification, individuals may find it difficult to access:

• Education: UNICEF reports that over 164 million children under the age of five lack birth registration worldwide, with a significant majority residing in Africa. This omission from official birth records can result in these children being excluded from educational opportunities.
• Employment: Some displaced migrants and refugees remain undocumented in their new countries, and may face exploitation by employers who take advantage of their lack of legal status.
• Financial Services: Mobile money services rely on mobile phone wallets and internet connectivity. An estimated 530 million people in countries that mandate SIM registration with government-issued proof of identity are excluded from financial services due to their inability to provide the governmental proof of identification required for opening mobile money accounts.
• Healthcare Services: In the U.S., undocumented immigrants may avoid seeking healthcare due to fear of deportation, leading to untreated illnesses and public health concerns.
• Legal Services: Refugees and homeless individuals find it hard to secure legal help or prove their identity in court often because they lost their personal documents while escaping danger or persecution in their home countries.
• Civil Rights: Lack of proper identification can prevent individuals from exercising their civil rights. Some nations require individuals to present a unique, valid identification to vote, which can disenfranchise those without proper identification.
• Mobility: Individuals may face difficulty traveling domestically or internationally without appropriate identification. In the U.S., effective May 2025, individuals must be REAL ID Act-compliant to board domestic flights, enter federal buildings, and access certain federal facilities.