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What Is ISO/IEC 18013-5?

ISO/IEC 18013-5 is the international standard that defines how mobile driver's licenses (mDLs) are structured, secured, and verified when presented from a smartphone.

StandardsQuick ReadmDL
Overview

The technical foundation for mobile IDs

The standard provides the technical foundation that allows digital IDs issued by governments to be trusted and interoperable across different devices, wallets, and verifier systems.

Scope

What the standard defines

ISO 18013-5 establishes how an mDL should work across the entire verification process.

Area
Data structure
What the Standard Defines
Standardized identity fields such as name, birth date, and license number
Area
Security model
What the Standard Defines
Cryptographic signatures to protect credential integrity
Area
Presentation protocols
What the Standard Defines
How credentials are shared between the holder and verifier
Area
Privacy controls
What the Standard Defines
Ability to share only requested attributes
Area
Device communication
What the Standard Defines
Secure exchange using technologies like NFC, BLE, or QR codes
AreaWhat the Standard Defines
Data structureStandardized identity fields such as name, birth date, and license number
Security modelCryptographic signatures to protect credential integrity
Presentation protocolsHow credentials are shared between the holder and verifier
Privacy controlsAbility to share only requested attributes
Device communicationSecure exchange using technologies like NFC, BLE, or QR codes

These specifications allow mDLs to be issued, stored on a mobile device, and verified securely in real-world interactions.

Why it matters

Consistent, secure, and private by design

ISO 18013-5 enables mobile IDs to work consistently across jurisdictions and industries.

Interoperability

IDs issued by one jurisdiction can be verified by another system that follows the same standard โ€” no custom integration required.

Security

Digital signatures ensure credentials cannot be tampered with. Any modification breaks the signature and fails verification.

Privacy

Holders can share only the data required for a transaction โ€” no need to expose the full credential.

The standard ultimately ensures that mobile driver's licenses can be used reliably for identity verification in person, such as at airports, retail locations, or government services.

Summary

One standard, globally interoperable

ISO/IEC 18013-5 is the reason mDLs issued in one state can be read by a verifier in another.

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In short
ISO/IEC 18013-5 is the global standard that defines how mobile driver's licenses are formatted, protected, and securely presented from a smartphone to a verifier.