International ID Day 2026: Trusted identities as the foundation of secure and inclusive societies
Berlin, September 15, 2026 – Whether accessing public services, crossing borders, opening a bank account, voting, or interacting online, identity is a fundamental enabler of modern life. As societies become increasingly interconnected and digital, ensuring that identities are accessible, secure, and trustworthy has become a critical challenge for governments worldwide. Tomorrow’s International ID Day, observed annually on September 16, highlights the importance of legal identity for individuals and societies alike.
The date refers to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16.9, which calls for legal identity for all, including birth registration, by 2030. This year’s theme, “My Identity, My Shadow, Never Apart!”, underlines how closely identity is linked to each individual throughout life and across both physical and digital interactions. The initiative highlights the fundamental importance of verifiable proof of identity and encourages reflection on three essential dimensions: inclusion, protection, and empowerment.
A trusted legal identity enables individuals to participate fully in society. It provides access to education, healthcare, financial services, employment opportunities, and democratic processes. Without reliable proof of identity, 850 million people around the world still remain excluded from opportunities that many take for granted. Inclusive identity systems help ensure that citizens can exercise their rights, access essential services, and engage in economic and social life.
At the same time, identity must be protected. As digital interactions continue to expand, citizens, governments, and organizations face growing threats from identity theft, document fraud, cybercrime, and the misuse of personal data. In this environment, trust in identity systems has become a prerequisite for trust in digital services themselves. Effective identity protection requires strong security technologies, robust verification mechanisms, and privacy safeguards that allow individuals to prove who they are while retaining control over their personal information.
When inclusion and protection are successfully combined, identity becomes a driving force for empowerment. Trusted identities enable individuals to pursue education, conduct business, travel internationally, and access opportunities that can significantly improve their lives. They also help governments deliver services more efficiently, strengthen public administration, support economic development, and foster confidence in public institutions. In this sense, legal identity is not merely an administrative requirement but a foundation for resilience, social cohesion, and sustainable development.
“Trusted identity is one of the foundations of modern society,” says Bernd Kümmerle, CEO of Veridos. “It enables people to participate, helps protect them against growing security threats, and creates opportunities in both the physical and digital world. As societies become increasingly interconnected, maintaining trust in identity systems is essential for secure interactions, resilient public services, and sustainable digital transformation.”
Around the world, governments are working to build identity ecosystems that balance accessibility, security, privacy, and usability. As physical and digital identities become ever more interconnected, ensuring trust throughout the identity lifecycle remains a shared priority for public authorities, international organizations, and technology providers alike. Veridos contributes to these efforts with identity solutions that support secure and trusted interactions between citizens, governments, and institutions.
Contact:
Giesecke+Devrient
Ulrike Woenckhaus
Press Manager
Tel: +49 89 4119-1382
E-Mail: ulrike.woenckhaus@gi-de.com
