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Foreign nationals given ID cards in UK

by Dave Keating | November 25, 2008 at 12:05 am

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Resident in the UK from outside the European Economic Area (the EU plus Switzerland and Norway) are to be issued ID cards under a new scheme by the government. The UK remains one of the only European countries that does not issue identity cards to its citizens, and the issue has remained enormously controversial there. The idea of an identity card has been very unpopular with the public. It is thought that this introduction of ID cards for foreign nationals could be a first step to requiring the cards for everyone.

The Home Office is to start issuing identity cards to people from outside the European Economic Area.

The first cards will go to students and the husbands, wives and partners of permanent residents who apply for permission to extend their stay.

The government says that by April 2015, 90% of all foreign nationals living in the UK will have the cards, containing fingerprints and personal details.

The Conservatives dismissed the cards as an expensive gimmick.

They will contain the fingerprints, name, date of birth, nationality and the person's right to be in the UK.

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Uwe Paschen

at 01:29 on November 25th, 2008

I did not know that the UK does not issue ID cards to its Citizen. However now doing so for Foreigners only is more or less discrimination.

Dave Keating

at 05:14 on November 28th, 2008

well Labour plans to eventually issue ID cards to everyone. But if the conservatives come into office next year, they may scrap the plan, leaving only foreigners with the ID cards.