ISO IEC 18013-5-2021 PDF

Full title and description

ISO/IEC 18013-5:2021 — Personal identification — ISO‑compliant driving licence — Part 5: Mobile driving licence (mDL) application. Specifies interface and data-exchange requirements for implementing a driving licence on a mobile device, and for communication between the mDL, mDL readers and issuing‑authority infrastructure.

Abstract

This part of ISO/IEC 18013 defines the application interface and related specifications that enable a mobile driving licence (mDL) to be presented, queried and verified by an mDL reader and by issuing‑authority infrastructure. It defines mechanisms to obtain mDL data by machine, to bind the mDL to the holder, to authenticate the origin of mDL data and to verify data integrity. The document explicitly excludes requirements on how holder consent is obtained and detailed storage requirements for mDL private keys.

General information

• Status: Published (current international standard; under normal ISO review cycle).
• Publication date: 2021 (published September/October 2021).
• Publisher: Joint ISO/IEC standard (ISO and IEC, via ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 17).
• ICS / categories: 35.240.15 (Identification cards and related devices).
• Edition / version: Edition 1, 2021.
• Number of pages: 152 (ISO listing); national/adopted publications list between ~154 and 164 pages depending on national formatting.

Scope

Specifies interface definitions required to implement an ISO‑compliant mobile driving licence (mDL) and to permit interoperable reading and verification by mDL readers and issuing‑authority systems. The standard covers data structures, protocols and authentication/integrity mechanisms needed for machine acquisition and validation of mDL data but does not mandate how user consent is obtained or how private keys must be stored.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition of mDL application interfaces for presentation to and communication with mDL readers.
• Data model and mandatory/optional data elements for mDL issuance and verification.
• Authentication and integrity mechanisms to verify origin and integrity of mDL data (digital signatures, certificate usage patterns, etc.).
• Mechanisms to tie an mDL to its holder (binding and verification considerations).
• Interfaces between mDL readers and issuing‑authority infrastructure (backend communication expectations).
• Explicit out‑of‑scope items: methods for obtaining holder consent and detailed secure storage requirements for mDL private keys.

Typical use and users

Adopted by government issuing authorities and national identity/driving‑licence programs to enable mobile licences; used by mobile wallet and mDL application developers, reader manufacturers, verification service providers, law enforcement, border control and other verifiers that need a machine‑readable, verifiable mobile credential. Implementers also include system integrators working on back‑end infrastructure for issuing and authenticating mDLs.

Related standards

Part of the ISO/IEC 18013 series for ISO‑compliant driving licences. Related deliverables include ISO/IEC 18013-1 (physical characteristics and basic data set), ISO/IEC 18013-2 (machine‑readable technologies), ISO/IEC 18013-3 (access control and authentication/integrity validation), ISO/IEC 18013-4 (test methods) and additional mDL add‑on functions covered in follow‑on technical specifications / parts (e.g., Part 7 work). Implementers commonly use these parts together for full card and mobile‑credential systems.

Keywords

mDL, mobile driving licence, mobile driver's license, ISO‑compliant driving licence, personal identification, mDL reader, authentication, data integrity, interface specification, ISO/IEC 18013.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO/IEC 18013-5:2021 is the part of the ISO/IEC 18013 family that defines the application interface and supporting specifications for implementing a mobile driving licence (mDL) and for machine‑based exchange and verification of mDL data.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the mDL data model, interfaces between mDL and readers and between readers and issuing authorities, and requirements to allow third parties to obtain mDL data, bind it to the holder, authenticate origin and verify integrity; it explicitly excludes requirements for how holder consent is obtained and detailed storage rules for private keys.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: National issuing authorities, mobile wallet/mDL application developers, reader and terminal manufacturers, verification service providers, and relying parties such as law enforcement, border control and commercial verifiers.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: As of this writing the document is a published international standard (2021) and remains current; ISO indicates it will be reviewed in the normal cycle and follow‑on work (dissemination of updated drafts / DIS work) is in progress for subsequent revisions or related technical specifications. Implementers should check the ISO catalogue or their national body for the very latest revision status.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 5 of the ISO/IEC 18013 family, which covers both physical ISO‑compliant driving licences and machine‑readable/mobile aspects across multiple parts (e.g., Parts 1–4 for card formats, machine‑readable tech, authentication and test methods; Part 5 for mDL).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: mDL, mobile driving licence, mobile ID, ISO‑compliant driving licence, interface specification, authentication, data integrity, issuing authority, mDL reader.