National ID Card Translation for UK Visa

How to get your National ID Card translated

1. 1
   High-resolution scan of both sides of the identity card, including any machine-readable zone, chip symbol, or holographic overlay notation
2. 2
   Identification of card generation (biometric vs non-biometric) and all data fields present, including any fields printed only on the reverse
3. 3
   Translation of all text fields with careful attention to official terminology — e.g., "lieu de naissance" vs "Geburtsort" vs "lugar de nacimiento" — rendered consistently into English equivalents
4. 4
   Transliteration of names following the same romanisation system used in the applicant's passport or other primary identity documents to avoid discrepancies
5. 5
   Notation of any security features, issuing authority details, and card validity dates with date format conversion to UK dd/mm/yyyy convention
6. 6
   Certification statement confirming the translation is a true and accurate rendering of the original identity card

Country-specific National ID Card formats

France

The carte nationale d'identité (CNI) includes "nom de naissance" (birth name) and "nom d'usage" (married/usage name) as separate fields. Since 2021, new cards follow the EU credit-card format with biometric data. Older laminated cards remain valid and are frequently submitted with different field layouts.

Germany

The Personalausweis includes an "Ordens- oder Künstlername" (religious or artist name) field and uses the German date format (dd.mm.yyyy). The card displays both German and English field labels on newer biometric versions, but older cards are German-only.

Italy

The carta d'identità elettronica (CIE) has replaced the older paper booklet format, but both remain in circulation. The paper version includes fields for physical characteristics (height, eye colour, distinguishing marks) that are absent from the electronic card. Comune-level issuing authority names require careful translation.

Poland

The dowód osobisty includes the holder's PESEL number (national identification number encoding date of birth and gender). Post-2019 biometric cards differ substantially in layout from earlier versions. Polish diacritical marks (ł, ą, ę, ś, ź, ż, ó, ć, ń) must be preserved exactly in the certified translation.

Greece

Greek identity cards (δελτίο ταυτότητας) are issued with text in Greek script only, requiring full transliteration. Cards include the holder's father's name and municipality of registration — fields not found on most other European ID cards. Greece has not yet adopted the EU biometric card format, so older-style cards remain standard.

Common National ID Card translation rejection reasons

Name transliteration inconsistency between translated ID card and passport

Cross-reference the transliteration system used in the applicant's passport and apply the same romanisation consistently across the ID card translation. Note any discrepancies between the source documents in a translator annotation.

Missing translation of reverse side or machine-readable zone

Always translate both sides of the identity card in full, including any machine-readable text, card number, and issuing authority details printed on the reverse.

Date format ambiguity causing identity verification failure

Convert all dates to the unambiguous UK format (dd/mm/yyyy) and, where the source format could be misread (e.g., 03/04/2025 in mm/dd vs dd/mm), include the original format in parentheses to eliminate doubt.

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