Published: February 4, 2026
The identity verification ecosystem continues to experience significant transformation. As we move into 2026, authorities, organizations and individuals are facing a complex environment that is strongly shaped by ongoing digitization and convenience, accompanied by more sophisticated fraud and higher assurance demands.
This environment is essential to understand for any organization seeking to establish trusted digital processes, services or relationships. The core of digital trust is knowing one’s counterpart – which inevitably requires the robust and trustworthy digital verification of a person’s identity.
Key Trends in Identity Verification 2026
Surge in AI Driven Threats
The ongoing AI evolvements and their broad public availability have tangible implications for digital identity proofs and credentials. Artificial Intelligence, in particular generative AI, has been shown to make sophisticated fraud achievable by anyone with a computer or a smartphone. The main techniques include biometric presentation attacks (forecast to double in 2026[1]), injection attacks (surged 200% in 2023 and are predicted to increase[2]), and the creation of highly convincing deepfakes.[3] Their “quality” is rapidly improving, creating serious issues for KYC systems and remote onboarding or identification. Highly convincing, greatly detailed digital images of passports or other identity documents are only one prompt away.
In contrast to the manual or machine-based verification of a physical identity document with its complex and layered security elements, the digital use of these credentials in ID proofing situations is highly problematic when relying only on an image.
Practical Perspective: The detection of AI fraud and forgeries is crucial. The ICAO-recommended use of chip verification effectively mitigates these AI threats.[4] Verifying a person’s identity by way of the electronic chip of a physical credential, such as a biometric passport or identity card, provides an infallible result: while visual checks and cameras can be deceived, chip verification is uncompromisable. The cryptographic security provided by electronic chips in documents is practically immune to fraud attempts, and sophisticated verification solutions ensure to thoroughly check for cloning or other forgeries,[5] providing the necessary reliability and assurance for digital identity verification.
Ongoing Adoption of Digital Credentials
The adoption of digital credentials is growing worldwide. Take the example of mobile driver’s licenses (mDL): 21 jurisdictions in the United States have already launched mDL programs, and over 650 million people are projected to use mDLs by the end of 2026.[6] TSA is accepting mDLs at security checkpoints.[7] The ISO 18013-5 standard is driving global interoperability for these credentials.
E-visas shows a similar momentum. Electronic visa programs are rapidly taking hold worldwide, with their total market valued at USD 1.3 billion in 2025 and projected to reach USD 4.2 billion by 2033.[8] Following the adoption of a legal framework for digital visas in 2023, the EU will start to roll out a unified digital visa system in 2026, with digital Schengen visas fully replacing the previous physical credentials by 2028.[9]
Digital credentials offer a variety of inherent advantages, such as reduced bureaucracy, streamlined processes, and selective data disclosure. Users are able to prove individual information such as their age or nationality without having to reveal other identity data, as would be the case when presenting a physical credential. However, the security of digital credentials depends on the integrity of their issuance process, namely, the secure and trusted establishment of a person’s identity as a basis.
Practical Perspective: When transitioning to digital credentials, issuers must base these on the trustworthy verification of the credential-requesting person’s identity. Physical documents such as biometric passports or ID cards serve as the root of trust for this purpose. The trustworthiness of an mDL or e-visa is compromised wherever its holder’s identity was not robustly authenticated.
Evolving Regulatory Mandates
Governments and international bodies worldwide are setting increasingly strict standards for the digital identity ecosystem. In 2026, regulatory pressure can be expected to further intensify, as new mandates and framework conditions are implemented.
One example is the global trend towards government-backed digital wallets. In the European Union, under the eIDAS 2.0 regulation for national eIDs, each member state must offer at least one digital wallet by the end of 2026. With the EUDI wallet, the EU is also developing its own version, which can store verified credentials such as identity documents, driver’s licenses, diplomas and other documents with cryptographic security and cross-border interoperability.[10]
In the U.S., NIST SP 800-63 guidelines are establishing new standards for digital identity assurance levels across different entities and use cases.[11] Similarly, age verification requirements are expanding: half of all U.S. states have passed age verification requirements for online platforms. Industry data confirms this trend, as 76% of organizations report increased regulatory requirements for stronger identity checks.[12] Further examples: Malaysia is implementing age verification via eKYC in 2026,[13] and South Africa is aiming to have a digital ID system in place by 2029. On the way to full implementation, IDs in smart card format shall fully replace the traditional ID books in 2026.[14]
Practical Perspective: Trustworthy identity verification is the essential prerequisite for meeting regulatory requirements. To safely comply with identity assurance mandates, KYC regulations, or age check laws, governments, businesses and organizations must ensure the robust verification of individuals’ identities. Chip verification is a reliable and compliant means to that end, enabling the necessary trust for all downstream digital processes.
Mobile First
With the ever-growing use of smartphones in all walks of life, they are also emerging as a principal identity verification tool, both for private and institutional users. Take global travel: according to IATA’s 2025 Global Passenger Survey, a large majority of travelers would prefer to manage every stage of their journeys with their smartphones.[15] At the same time, the adoption of biometrics continues to accelerate. In combination, the use of biometrics and digital identity verification is suited to enable even more seamless airport processing in the future.
The shift to mobile-first extends well beyond travel. Many organizations are offering smartphone-based solutions for remotely onboarding clients or offering services. In the same manner, mobile phones are also transforming field operations for law enforcement and frontline police officers, who increasingly rely on mobile devices to support fast and reliable identity verification.[16] The ability to quickly authenticate individuals and look up data on a mobile device makes identity checks smoother both for the officers as well as for the individuals being checked.
Practical Perspective: Both law enforcement and remote onboarding greatly benefit from modular, integration-ready solutions for mobile identity verification. Solutions must work reliably in diverse environments, from roadside checks to distant domiciles to airport security. Seamless and trustworthy mobile-first identity checks should include chip-based verification for highest assurance.
NFC as the Gold Standard for Secure Document Verification
Digital identity verification systems are increasingly relying on NFC chip verification, which is treated as one of the highest-assurance verification methods available.[17] According to IATA, more than 140 states and non-state entities have already issued NFC-enabled biometric passports, with domestic identity cards expected to follow the same trajectory.[18]
The security advantages of NFC chip verification are substantial. The cryptographically signed biometric data and personal information stored on the chip cannot be cloned or otherwise tampered with. Consequently, verification of the chip offers a quasi-perfect proof of document authenticity. Verification takes only seconds, thus being extremely convenient for all parties involved.
The relevance of NFC chip verification is not only driven by security: It also allows organizations or institutions to securely onboard and serve users in faraway locations, significantly reducing operational cost; and offers equitable access and participation for citizens or customers with mobility constraints. Chip verification supports inclusion and eliminates the need for travel, long waits or intermediaries.
Practical Perspective: Chip verification is the most defensible way forward for organizations and institutions looking for robust identity verification solutions and a reduction of friction and cost. Where risks are high and consequences severe, cryptography-based checks through NFC chips are the most reliable and secure defense against multiple threats, and enable fast and convenient verification processes.
Trends in Identity Verification 2026 – Key Takeaways
Across the digital identity ecosystem, NFC chip verification emerges as the common thread. It reliably mitigates against AI threats, serves as the foundation for issuing secure digital credentials, helps meet regulatory mandates and compliance requirements, is particularly well suited for mobile-first identity verification, and among the highest-assurance verification methods currently available.
Key Developments | What to Prioritize |
| Surge in AI-driven threats | Implementation of multi-layered verification solutions that combine visual inspection and chip verification. The latter provides a strong cryptographically secured defense against AI-based fraud. |
| Ongoing adoption of digital credentials | Digital credentials must be based on verified physical documents as root of trust. Chip-based identity verification at issuance offers a solid foundation for any digital credential ecosystem. |
| Evolving regulatory mandates | Compliance with EUDI mandates for digital wallets in combination with the eIDAS 2.0 regulation, age verification or KYC requirements relies on the secure and trustworthy verification of individuals’ identities. |
| Mobile First | Modular solutions that work seamlessly on mobile devices serve efficient field operations, customer onboarding, and other purposes. Chip verification ensures trustworthy mobile identity checks. |
| NFC chip verification | Digital identity verification systems based on chip verification offer extremely high assurance and trust. Organizations are well advised to rely on solutions that put NFC chip verification front and center. |
The Important Role of Chip Verification in ID Verification
In 2026, against the backdrop of AI threats, accelerating adoption of digital credentials, expanding regulatory mandates and a shift to mobile-first operations, the secure and reliable verification of identities becomes more important than ever. Chip verification emerges as the confirmed gold standard due to its security, reliability and compliance.
Organizations that invest in robust, adaptable digital identity verification infrastructure, particularly one that prioritizes NFC chip verification, will be well positioned to establish digital trust. Teaming up with specialized experts will help put these requirements into practice, creating tailored and flexible identity verification workflows for each organization and use case.
