National ID Size in the Philippines — Exact Dimensions in CM, Inches & MM (2026 Guide)

Whether you are designing an ID holder, buying a card protector, verifying a received card, or simply curious before your PhilID arrives, knowing the exact national ID size saves time and avoids mistakes. This guide gives you every measurement you need — in centimeters, inches, and millimeters — along with the international standard behind those numbers, a visual layout diagram, card thickness details, and a side-by-side comparison with other Philippine government IDs.

Philippine National ID Dimensions at a Glance

The PhilSys ID card issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) follows a single, globally recognised format. Here are the exact measurements in every unit you may need:

These dimensions are identical to the size of a standard bank card. If you place your National ID next to a credit card, debit card, or ATM card, they will line up perfectly in width and height. The card is designed this way on purpose — it fits into any standard wallet slot, cardholder, lanyard sleeve, or automated card reader without a custom case.

Complete Measurement Table

What Is the CR80 Standard and Why Does the PhilID Use It?

CR80 is a card-size designation defined by the ISO/IEC 7810 ID-1 international standard. It is the format used by virtually every bank card, national ID card, and access card worldwide. The “CR” stands for the original card registration system, and “80” refers to the dimension category.

The Philippine government adopted the CR80 format for the PhilSys National ID under Republic Act No. 11055 for three practical reasons:

Universal wallet compatibility. A CR80 card fits every card slot in standard wallets, billfolds, and phone cases already designed for bank cards. Filipinos do not need special holders.

Scanner and reader support. Government agencies, banks, airports, and private businesses already use card readers built for the CR80 size. The PhilID works in all of them without hardware changes.

Global interoperability. Because most countries issue national IDs in the same CR80 format, Philippine ID verification systems are compatible with international standards — important for OFWs and for foreign verification of Philippine documents.

CR80 vs. CR79 vs. CR100 — Card Format Comparison

While the Philippine National ID uses the CR80 format, you may encounter other card size designations — especially if you are designing or printing ID cards. Here is how the three most common formats compare:

The CR79 is slightly smaller than a credit card — if you tried to use it in a standard wallet slot, it would slide around. The CR100 is noticeably larger and will not fit in a regular wallet. The CR80 is the only format that guarantees a perfect fit in everyday cardholders, which is why governments around the world — including the Philippines — standardise on it.

What Information Appears on the National ID Card?

Understanding the card layout helps you identify a genuine PhilID and know where each piece of information sits. The card has distinct front and back designs, each containing specific data and security features.

National ID Size Philippines — Exact Dimensions in CM, Inches & MM (2026)

 

5.40 cm / 2.125″

Diagram: Philippine National ID (PhilID) card layout — front and back view with official dimensions. Data shown is illustrative only.

Front Side of the PhilID

The front of the card displays the Republic of the Philippines coat of arms and the PSA logo, followed by your PhilSys Card Number (PCN) — a 16-digit number visible at the bottom of the card. Your front-facing photograph, full name (surname, given name, middle name), date of birth, and residential address are printed using laser engraving. The card also features guilloche patterns, microprinted text, and colour-shifting ink as anti-counterfeiting measures. Notably, the PhilID does not include a handwritten signature, unlike most other Philippine government IDs.

Back Side of the PhilID

The back of the card contains a QR code that agencies scan to verify your identity electronically, your sex, blood type, marital status (optional), place of birth, date of issue, and a serial number. Your full PhilSys Number (PSN) — the permanent 12-digit number assigned to you for life — is not printed visibly. It is embedded as microprint and encoded within the QR code for security.

How Thick Is the Philippine National ID?

Card thickness is measured in “mils” (thousandths of an inch). The PhilID is approximately 30 mil thick, which equals 0.76 mm or 0.030 inches. This is the standard thickness for durable government and financial cards.

Here is how different card thicknesses compare:

The PhilID uses polycarbonate instead of the standard PVC found in most bank cards. Polycarbonate is more rigid, more resistant to bending, and significantly harder to tamper with. This is why the card feels slightly stiffer than a credit card even though they are the same thickness.

National ID Size vs. Other Philippine Government IDs

Not all Philippine IDs are the same size. While most modern government cards follow the CR80 standard, some older or specialised IDs differ. Here is a comparison:

As you can see, the National ID, Driver’s License, UMID, and Postal ID all share the same CR80 dimensions. This means a single wallet slot or card protector works for all four. The older Voter’s ID is slightly wider, and the Passport obviously uses a different, larger booklet format entirely.

ePhilID and Digital National ID — Do They Follow the Same Size?

The PhilSys system actually produces three formats of the National ID, and only the physical card follows the CR80 dimensions:

Physical PhilID card — the polycarbonate CR80 card (8.56 × 5.40 cm) delivered to your home by PHLPost. This is the primary form of the National ID.

ePhilID (printed paper version) — issued immediately after biometric capture at the registration centre. It is printed on standard A4 or letter-size security paper, so it is much larger than the card. Some Filipinos laminate and fold theirs to wallet size, though the PSA does not officially recommend this.

Digital National ID (via eGovPH app) — displayed on your smartphone screen inside the eGovPH app. It has no fixed physical size — the layout automatically adjusts to your phone’s screen. It shows the same data as the physical card plus a dynamic QR code for real-time verification.

Can I Print or Design a Card to Match the National ID Size?

If you need to design an employee ID, membership card, or any custom card that matches the standard Philippine ID size, use these specifications:

Document dimensions: Set your design canvas to 8.89 cm × 5.72 cm (3.5″ × 2.25″) to include the standard 1.5 mm bleed margin on all sides. The final trimmed card will be 8.56 × 5.40 cm.

Safe zone: Keep all important text and logos at least 3 mm inside the trim line to prevent them from being cut off during production.

Corner radius: Use a 3.18 mm (⅛″) rounded corner — this is the CR80 standard corner radius.

Resolution: Design at 300 DPI minimum for sharp print output. Use CMYK colour mode if printing professionally.

Frequently Asked Questions About National ID Size

Related National ID Guides

Now that you know the exact size of the Philippine National ID, these guides cover the next steps — getting your card, tracking delivery, and using it for everyday transactions: