Technological advance reached the identification system in Colombia with the introduction of the digital ID, a tool that complements the traditional physical document and that already incorporates important benefits for citizens.
This format, available in a physical version made of polycarbonate with a chip and in a digital version for mobile phones, represents a leap in terms of security, biometric authentication and electronic management of identity procedures.
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The digital ID was intended not as a substitute, but as a complement to the traditional ID, which It allows citizens to access online services, perform electronic signatures and validate their identity in digital environments, in addition to facilitating a series of notarial, banking, immigration procedures and, in a recent development, also on domestic flights.
However, the use of this new tool raised questions among citizens, especially after an incident on a domestic flight called into question the validation procedures accepted by airlines.
The case that ignited the trend on social networks took place while boarding a domestic flight between Bogotá and Barranquilla.
In this episode, a young man was removed from the aircraft by airline personnel and the Police, because he presented his digital ID in PDF format from his cell phone. The event was recorded on video by another passenger and quickly went viral, generating a wave of criticism, questions and confusion about the usefulness of the digital ID for airport procedures.
Faced with the controversy, the National Registry of Civil Status spoke out to clarify the correct procedure and reinforce the importance of using the official means of presentation. The organization confirmed that the digital ID is valid to board domestic flights, but as long as it is presented under certain conditions that guarantee the authenticity and security of the document.
For this reason, the entity specified two accepted forms for validation during the boarding process:
- Present the digital ID directly from the official application of the Registry, called “Digital ID Colombia”, available for both iOS and Android systems.
- Show the physical polycarbonate document that contains the security chip.
The Registrar’s Office was also emphatic in pointing out the formats that are not valid for this type of procedures:
- Screenshots
- Photographs
- Downloaded PDF files
- Printed or scanned copies of the digital ID
These mentioned options do not meet the protection and safety standards required by aeronautical regulations. and by the identity verification platform.
It is relevant to highlight that the responsibility for validating identity documents during the boarding process falls on airline personnel, not on the National Police.
It is the airline employees who determine whether the document complies with the conditions stipulated by the Registry and the regulations of the airline sector. Therefore, passengers must ensure that they have the correct format to avoid mishaps, such as exclusion from the flight.
Activating the digital ID on the mobile phone became an agile and accessible process, thanks to the modernization of the official application and its integration with facial biometric authentication mechanisms.
For this, The citizen must previously request a physical digital ID card and have a mobile phone with an internet connection and a front camera.in addition to having access to the email registered during the process.
The activation process is carried out in a few steps:
- Download the “Colombia Digital Card” application.
- Enter the identification number.
- Validate through a code that is sent to the email.
- Complete facial authentication.
- Finally, enable the digital ID on the device.
The procedure usually takes less than five minutes and does not require presence at the Registrar’s offices.facilitating digital inclusion throughout the national territory.
Once activated, the digital ID allows the user to access multiple services, from electronic procedures and identity validation on virtual platforms to formal presentation to airlines for boarding domestic flightsprovided that the procedure indicated by the Registry is respected.
The recent case shows the need for clear and updated information on the use of this tool and highlights the role of technology in the transformation of citizen procedures in Colombia.
