Ùnivers card
| Ùnivers card | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date first issued | 2000 |
| Issued by |  Montecara |
| Valid in | Montecara Euclean Community |
| Type of document | National identity card |
| Purpose | Proof of identity Smart card |
| Eligibility requirements | Montecaran citizens and long-stay visa holders |
| Expiration | 5 years from issue |
| Cost | Free |
The Ùnivers card (Montecaran: càrda Ùnivers) is the national identity card in Montecara. It was introduced in 2000 to replace a range of different documents that residents found inconvenient to use separately. It functions as an identity document, an electronic payment card, and an access card for public services like libraries and recreation. Because it indicates citizenship, it can also be used as an international travel document where accepted.
History
Before the card was introduced, the Montecaran domestic identification document consisted of a folded paper booklet which was prone to wear and did not fit conveniently inside most wallets. Most Montecarans also carried a number of other cards and credentials for accessing public services like library cards, transit passes, and health insurance and welfare cards. The state decided to explore better alternatives to this inconvenient situation, and so began a project in 1996 to create a single card that would function as, at minimum, a form of identification and means of payment. The policy was prompted by advances in smart card technology and the obsolescence of paper-based forms of identification.
In 2000, the state introduced the Ùnivers card to the public. It has since become the de-facto standard form of identification for Montecarans, even replacing the passport for routine international travel to Euclean Community countries. It can also be used as a bank card if linked to a Montecara-based account. Because the software used to operate the system is free to use, private institutions such as workplaces and schools have found their own uses for the card, such as for internal security and student identification.
Data formats
In addition to presenting data visually, with the text in Montecaran and Gaullican, the Ùnivers card can transmit data via the following methods:
- Chip-and-PIN technology, used in situations where security is paramount, for example in healthcare settings where patient privacy is guaranteed by law or for purchases over a set amount (currently Ł50)
- A machine-readable zone on the reverse to expedite border crossings
- Contactless smart card functionality
Cards issued before 1 June 2010 had a magnetic stripe instead of an integrated chip; these have since been phased out.