Making Sure Professionals Are Who They Claim to Be

A recent online article from Maryia Valchanina, Head of Data Processing at Regula, sheds light on one of the lesser-discussed challenges in the field of document authentication: the verification of professional identity documents.

Unlike conventional passports or national ID cards, which benefit from widespread standardisation and well-established verification protocols, these specialised documents often exist in a fragmented regulatory landscape.

Issued to individuals whose professions demand more than mere identification – such as seafarers, aircrew, military personnel, and licensed professionals – these credentials serve a dual function. They simultaneously confirm personal identity and validate the bearer’s qualifications, authorisations, or legal status.