Are Physical ID Documents Going Away?

Originally published on the Keesing Platform by Keesing Technologies (18 August 2025).

With the rise of digital identity systems, mobile driving licences and biometric identity authentication, it’s tempting to think physical IDs are becoming obsolete. But despite progress being made in the digital world, physical documents remain deeply embedded in global infrastructure, and their role is far from over.

What people think

During the 2025 Identity Week Europe conference in Amsterdam, the Keesing booth featured an interactive backdrop that invited attendees to reflect on the future of identity. One of the key questions posed was: ‘can you imagine that physical IDs are disappearing completely in the near future’?