Palestinian identity card
| Palestinian identity card بطاقة الهوية الفلسطينية | |
|---|---|
Plastic cover of the Palestinian identity card | |
Palestinian identity card (removed from case) | |
| Type | National identity card |
| Issued by | Ministry of Interior |
| First issued | 1994 |
| Purpose | Identification |
| Eligibility | Must be registered in the Palestinian population registry before the age of 16 |
| Expiration | Issued without a fixed expiration date and is valid for life unless replaced |
| Cost | JOD 2 (first issuance); fees may vary depending on where the application is submitted; renewal typically costs ₪50–₪60 |
The Palestinian identity card (Arabic: بطاقة الهوية الفلسطينية) is an identity document issued by the Palestinian Authority to Palestinian citizens. It is defined in Article (2) of the Palestinian Civil Status Law of 1999 as a "legal document for identifying its holder," issued by the Civil Status Directorate of the Palestinian Ministry of Interior. Under Palestinian law, individuals registered in the population registry are required to obtain an identity card upon reaching the age of 16.
Unlike traditional citizenships, obtaining a Palestinian identity card (hawwiya) depends on being registered in the Palestinian population registry rather than simply on descent. In practice, a person must be physically present in the State of Palestine before passing the age of 16 and be added to a parent’s identity card before receiving their own. Because of these requirements, many Palestinians in the diaspora who were never registered or were unable to visit Palestine and therefore cannot receive a Palestinian passport.
Because of these limitations, many Palestinians who do have a hawwiya and live abroad travel or have traveled to the West Bank to register their children in the population registry.