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What is NFC?

Near-field communication (NFC), is a set of digital protocols and processes that makes it possible for two or more devices or NFC chips to communicate with each other when they are close by – without needing to establish a physical connection. Once this connection has been established, it can be used to quickly transfer data, initiate a transaction, kick off a software application, or initiate other actions. 

To work, a device must be NFC enabled. All this means is that the device is capable of interacting with an NFC chip or other NFC-enabled device. All iPhones produced since 2014 and most Samsung devices since 2015 have built-in NFC readers.

Frequently asked questions

How does near-field communication work?

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When two NFC-enabled devices or chips are in close proximity to one another (usually around 4 inches), communication protocols can be initiated. This communication is operated on a specific frequency of 12.56 MHz. Once the protocol has initiated, communication can occur in a variety of different modes, depending on the nature of the chips and devices:

  • Card emulation, in which a smartphone or other device can be used like a payment card

  • Peer-to-peer, in which two devices or chips exchange data or media with one another

  • Reader/writer, in which a device reads the data embedded on an NFC chip or writes data to an NFC chip

How does NFC technology relate to identity verification?

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Certain types of ID documents — most commonly including passports, but also identity cards and driver’s licenses in some jurisdictions — have an embedded NFC chip. This chip contains information like the ID holder’s name, date of birth, country or place of birth, date of issuance, expiration date, a photo, and potentially other data depending on the jurisdiction. 

The information contained within an ID’s embedded NFC chip can be useful in the identity verification process, and can be cross-referenced against the information that is physically written on the document in order to detect forged, altered, or stolen documents. This adds an extra layer of security to the passport verification process, making it possible for businesses to achieve greater assurance that a person actually is who they say they are.