Federal credentialing services

Get your personal identity verification card (also known as a credential, common access card, LincPass, smart card, badge, etc. depending on your agency).

For applicants

Enhance security, reduce identity fraud, and protect the privacy of government employees and contractors by onboarding with the USAccess program.

For agency customers

About your PIV card

Your PIV card is compliant with the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 and the Federal Information Processing Standards and provides a secure and reliable form of government identification. Federal employees and contractors use PIV cards to access facilities and systems. PIV cards may also be known as a credential, common access card, LincPass, smart card, badge, or something else depending on your agency.

Proper card storage

A sample PIV card with text: United States Government OCT2025 USA Affiliation: Employee. Agency/Department: Agency Name. Expires: 2023OCT27. DOE, JOHN W. Emergency Response Official. A W inside a circle. A picture of a man with light skin and dark hair wearing a dress shirt and tie.

Do not store your card in your wallet, purse, or any unapproved plastic card holder or sleeve, as this may damage the card. You must store it in the electromagnetically opaque sleeve or holder provided at pickup. Contact your sponsor if you did not get an approved PIV card holder.

Your card’s features

All PIV cards have common visual elements that are printed in the same location regardless of the agency.

Information that’s visible on your card includes:

Your agency seal
Your agency’s return address
A picture of your face
Your physical characteristics (height, eye color, and hair color)
The expiration date of the physical card
Your full name
Your agency
A serial number

Chip contents

The integrated circuit chip on your card stores:

x509 PKI digital certificates such as PIV authentication, card authentication, digital signature for documents, and encryption for emails.
Two interoperable fingerprint templates.
A digital image of your face.

If a recipient’s email provider can accept PKI for digitally signed emails or documents, the recipient can verify a sender’s digital signature and view and open documents.

The physical card expires after five years but the certificates expire three years from the date of activation. Contact your sponsor if you need your card reissued before then.