4.1.4.4 Optional Items on the Back of the PIV Card
All changes in this version
Title
Optional Items on the Back of the PIV Card
Control changed
Before · FIPS 201-2
Zone 3B—Magnetic Stripe. If used, the magnetic stripe shall be high coercivity and placed in accordance with [ISO7811], as illustrated in Figure 4-7.
Zone 4B—Return Address. If used, the “return if lost” language shall be generally placed on the back of the card as depicted in Figure 4-7.
Zone 5B—Physical Characteristics of Cardholder. If used, the cardholder physical characteristics (e.g., height, eye color, hair color) shall be printed in the general area illustrated in Figure 4-7.
Zone 6B—Additional Language for Emergency Response Officials. Departments and agencies may choose to provide additional information to identify emergency response officials or to better identify the cardholder’s authorized access. If used, this additional text shall be in the general area depicted and shall not interfere with other printed text or machine-readable components. An example of a printed statement is provided in Figure 4-7.
Zone 7B—Standard Section 499, Title 18 Language . If used, standard Section 499, Title 18, language warning against counterfeiting, altering, or misusing the card shall be printed in the general area depicted in Figure 4-7.
Zone 8B—Linear 3 of 9 Bar Code . If used, a linear 3 of 9 bar code shall be generally placed as depicted in Figure 4-7. It shall be in accordance with Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility (AIM) standards. Beginning and end points of the bar code will be dependent on the embedded contactless module selected. Departments and agencies are encouraged to coordinate placement of the bar code with the card vendor.
Zone 9B—Agency-Specific Text. In cases in which other defined optional elements are not used, Zone 9B may be used for other department or agency-specific information, as depicted in Figure 4-8. For example, emergency response officials may use this area to provide additional details.
Zone 10B—Agency-Specific Text . Zone 10B is similar to Zone 9B in that it is another area for providing department or agency-specific information.
For Zones 9B and 10B, departments and agencies are encouraged to use this area prudently and minimize printed text to that which is absolutely necessary.
In the case of the Department of Defense, the back of the card will have a distinct appearance as depicted in Figure 4-8. This is necessary to display information required by the Geneva Accord and to facilitate legislatively mandated medical entitlements. Figure 4-1. Card Front—Printable Areas and Required Data Figure 4-2. Card Front—Optional Data Placement—Example 1 Figure 4-3. Card Front—Optional Data Placement—Example 2 Figure 4-4. Card Front—Optional Data Placement—Example 3 Figure 4-5. Card Front—Optional Data Placement—Example 4 Figure 4-6. Card Back—Printable Areas and Required Data Figure 4-7. Card Back—Optional Data Placement—Example 1 Figure 4-8. Card Back—Optional Data Placement—Example 2
After · FIPS 201-3
Zone 3B—: Magnetic Stripe (Deprecated) The magnetic stripe is deprecated in this version of the Standard. In a future version of this Standard, the magnetic stripe may be removed and the space may be allocated for agency-specific data to be printed. If used, the magnetic stripe shallSHALL be high coercivity and placed in accordance with [ISO7811ISO 7811], as illustrated in Figure 4-74-8.
Zone 4B—: Return Address. If used, the “return if lost” language shallSHALL be generally placed on the back of the card asin the general area depicted in Figure 4-7.—: Physical Characteristics of Cardholder. If used, the cardholder physical characteristics (e.g., height, eye color, hair color) shallSHALL be printed in the general area illustrated in Figure 4-7.
Zone 6B—: Additional Language for Emergency Response Officials. Departments and agencies mayMAY choose to provide additional information to identify emergency response officials or to better identify the cardholder’s authorized access. If used, this additional text shallSHALL be in the general area depicted in Figure 4-7 and shallSHALL notNOT interfere with other printed text or machine-readable components. An example of a printed statement is provided in Figure 4-7.
Zone 7B—Standard: Section 499, Title 18 Language . If used, standard Section 499, Title 18, language warning against counterfeiting, altering, or misusing the card shallSHALL be printed in the general area depicted in Figure 4-7.
Zone 8B—: Linear 3 of 9 Bar Code (Deprecated) The bar code is deprecated in this version of the Standard. In a future version of this Standard, the bar code may be removed. If used, a linear 3 of 9 bar code shallSHALL be generally placed asin the area depicted in Figure 4-74-8. It shallSHALL be in accordance with Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility (AIM) standards. Beginning and end points of the bar code will be dependentdepend on the embedded contactless module selected. Departments and agencies are encouraged to coordinate placement of the bar code with the card vendor and manufacturer.
Zone 9B— and Zone 10B: Agency-Specific Text. In cases in which other defined optional elements are not used, Zonethese 9Bzones mayMAY be used for other department or agency-specific information, as depicted in Figure 4-8. ForDepartments exampleand agencies SHOULD minimize printed text to that which is absolutely necessary.
In the case of the Department of Defense, emergencythe responseback officialsof maythe usecard thiswill areahave a distinct appearance as depicted in Figure 4-8. This is necessary to providedisplay additionalinformation detailsrequired by the Geneva Accord and to facilitate legislatively mandated medical entitlements. 20 20 24 24Zone32.5 10B—Agency-Specific32.5
37 Text37
57.5 57.5
65.5 65.5
81.3 81.3 84.3 84.3 2.3 2.3 4.5 4.5 8 8
14.5 14.5 18 18
50 50 41.5 41.5 30.25
30.25 2
2 52.5
52.5 30.75
30.75 34 42
42 34
MMMYYYY
Affiliation Employee Affiliation Agency/Department Name of Agency Optional 2nd Line
Expires YYYYMMMDD PRIMARY IDENTIFIER, SECONDARY IDENTIFIER
Contact Area Color
Photograph
W Zone 10B19F: isCard similarExpiration toDate 12 pt Arial Bold Format: MMMYYYY
Zone 9B1F: inPhotograph thatRecommended itdimensions: is27.75(w) anotherx area37.0(h) (0.75 aspect ratio)
See examples for providingrequired departmentplacement orof agency-specificoptional informationdata elements.ForOptional Zonesdata 9Barea andlikely 10B,to departmentsbe andneeded agenciesby arecard encouragedmanufacturer. toOptional usedata may be printed in this area prudentlybut andwill minimizelikely printedbe textsubject to thatrestrictions whichimposed isby absolutelycard necessaryand/or printer manufacturers.
IntheZone case8F: ofEmployee theAffiliation
Zone 10F: Agenc y, Department, ofor DefenseOrganization
Zone 14F: Card Expiration Date 6-9 pt Arial Bold Format: YYYYMMMDD Zone 2F: Name 7-10 pt Arial Bold, theuse backlargest offont thesize cardpossible willwithin haverange
Zone a7F: distinctContact appearanceArea asISO depicted7816 incompliant FigureThe 4-8actual contact surface varies and may be larger than this minimal example. ThisNo printing is necessaryallowed toon displaythe informationcontact requiredsurface. byZone the18F: GenevaColor AccordCode andfor toEmployee facilitateZone legislatively15F: mandatedColor-Coding medicalfor entitlementsEmployee
Affiliation Affiliation
Optional data area. Agency-specific data may be printed in this area.
Figure 4-1. Card Front—: Printable Areas and Required Data 20 20 24 24
32.5 32.5
37 37
57.5 57.5
65.5 65.5
81.3 81.3 84.3 84.3 2.3 2.3 4.5 4.5 8 8
14.5 14.5 18 18
50 50 41.5 41.5 30.25
30.25 2
2 52.5
52.5 30.75
30.75 34 42
42 34 Law Enforcement
Federal Emergency Response Official Rank SES
Contact DOE, JOHN JR. FEB2026
NIST Affiliation Employee Agency/Department Department of Commerce
Expires 2026FEB07
W
Area Zone 9F: Header Emergency response example shown
Zone 11F: Agency Seal 20 x 20 Must not impair readability of text. Start with 65% brightness and 25% contrast.
Zone 5F: Rank
Zone 4F: Text Area
Zone 12F: Footer Emergency response example shown Zone 20F: Organizational Abbreviation 12 pt Arial Bold Affiliation
Agency-Specific
Figure 4-2. Card Front—: Optional Data Placement— (Example 1) 20 20 24 24
32.5 32.5
37 37
57.5 57.5
65.5 65.5
81.3 81.3 84.3 84.3 2.3 2.3 4.5 4.5 8 8
14.5 14.5 18 18
50 50 41.5 41.5 30.25
30.25 2
2 52.5
52.5 30.75
30.75 34 42
42 34 SMITH-JONES, SUSIE MARGARET
Susie Margaret Smith-Jones G
Contact United States Government FEB2026
Affiliation Contractor Agency/Department Department of Commerce
Expires 2026FEB06 Issued 2020FEB07
Area Zone 3F: Signature Note: Size of PDF417 bar code may be limited by signature Zone 16F: Photograph Border
Zone 13F: Issue Date Format YYYYMMMDD
Figure 4-3. Card Front—: Optional Data Placement— (Example 2) 20 20 24 24
32.5 32.5
37 37
57.5 57.5
65.5 65.5
81.3 81.3 84.3 84.3 2.3 2.3 4.5 4.5 8 8
14.5 14.5 18 18
50 50 41.5 41.5 30.25
30.25 2
2 52.5
52.5 30.75
30.75 34 42
42 34 B
Contact United States Government
ERIKSSON, ANNA MARIA FEB2024
Affiliation Employee Agency/Department Department of Commerce
Expires 2024FEB29 Issued 2020APR01
Area
GBR AUS Zone 21F: Edge Ridging or Notched Corner Tactile Marker
Zone 22F: Laser Engraving Tactile Marker
Zone 6F (deprecated): Portable Data File (PDF) 417 Two-Dimensional Bar Code
Figure 4-4. Card Front—: Optional Data Placement— (Example 3) 20 20 24 24
32.5 32.5
37 37
57.5 57.5
65.5 65.5
81.3 81.3 84.3 84.3 2.3 2.3 4.5 4.5 8 8
14.5 14.5 18 18
50 50 41.5 41.5 30.25
30.25 2
2 52.5
52.5 30.75
30.75 34 42
42 34 United States Government
Authorized Patronage Overseas Exchange, MWR, Commissary
Contact
Geneva Conventions Identification Card NILAVADHANANANDA, CHAYA> PA DEJTHAMRONG KRUSUANG MAR2026
Affiliation Active Duty Agency/Department Department of Defense
Expires 2026MAR15 Issued 2020MAR25
Rank SES W
Area Zone 17F: Data Privilege example shown Agency-Specific
Figure 4-5. Card Front—: Optional Data Placement— (Example 4) 34 31.5
31.5 37.5
37.5 34 4
4 18
18 48
48 51.5
51.5 20 20
28 28
35 35
83 83 65.5 65.5 70 70 57 57 50 50 42.5 42.5
Serial Number Issuer ID Back of Contact Area Zone 2B: Issuer Number 6 pt Arial Bold Back of Contact Area The contacts are located on the front of the card opposite this area. Note: The contacts are not exposed on the back of the card, and information may be printed in this area, subject to card manufacturer restrictions.
Zone 1B: Agency Card Serial Number 6 pt Arial Bold
Variable placement along the outer edge is allowed in accordance with other FIPS 201 requirements; this example of possible placement.
See examples for required placement of optional data elements.
Optional data area likely to be needed by card manufacturer. Optional data may be printed in this area but will likely be subject to restrictions imposed by card and/or printer manufacturers. Optional data area. Agency-specific data may be printed in this area. Right justified
Left justified
figure provides an
Figure 4-6. Card Back—: Printable Areas and Required Data 34 31.5
31.5 37.5
37.5 34 4
4 18
18 48
48 51.5
51.5 20 20
28 28
35 35
83 83 65.5 65.5 70 70 57 57 50 50 42.5 42.5
This credential is the property of the U.S. Government. Counterfeiting, altering, or misusing violates Section 499, Title 18 of the U.S. Code. The bearer of this card is a designated Emergency Responder. After credential verification , bearer should be given access to controlled areas.
Return to: Height: 5'11" DOB: 01/01/1970 Eyes: Brown Hair: Brown
Security Manager’s Office 1800 F Street N.W. Washington, DC 20405 EXAMPL123456789
PIV-987654321-0 Back of Contact Area Zone 5B: Physical Characteristics of Cardholder 5 pt Arial Bold Limit use of abbreviations Use imperial units.
Zone 4B: Return Address 5 pt Arial Zone 6B: Additional Language for Emergency 5 pt Arial Zone 7B: Section 499, Title 18 Language 5 pt Arial
Figure 4-7. Card Back—: Optional Data Placement— (Example 1) 34 31.5
31.5 37.5
37.5 34 4
4 18
18 48
48 51.5
51.5 20 20
28 28
35 35
83 83 65.5 65.5 70 70 57 57 50 50 42.5 42.5
Medical: Direct: Outpatient care within the national capital region (NCR) fees waived; outpatient care outside NCR and all inpatient care at interagency rate. Civilian: No
Date of Birth: 01/01/1970 Identifier: 777-77-7777 Geneva Conv. Category II EXAMPL123456789 Back of Contact Area
PIV-987654321-0
Used instead of Zones 4B & 5B DOB, ID, Geneva example shown Used instead of Zones 6B & 7B Medical example shown Zone 1B: Agency Card Serial Number 6 pt Arial Bold
Variable placement along the outer edge is allowed in accordance with other FIPS 201 requirements; this example of possible placement. Zone 8B (deprecated): Linear 3 of 9 Bar Code May use optional printing areas for ends of bar code Must be positioned as shown for slot-reader compatibility Zone 3B (deprecated): Magnetic Stripe ISO 7811-6 standard
Figure 4-8. Card Back—: Optional Data Placement— (Example 2)