ISO/IEC 7813:2006

Information technology - Identification cards - Financial transaction cards

ISO/IEC 7813:2006 specifies the data structure and data content of magnetic tracks 1 and 2, which are used to initiate financial transactions. It takes into consideration both human and physical aspects and states minimum requirements of conformity. It references layout, recording techniques, numbering systems, registration procedures, but not security requirements. ISO/IEC 10373 specifies the test procedures used to check ID-1 cards against the parameters specified in ISO/IEC 7813:2006.

Technologies de l'information — Cartes d'identification — Cartes de transactions financières

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 28-Jun-2006
• ICS: 35.240.15 - Identification cards. Chip cards. Biometrics
• Technical Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 17 - Cards and security devices for personal identification
• Drafting Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 17 - Cards and security devices for personal identification
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Start Date: 05-Dec-2018
• Completion Date: 30-Oct-2025

Relations

• Revises: ISO/IEC 7813:2001 - Identification cards - Financial transaction cards
• Effective Date: 15-Apr-2008

Overview

ISO/IEC 7813:2006 - Information technology - Identification cards - Financial transaction cards - defines the data structure and content of magnetic tracks 1 and 2 used to initiate financial transactions. The standard specifies minimum requirements for track encoding, layout and physical/human aspects of ID‑1 financial cards (e.g., ATM and payment cards). It references recording techniques, numbering systems and registration procedures but does not specify security requirements. Test methods for compliance are covered by ISO/IEC 10373.

Key topics and requirements

• Track data structure
  • Track 1 (Structure B): alphanumeric format, up to 79 characters, uses a 7‑bit modified ASCII code; fields include start sentinel, format code, PAN, name, expiration date, service code, discretionary data and LRC.
  • Track 2: numeric format, up to 40 digits, uses a 5‑bit modified ASCII code; includes start sentinel, PAN, expiration date, service code, discretionary data and LRC.
• Primary Account Number (PAN): consists of a 6‑digit Issuer Identification Number (IIN), variable-length account number (max 12 digits) and a check digit - as defined in ISO/IEC 7812.
• Service code: a three‑digit numeric field whose individual positions indicate interchange scope, technology/ICC presence and authorization/PIN requirements; terminals act on each sub‑field independently.
• Physical characteristics: embossed characters (per ISO/IEC 7811), magnetic stripe location on card back, and integrated circuit (ICC) requirements referencing ISO/IEC 7816 (contact) and contactless standards (ISO/IEC 14443, ISO/IEC 15693, ISO/IEC 10536).
• Conformance: cards must meet all mandatory requirements in ISO/IEC 7813 and prerequisites such as ISO/IEC 7810, 7811, 7812, 7816, ISO 4909 and relevant contactless standards.

Applications and who uses this standard

ISO/IEC 7813 is essential for:

• Card issuers and banks - defining PAN layout, expiration and service-code usage for ATM and payment cards.
• Card personalization bureaus - encoding magnetic tracks and embossing per ID‑1 physical rules.
• Terminal and POS/ATM manufacturers - interpreting service code semantics and track formats to ensure correct acceptance, PIN prompts and transaction routing.
• Payment processors and scheme operators - ensuring interoperability of magnetic stripe data across networks.
• Test labs and compliance auditors - using ISO/IEC 10373 to validate card conformance.

Related standards

• ISO/IEC 7810 (physical characteristics)
• ISO/IEC 7811 (recording techniques)
• ISO/IEC 7812 (IIN/PAN registration)
• ISO/IEC 7816 (ICC contact cards)
• ISO/IEC 14443, 15693, 10536 (contactless IC cards)
• ISO 4909 (track 3 content)
• ISO/IEC 10373 (test methods)
• EMV specifications (recommended for ICC payment application interoperability)

ISO/IEC 7813 remains a core reference for anyone implementing or testing financial transaction cards, magnetic stripe encoding, and card‑to‑terminal interoperability.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 7813
Sixth edition
2006-07-01
Information technology — Identification
cards — Financial transaction cards
Technologies de l'information — Cartes d'identification — Cartes de
transactions financières
Reference number
©
ISO/IEC 2006
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©  ISO/IEC 2006
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ii © ISO/IEC 2006 – All rights reserved

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are members of
ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical committees
established by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical activity. ISO and IEC
technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international organizations, governmental
and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the work. In the field of information
technology, ISO and IEC have established a joint technical committee, ISO/IEC JTC 1.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of the joint technical committee is to prepare International Standards. Draft International
Standards adopted by the joint technical committee are circulated to national bodies for voting. Publication as
an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the national bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO and IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO/IEC 7813 was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 17, Cards and personal identification.
This sixth edition cancels and replaces the fifth edition (ISO/IEC 7813:2001), which has been technically
revised.
© ISO/IEC 2006 – All rights reserved iii

Introduction
This International Standard is one of a series of standards describing the parameters for identification cards
and the use of such cards for international interchange.
This International Standard addresses the structure and data content of financial transaction cards.

iv © ISO/IEC 2006 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 7813:2006(E)

Information technology — Identification cards — Financial
transaction cards
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies the data structure and data content of track data used to initiate financial
transactions. It takes into consideration both human and physical aspects and states minimum requirements
of conformity. It references layout, recording techniques, numbering systems, registration procedures, but not
security requirements.
ISO/IEC 10373 specifies the test procedures used to check ID-1 cards against the parameters specified in this
International Standard.
2 Conformance
A financial transaction card is in conformance with this International Standard if it meets all mandatory
requirements specified herein.
A prerequisite for conformance with this International Standard is conformance with ISO 4909, ISO/IEC 7810,
ISO/IEC 7811, ISO/IEC 7812, ISO/IEC 7816, ISO/IEC 10536, ISO/IEC 14443 and ISO/IEC 15693, where
appropriate.
3 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO/IEC 4909:2006, Identification cards — Financial transaction cards — Magnetic stripe data content for track 3
ISO/IEC 7810, Identification cards — Physical characteristics
ISO/IEC 7811 (all parts), Identification cards — Recording technique
ISO/IEC 7812 (all parts), Identification cards — Identification of issuers
ISO/IEC 7816 (all parts), Identification cards — Integrated circuit cards
ISO/IEC 10373 (all parts), Identification cards — Test methods
ISO/IEC 10536 (all parts), Identification cards — Contactless integrated circuit(s) cards
ISO/IEC 14443 (all parts), Identification cards — Contactless integrated circuit(s) cards — Proximity cards
ISO/IEC 15693 (all parts), Identification cards — Contactless integrated circuit(s) cards — Vicinity cards
© ISO/IEC 2006 – All rights reserved 1

4 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
4.1
automated teller machine
ATM
unattended electronic device that requires a customer verification method such as a card and personal
identification number (PIN) to perform basic bank teller functions such as accepting deposits, cash withdrawal,
account transfers, loan payments and balance enquiries
4.2
cash disbursement
action of withdrawing cash with a financial transaction card, either as a cash withdrawal at an ATM, a cash
advance or as a cashback transaction at the point of sale
4.3
financial transaction card
any carrier of track data which contains issuer and cardholder information used to facilitate financial
transactions by providing the necessary data content for processing such transactions
4.4
goods and services
range of financial transactions excluding cash disbursements
4.5
personal identification number
PIN
code or password that the cardholder possesses for verification of identity
4.6
PIN Entry Device
PED
device into which the cardholder enters the PIN
NOTE Also called a PIN pad (see ISO 9564).
4.7
service code
three-digit numeric value used to indicate the issuer’s transaction acceptance parameters for the card
4.8
track data
mandatory and optional data elements defined for track 1 or track 2 (see Clause 7)
NOTE Track data may be on the magnetic stripe of a physical card, or be contained within an integrated circuit or
other media.
2 © ISO/IEC 2006 – All rights reserved

5 Abbreviated terms
For the purposes of this document, the following abbreviations apply.
EMV Europay, MasterCard, Visa
ICC Integrated circuit card
ID-1 Identification Card-1 (see ISO/IEC 7
...