Proving Entitlement: Role of Passport Photos in Legitimation Documents

A legitimation is a document that someone can use to prove their entitlement to something. A legitimation shows what someone is entitled to, not who they are.

A legitimation document usually contains a passport photo, the holder's name, the name of the institution that issued the document, a date of birth, a gender, and a description of what the person is entitled to.

A legitimation document is not the same as an identity document, such as a passport. So when a police officer asks you to "legitimize yourself," that is actually incorrect; they likely want you to identify yourself.

Overview of Legitimation Documents

Examples of legitimation documents include:

• Public Transport Card: Confirms that someone is entitled to valid travel rights.
• Library Card: Confirms that someone has a library subscription.
• Bank Card: Confirms that someone has a bank account.
• Driver's License: Confirms that someone is authorized to drive a vehicle.
• Police ID: Confirms that someone is authorized to perform certain police tasks.
• Collector's Pass: Confirms that someone is authorized to collect money for a particular organization.

Passport Photos on Legitimation Documents

Almost all legitimation documents contain a passport photo that must be a good likeness of the person. The passport photo does not always have to meet official requirements, except for the driver's license.

In certain cases, you have an obligation to show a legitimation document, which is different from an obligation to identify yourself.