ISO/IEC 18013-5 vs 18013-7: in-person and online mDL verification

ISO/IEC 18013-5 defines how a mobile driver licence (mDL) is verified in person — phone-to-reader, and it can work fully offline. ISO/IEC 18013-7 extends the same trust model to online (remote, over-the-internet) presentation. Together they let one credential be verified at a counter or in a web or app flow.

What is an mDL?

A mobile driver licence is a cryptographically signed digital version of a driver licence held in a phone wallet. Because it is signed by the issuing authority, a verifier can check it is genuine and unaltered without phoning anyone — the trust is in the signature, not the plastic. For a fuller primer, see what is an mDL.

ISO/IEC 18013-5 — in person

18013-5 is the in-person standard. The holder consents and shares selected fields with a reader over a local channel (QR then Bluetooth/NFC), and the reader validates the issuer's signature and the device binding. A key property is that it can work offline: neither party needs a live connection to the issuer at the moment of verification, which suits point-of-sale, venues and border-style checks. This is what the TENSAI readers implement.

ISO/IEC 18013-7 — online

18013-7 extends mDL to remote presentation: proving the same credential to a website or app over the internet, without a physical reader. It defines how the wallet and the online verifier exchange a request and a signed response so the credential can be trusted at a distance — the foundation for remote onboarding and account recovery. See ISO 18013-7 online verification.

18013-5 vs 18013-7 at a glance

 ISO/IEC 18013-5ISO/IEC 18013-7 WhereIn person, device-to-readerOnline / remote ChannelQR + Bluetooth / NFC (local)Over the internet OfflineYes — works without a connectionNo — remote by definition Typical usePoint of sale, venues, kiosksRemote onboarding, web/app checks

Why it matters

Choosing a platform that supports both standards means one issued credential works everywhere — at the counter and online — instead of maintaining separate systems. It also future-proofs you as Australian jurisdictions roll out ISO-conformant digital licences. The Smart Solutions mDL stack and SDK are built to both 18013-5 and 18013-7.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between ISO 18013-5 and 18013-7?

18013-5 covers in-person mDL verification (and can work offline); 18013-7 covers online/remote verification of the same credential over the internet.

Does mDL verification work offline?

Under ISO/IEC 18013-5, yes — in-person verification validates the issuer's signature locally and does not need a live connection at the moment of the check. Online verification under 18013-7 is, by definition, connected.

Do I need both standards?

If you verify identity both at a counter and online, supporting both means one credential covers both journeys. If you only do one, you can start with the matching standard and add the other later.

Is an mDL the same as a digital driver licence?

An mDL is the ISO-standardised, interoperable form of a digital driver licence. Some jurisdictions run their own app-based digital licences that are moving toward ISO conformance. See the glossary.