Card Issuer Information

How to apply

Card scheme organisers wishing to apply for PASS accreditation should:

1. Complete Part A of the submission form including details of the scheme organisation
2. Provide an example of the card(s) produced by the scheme
3. Provide a written submission providing information, and where relevant, evidence, detailing how the scheme meets the standard criteria.

The above information should be sent to: PASS Secretariat, Wessex House, 80 Park Street, Camberley, Surrey GU15 3PT

Following receipt of the above, the Secretariat will forward the information to a representative from the Trading Standards Institute (TSI) who will then arrange a convenient time to carry out an audit directly with the card scheme contact. Once the audit has been carried out a report will be sent to the PASS Board with the auditor’s recommendations.

What form will the assessment take?

The initial assessment will take the form of a written submission plus a site visit. The cost of the assessment is currently £500 and card scheme organisers will be invoiced for this amount prior to the visit taking place.

Who will carry out the validation process?

Representatives from the Trading Standards Institute (TSI) will carry out the validation process

What will be the TSI reporting mechanism regarding their recommendations?

TSI will report the result of the initial audit to the PASS Secretariat including a recommendation. The card scheme will then be asked to respond to the auditors’ recommendations to enable the Board to decide whether or not to accredit the scheme. The PASS Secretariat will then forward this information onto the PASS Board. The Board will then reach a decision and notify the applicant accordingly.

On what basis will the PASS Board proceed?

The PASS Board will proceed on the basis of information and a recommendation provided by a TSI representative, and the applicant’s response to those.

PASS Scheme Requirements (listed below)

1. The proof-of-age card which is issued must meet the card design criteria
2. The issuer must have in place a system that ensures every application is suitably vetted either by the issuer or its representative (e.g a school)
3. The issuer must require verification of an applicant’s age and identity through the production of suitable documents or by a suitable procedure to be determined by the PASS Board
4. Card issuers must have adopted the appropriate legal standards with regards to privacy, data protection and human rights legislation
5. The process for issuing lost or replacement cards must include suitable procedures for ensuring the applicant is the person to whom the original card was issued
6. The issuer must have in place a system for checking the quality of a sample of cards produced and issued
7. The issuer must have a system for notification to PASS of any relevant proposed changes to the card or its procedures prior to such changes being made
8. The procedures which ensure the above criteria are met should be capable of being audited by an independent assessor

The card design requirements in Clause 1 above are:

1. A plastic credit card style and size
2. The date of birth to be prominently displayed in clear and legible form
3. The name to be included in full and to be clear and legible
4. A colour photograph to be of reasonable quality and clarity
5. A hologram (the PASS logo)

If the card is primarily for proof-of-age purposes it should show a date at which the owner reaches a specific age (usually 16) to be card readable. (It is desirable that all cards should meet this criterion. However, other cards which might potentially be used for proof-of-age purposes but which are primarily designed for other purposes will be considered on their merits and may be exempted from this best practice requirement.) Note – whether or not the card is “smart” (ie has an embedded chip) it may still meet the scheme criteria.