ISO/IEC 19785-3

ISO/IEC FDIS 19785-3:2025(en)
Fourth edition
2025ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 37
Secretariat: ANSI
Date: 2026-07-14
Information technology — Common Biometric Exchange Formats
Framework —
Part 3:
Patron format specifications
Technologies de l'information — Cadre de formats d'échange biométriques communs —
Partie 3: Spécifications de format d'usager
FDIS stage
ISO/IEC FDIS 19785-3:20252026(en)
© ISO/IEC 20252026
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication
may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO
at the address below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: + 41 22 749 01 11
E-mail: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
© ISO/IEC 20252026 – All rights reserved
ii
ISO/IEC FDIS 19785-3:20252026(en)
Contents
Foreword . vii
Introduction . ix
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Symbols and abbreviated terms . 2
5 Conformance . 3
6 ASN.1 type definitions for CBEFF data elements and abstract values . 3
6.1 General. 3
6.2 CBEFF data elements type definitions module . 3
7 Patron format specification: Simple bit-oriented patron format (deprecated) . 9
7.1 Patron . 9
7.2 Patron format owner . 9
7.3 Patron format name . 9
7.4 Patron format type . 9
7.5 ASN.1 OID for this patron format . 9
7.6 Domain of use . 9
7.7 Version identifier . 9
7.8 CBEFF version. 10
7.9 General. 10
7.10 ASN.1 Specification . 10
8 Patron format specification: Simple byte-oriented patron format . 11
8.1 Patron . 11
8.2 Patron format owner . 11
8.3 Patron format name . 11
8.4 Patron format type . 11
8.5 ASN.1 OID for this patron format . 11
8.6 Domain of use . 11
8.7 Version identifier . 11
8.8 CBEFF version. 11
8.9 General. 11
8.10 Patron format specification . 12
8.11 ASN.1 Specification . 12
9 Patron format specification: Presence byte-oriented patron format . 13
9.1 Patron . 13
9.2 Patron format owner . 13
9.3 Patron format name . 13
9.4 Patron format type . 13
9.5 ASN.1 OID for this patron format . 13
9.6 Domain of use . 13
9.7 Version identifier . 13
9.8 CBEFF version. 13
9.9 General. 13
9.10 Specification . 14
9.11 ASN.1 Specification . 16
© ISO/IEC 20252026 – All rights reserved
iii
ISO/IEC FDIS 19785-3:20252026(en)
10 Patron format specification: Presence bit-oriented patron format . 17
10.1 Patron . 17
10.2 Patron format owner . 17
10.3 Patron format name . 17
10.4 Patron format type . 17
10.5 ASN.1 OID for this patron format . 17
10.6 Domain of use . 17
10.7 Version identifier . 17
10.8 CBEFF version. 17
10.9 General. 17
10.10 ASN.1 Specification . 18
11 Patron format specification: TLV-encoded patron format, for use with smartcards or
other tokens (with implicit tag allocation authority) - deprecated . 19
11.1 Patron . 19
11.2 Patron format owner . 19
11.3 Patron format name . 19
11.4 Patron format type . 19
11.5 ASN.1 OID for this patron format . 20
11.6 Domain of use . 20
11.7 Version identifier . 20
11.8 CBEFF version. 20
11.9 General. 20
11.10 ASN.1 specification . 23
11.11 Tabular representations . 25
11.12 Biometric information template group data object . 28
11.13 Abstract values and encodings for biometric type and subtype . 28
11.14 Patron format conformance statement . 29
12 Patron format specification: Complex patron format . 30
12.1 Patron . 30
12.2 Patron format owner . 30
12.3 Patron format name . 30
12.4 Patron format type . 31
12.5 ASN.1 OID for this patron format . 31
12.6 Domain of use . 31
12.7 Version identifier . 31
12.8 CBEFF version. 31
12.9 General. 31
12.10 Specification . 32
12.11 Illustrative examples . 35
12.12 ASN.1 definition (provided for illustrative purposes only) . 40
13 Patron format specification: XML-full patron format (with additional data elements) . 41
13.1 Patron . 41
13.2 Patron format owner . 42
13.3 Patron format name . 42
13.4 Patron format type . 42
13.5 ASN.1 OID for this patron format . 42
13.6 Domain of use . 42
13.7 Version identifier . 42
13.8 CBEFF version. 42
13.9 General. 42
13.10 Specification . 43
13.11 Element . 43
13.12 Element . 45
© ISO/IEC 20252026 – All rights reserved
iv
ISO/IEC FDIS 19785-3:20252026(en)
13.13 Element . 45
13.14 Element . 46
13.15 Element . 47
13.16 Element of BDBInfoType . 54
13.17 Element . 54
13.18 Element . 55
13.19 Element . 55
13.20 Element . 56
13.21 Element . 56
13.22 Element . 56
13.23 Element . 57
13.24 Element . 57
13.25 Element of SBInfoType . 58
13.26 Representation of integers . 58
13.27 Representation of octet strings . 58
13.28 Representation of date and time of the day . 58
13.29 Representation of universally unique identifiers . 59
13.30 XML schema of the patron format . 60
13.31 An example of a simple BIR in XML encoding (conforming with the ASN.1 schema, the XSD
schema, and the normative textual description) . 64
13.32 An example of a complex BIR in XML encoding (conforming with the ASN.1 schema, the
XSD schema, and the normative textual description) . 65
14 Patron format specification: full-complex patron format . 67
14.1 Patron . 67
14.2 Patron format owner . 67
14.3 Patron format name . 68
14.4 Patron format type . 68
14.5 ASN.1 OID for this patron format . 68
14.6 Domain of use . 68
14.7 Version identifier . 68
14.8 CBEFF version. 68
14.9 General. 68
14.10 Specification . 69
14.11 Illustrative examples . 75
14.12 ASN.1 definition (provided for illustrative purposes only) . 79
15 Patron format specification: Biometric application programming interface (BioAPI 2.0)81
16 Patron format specification: Self-identifying Tag-oriented Simple BIR . 81
16.1 Patron . 81
16.2 Patron format owner . 81
16.3 Patron format name . 81
16.4 Patron format type . 81
16.5 ASN.1 OID for this patron format . 81
16.6 Domain of use . 81
16.7 Version identifier . 81
16.8 CBEFF version. 82
16.9 General. 82
16.10 Specification . 82
16.11 Illustrative examples . 87
16.12 ASN.1 definition . 87
17 Patron format specification: Self-identifying, Tag-oriented Complex BIR . 93
17.1 Patron . 93
17.2 Patron format owner . 94
© ISO/IEC 20252026 – All rights reserved
v
ISO/IEC FDIS 19785-3:20252026(en)
17.3 Patron format name . 94
17.4 Patron format type . 94
17.5 ASN.1 OID for this patron format . 94
17.6 Domain of use . 94
17.7 Version identifier . 94
17.8 CBEFF version. 94
17.9 General. 94
17.10 Specification . 95
17.11 Illustrative example . 97
17.12 ASN.1 definition . 97
18 Patron format specification: PAD patron format (Linking BDB with PAD Sample) . 99
18.1 Patron . 99
18.2 Patron format owner . 100
18.3 Patron format name . 100
18.4 Patron format type . 100
18.5 ASN.1 OID for this patron format . 100
18.6 Domain of use . 100
18.7 Version identifier . 100
18.8 CBEFF version. 100
18.9 General. 100
18.10 Specification . 101
18.11 Illustrative example . 103
18.12 ASN.1 definition . 105
19 Patron format specification: TLV-encoded patron format for ICCs and other tokens (with
explicit tag allocation authority) . 108
19.1 Patron . 108
19.2 Patron format owner . 108
19.3 Patron format name . 108
19.4 Patron format type . 108
19.5 ASN.1 OID for this patron format . 108
19.6 Domain of use . 108
19.7 Version identifier . 108
19.8 CBEFF version. 109
19.9 General. 109
19.10 Tabular representations for information . 110
19.11 Biometric Information Template Group Data Object . 118
19.12 Abstract values and encodings for biometric type and subtype . 118
19.13 Illustrative examples . 118
Annex A (informative) Guidelines on the specification of patron formats . 119
Annex B (informative) Conformance of the defined patron formats . 123
Annex C (informative) Coding specifications for tagged patron formats . 136
Annex D (informative) Information and clarifications to Clause 11 . 153
Annex E (informative) Sample ASN.1 Module for TLV-encoded patron formats for ICCs and other
tokens (with explicit tag allocation authority) . 158
Bibliography . 168

© ISO/IEC 20252026 – All rights reserved
vi
ISO/IEC FDIS 19785-3:20252026(en)
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.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types of
document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the ISO/IEC
Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives or www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs).
ISO and IEC draw attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of
(a) patent(s). ISO and IEC take no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed
patent rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO and IEC had not received
notice of (a) patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are
cautioned that this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database
available at www.iso.org/patents and https://patents.iec.ch. ISO and IEC shall not be held responsible for
identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
In the IEC, see www.iec.ch/understanding-standards.
This document was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 37, Biometrics.
This fourthfifth edition cancels and replaces the thirdfourth edition (ISO/IEC 19785-3:2020),2025), of which
has been technically revised.it constitutes a minor revision.
The main changes are as follows:
— the patron format “TLV-encoded patron format, for use with smartcards or other tokens (with implicit tag
allocation authority)” was deprecated for new applications;
— references previously listed as normative were moved to the bibliography, including ISO/IEC 19785-
NOTE 2, ISO/IEC 8825-1 in 11.6 and Reference[19]ISO/IEC 24787;
— element is newly have been added to the XML-full patron format in ;.
— vocabulary was updated and corrected;
— the ASN.1 definition for the patron format “TLV-encoded patron format for ICCs and other tokens (with
explicit tag allocation authority)” and related information in was moved to a new informative .
A list of all parts in the ISO/IEC 19785 series can be found on the ISO and IEC websites.
© ISO/IEC 20252026 – All rights reserved
vii
ISO/IEC FDIS 19785-3:20252026(en)
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html and www.iec.ch/national-
committees.
© ISO/IEC 20252026 – All rights reserved
viii
ISO/IEC FDIS 19785-3:20252026(en)
Introduction
Biometric-based authentication systems and applications are expected to support multiple biometric devices
and multiple biometric data formats. The Common Biometric Exchange Formats Framework (CBEFF)
promotes interoperability of biometric-based application programmes and systems developed by different
vendors by facilitating biometric data interchange.
ISO/IEC 19785-1 defines the following items that enable standardized biometric data interchange:
a) a three-part standardized structure for biometric information records (BIRs) consisting of:
1) standardized biometric headers (SBHs);
2) biometric data blocks (BDBs, which can be standardized or proprietary); and
3) optional security blocks (SBs);
b) variations of the three-part structure to support BIRs containing:
1) only one SBH, at least one or more BDBs and possibly one SB (simple CBEFF BIRs),
2) only one self-identifying SBH, at least one or more BDB and possibly one SB (self-identifying simple
CBEFF BIRs), and;
3) more than one BDB along with some number of SBHs necessary to encode the BIR’s structure and
some number of SBs (complex CBEFF BIRs, multiple CBEFF BIRs);
c) a self-identifying concept, which can be applied to any variation of the three-part structure for BIRs, using
the ‘SBIR’ field as defined in ISO/IEC 19785-1;
d) more than 40 data elements and their associated abstract values that can be used in an SBH to describe
attributes of a BDB within a BIR, as well as attributes of the BIR itself;
e) the concept of a CBEFF patron format (but ISO/IEC 19785-1 does not itself define any patron formats),
which is a detailed specification of the structure and content of a particular, standardized BIR;
f) the concept of a CBEFF patron, which is a recognized standards organization that has registered with the
Biometric Registration Authoritybiometric registration authority (BRA) and declared its intention to
define CBEFF patron format specifications;
g) the concept of the BRA, which is the mechanism by which unique identifiers are assigned to organizations
(standards organizations, vendors and others) that create BDB formats and CBEFF patron formats
(ISO/IEC 19785-2 defines the identification scheme for biometric objects and organizations registered by
the BRA);
h) CBEFF data elements [see c) above] that support, within the SBH, the unique identifiers assigned by the
BRA for biometric organizations, BDB formats, biometric products, capture devices, feature extraction
algorithms, comparison algorithms, quality algorithms, compression algorithms, presentation attack
detection (PAD) mechanisms, patron formats (self-identifying or not),) and SB formats.
PatronIn addition to the patron formats specified in this document, additional patron formats can be specified
in other standards documents and registered with the BRA (see ISO/IEC 19785-2). For example, there is a
registered patron format specified in ISO/IEC 19784-1. For a complete list of registered patron formats,
consult the CBEFF Biometric Registration Authoritybiometric registration authority website.
© ISO/IEC 20252026 – All rights reserved
ix
ISO/IEC FDIS 19785-3:20252026(en)
This document specifies a number of CBEFF patron formats that are considered to be of general utility in a
variety of domains of use. Additional ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 37 patron format specifications can be published as
new clauses in future amendments or editions of this document, or in other ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 37 International
Standards.
The CBEFF patron format type unambiguously identifies the CBEFF patron format within the scope of the
CBEFF patron format owner. The CBEFF patron format type is unambiguous within the scope of an ASN.1
Object Identifier (see ISO/IEC 9834-1) that identifies the BRA (see ISO/IEC 19785-2). That ASN.1 Object
Identifier (OID) is itself globally unambiguous within the scope of all ASN.1 OIDs, which forms a widely used
global namespace.
NOTE ASN.1 OIDs are used by ITU-T, ITU-R, the UPU and many ISO and IEC Standards, to identify some IETF MIME
types and for many other purposes. These acronyms have not been spelled out, as the precise identification of these
organizations is not relevant to this document.
The combination of the BRA OID, the CBEFF patron format owner, and the CBEFF patron format type forms a
larger ASN.1 OID that provides an unambiguous identification of the CBEFF patron format. This document
specifies, for each CBEFF patron format that it defines, the ASN.1 OID that unambiguously identifies that
CBEFF patron format.
New implementations can make use of the tag-oriented CBEFF version 4.0 patron formats, i.e. 16 and onwards.
It is also important to note that, forFor legacy reasons, the technical content of patron format type 5, TLV-
encoded patron format for use with smartcards or other tokens (with implicit tag allocation authority) in 11,,
is presented as it was originally published in ISO/IEC 19785-3:2007 (with minor editorial updates and
technical comments introduced in Annex D). New implementations can use the explicit tag allocation authority
alternative provided by the patron format included in 19.
© ISO/IEC 20252026 – All rights reserved
x
ISO/IEC FDIS 19785-3:20252026(en)
Information technology — Common Biometric Exchange Formats
Framework —
Part 3:
Patron format specifications
1 Scope
This document specifies and publishes registered Common Biometric Exchange Formats Framework (CBEFF)
patron formats defined by the CBEFF patron ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 37, and specifies their registered CBEFF patron
format types (see ISO/IEC 19785-1) and resulting full ASN.1 OIDs. See (see Annex A for rules on how patron
formats are defined using CBEFF data elements.).
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements 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 2382-37, Information technology — Vocabulary — Part 37: Biometrics
ISO/IEC 7816-11, Identification cards — Integrated circuit cards — Part 11: Personal verification through
biometric methods
ISO 8601-1, Date and time — Representations for information interchange — Part 1: Basic rules
ISO/IEC 8825-4, Information technology — ASN.1 encoding rules — Part 4: XML Encoding Rules (XER)
ISO/IEC 10646, Information technology — Universal coded character set (UCS)
ISO/IEC 19785-1, Information technology — Common Biometric Exchange Formats Framework — Part 1: Data
element specification
ISO/IEC 30107-2, Information technology — Biometric presentation attack detection — Part 2: Data formats
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO/IEC 2382-37, ISO/IEC 19785-1 and
the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
3.1
biometric information template group
structure which allows two or more biometric information template instances to be nested
Note 1 to entry: The construction and use of biometric information template group Data Objects both for on-card and off-
card biometric comparison are specified in ISO/IEC 7816-11.
© ISO/IEC 20252026 – All rights reserved
ISO/IEC FDIS 19785-3:20252026(en)
3.2
CBEFF patron format structure type
common biometric exchange formats framework patron format structure type
indication of the CBEFF BIR structure used to define a given patron format, including whether the structure is
self-identifying
Note 1 to entry: The possible structure types are defined in ISO/IEC 19785-1 and include:
— Simplesimple CBEFF BIR;
— Complexcomplex CBEFF BIR;
— Multiplemultiple CBEFF BIR.
Note 2 to entry: ISO/IEC 19785-1 allows one or more BDBs to be included in the Simple CBEFF BIR structure type.
However, unless otherwise indicated, all Simple CBEFF BIR structures defined in this document allow only a single BDB
to be included.
3.3
TLV encoding
type, length and value encoding
tag, length and value encoding
common form of encoding (with many variants) in which every field in the encoding has an assigned type (or
tag) that is unambiguous in a certain context, a length determinant, and a value part that maycan contain
further TLV components, nested to any depth
4 Symbols and abbreviated terms
For the purposes of this document, the symbols and abbreviated terms given in ISO/IEC 19785-1 and the
following apply.
APDU application protocol data unit, a
...