Identity and Document Investigation Unit
We call these certificates or documents source documents. When government agencies question the authenticity of source documents, they can have them investigated by the Identity and Document Investigation Unit. We also investigate whether documents have been obtained in the correct manner.
Genuine, false or forged!?
The Identity and Document Investigation Unit has already been advising government services on the value of source documents for 25 years. The experts use special equipment to establish whether a document is genuine, false or forged. These include documents that are used as evidence in an asylum process, such as judicial documents, proof of military service, or arrest warrants. Such an investigation can be very detailed. For example, it can involve comparing photographs and signatures or examining whether the same typewriter was used.
Supervision of residence documents
The expertise of the Identity and Document Investigation Unit enables the IND to contribute to national security and combat identity fraud. The Identity and Document Investigation Unit supervises the process by which foreign nationals’ documents are generated and issued. And whether third-country nationals have applied for them. More examples are given on the website Foreign-Nationals-Identity-Documents.
Fraud and security
The Identity and Document Investigation Unit also develops new methods and techniques to combat fraud with documents and proofs of identity. In this way they improve the fraud resistance of Dutch foreign nationals’ documents.
DISCS: for government authorities that use source documents
The Identity and Document Investigation Unit has developed an information system. This system is called DISCS, which stands for Document Information System for Civil Status. Government organisations that use source documents also use DISCS. For example, local authorities, the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (KMar), the Social Insurance Bank (SVB) and the Dutch embassies abroad. Many international organisations such as Frontex and Interpol also use DISCS. And of course our IND staff.
More information
Do you have a question, or do you want more information? Then contact the Identity and Document Investigation Unit directly.