Home Secretary Jacqui Smith will today unveil the design for the controversial new identity card.

Foreign nationals will be issued the cards, which critics have described as unnecessary, costly and anti-liberty, from November.

People working in airports and other high security jobs will receive them from next year.

Each card will carry a picture and a chip holding the person's name and date of birth, fingerprint record and other biometric data.

They will also detail the holder's visa status and right to work.

From 2011 everyone over the age of 16 applying for a passport will have their details added to a national identity register.

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