Overview
ISO/IEC 7812-1:2017 defines the card numbering system used to identify card issuers and accounts in an international interchange environment. The standard specifies the structure and format of the Issuer Identification Number (IIN) and the Primary Account Number (PAN), including the use of a modulus-10 (Luhn) check digit. ISO/IEC 7812-1:2017 is the fifth edition and works in tandem with ISO/IEC 7812-2 (application and registration procedures).
Key topics and technical requirements
- PAN composition: A PAN consists of three components - the IIN (8 digits), the individual account number (variable: 1–10 digits) and a single check digit. The PAN can be up to 19 digits in total.
- IIN format and ranges:
- IINs are 8 digits in length (revised from 6 in earlier editions).
- Special prefix ranges and uses:
- 00: reserved for non-issuer institutions per ISO 8583-1.
- 80[CCC]: healthcare use, managed by national healthcare registration authorities (CCC = ISO 3166-1 country code).
- 89: telecommunications cards per ITU‑T E.118 (managed by ITU).
- 9[CCC]: reserved for national numbering systems administered by national standards bodies or the Registration Authority (RA).
- Individual account number: Assigned by the card issuer; minimum 1 digit, maximum 10 digits.
- Check digit: Calculated on all preceding PAN digits using the Luhn “double-add-double” modulus-10 algorithm (Annex B provides the algorithm and example).
- Registration and governance: IINs are allocated through procedures defined in ISO/IEC 7812-2 and maintained by the ISO-appointed Registration Authority (RA).
Applications and who uses this standard
ISO/IEC 7812-1:2017 is essential for organizations involved in card issuance, interchange, processing and system integration:
- Banks, card issuers and payment schemes - to register and format IINs/PANs for payments and identification.
- Acquirers, payment processors and gateways - to validate PAN structure and check digits during transaction routing.
- Healthcare and telecommunications organizations - for industry-specific IIN allocations (80 and 89 series).
- National standards bodies and Registration Authorities - to implement and manage national numbering schemes (9 series).
- Card manufacturers, terminal vendors and software developers - to implement PAN validation and interoperability.
Related standards
- ISO/IEC 7812-2 (Application and registration procedures)
- ISO 3166-1 (Country codes)
- ISO 8583-1 (Financial message data elements)
- ITU‑T Recommendation E.118 (Telecommunication charge cards)
- ISO 17442 (Legal Entity Identifier) - referenced in bibliography
Keywords: ISO/IEC 7812-1:2017, Issuer Identification Number (IIN), Primary Account Number (PAN), Luhn check digit, card numbering system, IIN registration, PAN format.
