How to redact an ID card before sharing a copy

What a ID card reveals

A national or state ID card shows your photo, full name, date of birth, home address, and a unique ID/document number. It's the everyday proof of identity for renting, memberships, age checks, and account sign-ups.

With your ID number, name, and date of birth, a thief can open accounts and pass identity checks as you.

What to redact

• ID / document number The unique number is the main key for impersonation and account fraud.
• Date of birth Combined with your name, it unlocks most identity-verification checks.
• Home address Exposes where you live and enables address-based fraud; rarely needed for an identity check.
• Signature Can be copied onto forged paperwork.

What to keep visible

• Your photo
• Your full name
• The expiry date, if validity must be confirmed

Redact your ID card in 4 steps

1. Pick the photo. Open Cachera and choose the photo of your ID card with the system picker — only that photo is read, never your whole library.
2. Black out the sensitive fields. Drag a black block over the iD / document number and date of birth. On export the pixels are destroyed — nothing is recoverable underneath.
3. Add a purpose watermark. Stamp who the copy is for, e.g. "For [purpose] only", so it can't be reused elsewhere.
4. Export and share. Lay it out on A4, export a PDF, and share it. Everything stays on your iPhone — nothing is uploaded.

FAQ

What should I black out on a ID card?

Hide iD / document number, date of birth, home address, signature. Keep your photo and your full name visible so the copy is still useful.

Is it safe to send a copy of my ID card?

Only a redacted one. With your ID number, name, and date of birth, a thief can open accounts and pass identity checks as you. Black out the sensitive fields, add a purpose watermark, and share a flattened copy so it can't be reused.

Can redacted areas be recovered from the file?

No. Cachera flattens the black blocks into the image on export — there is no layer beneath them, so the covered details cannot be recovered from the PDF.