pythaiidcard

Python library for reading Thai national ID cards using smartcard readers.

Table of Contents

• Features
• What's New in v0.3.0
• Quick Start
• Flutter Library Development
• Prerequisites
• Installation
• Usage
  • Command Line
  • Web Interface
  • Python Library
• Data Fields
• Dependencies
• Troubleshooting
• Project Structure
• Credits
• License

Features

• ✅ Full Card Data Extraction: Read all information from Thai ID cards
• 📸 Photo Support: Extract and save card photos (JPEG format)
• 🏥 NHSO Health Insurance: Read National Health Security Office data
• 🔖 Laser ID Support: Read laser-engraved ID from cards
• 🔒 Data Validation: Automatic CID checksum validation and date parsing
• 📅 Date Conversion: Buddhist Era to Gregorian calendar conversion
• 🏛️ Structured Data Models: Name and Address parsed into structured objects
• 🎨 Modern Web UI: Streamlit-based debug interfaces
• 🐍 Type-Safe: Full type hints and Pydantic models
• 🔍 Error Handling: Comprehensive exception handling and system checks
• 📦 Zero Config: Auto-detects readers and connects to cards
• 🚀 Fast: Efficient APDU command implementation

What's New in v0.3.0

Debug Interface Improvements

• 🎨 Consolidated Modern Interface: Merged debug interfaces into a single sidebar-based layout
• 📱 Better Organization: Expandable reader list with status indicators in sidebar
• ✨ Quick Copy Buttons: One-click copy for CID, names, and address fields
• 🌓 Dark Gradient Theme: Modern, production-ready appearance with card-based design

API Server Updates (v2.3.0)

• ⚡ Event-Driven Monitoring: New PCSCMonitor with real-time PC/SC state change detection
• 🔄 Auto-Read by Default: Reliable automatic card reading on insertion
• 🔧 Improved Reliability: Better handling of reader availability and connection states
• 🐛 Field Mapping Fixes: Corrected web app field names to match API model

Documentation

• 📚 Organized Structure: Moved documentation files to notes/ directory
• 📝 Updated Guides: Comprehensive documentation for all interfaces
• 🧪 Test Coverage: Added event-driven monitoring tests

Quick Start

# 1. Install system dependencies
sudo apt-get install -y pcscd libpcsclite-dev python3-dev swig

# 2. Install Python dependencies
uv sync --group dev

# 3. Run the web interface
uv run streamlit run debug/app.py

Then open http://localhost:8501 in your browser, insert your Thai ID card, and click "Scan Readers" → "Connect" → "Read Card".

Flutter Library Development

We are actively working on a Flutter version of this library for cross-platform mobile support (iOS/Android). The development is in progress at playground/thai_idcard_reader_test/.

Key Features

• Package: Uses the ccid Flutter package for smartcard reading
• Platform Support: iOS (13.0+) and Android with USB OTG smartcard readers
• Architecture: Mirrors the Python implementation using APDU commands over PC/SC
• CI/CD: Automated iOS builds via GitHub Actions and Fastlane

Getting Started with Flutter Version

cd playground/thai_idcard_reader_test/

# Install dependencies
flutter pub get

# Run on Android device
flutter run

# For iOS builds, see the CI/CD workflow or use GitHub Actions

See the Flutter project README for detailed setup instructions, hardware requirements, and iOS cloud build configuration.

Note: Thai National ID cards do NOT support NFC - external USB OTG (Android) or MFi-certified (iOS) smartcard readers are required.

iOS Testing Limitation: The author currently lacks access to a Mac, making iOS testing challenging. However, the project includes GitHub Actions CI/CD for automated iOS builds. Community contributions and testing on iOS devices are highly appreciated!

Credits

This project is inspired by and based on:

• Thai National ID Card Reader Gist by bouroo
• lab-python3-th-idcard by pstudiodev1

Prerequisites

System Dependencies

This project requires the following system packages:

• pcscd - PC/SC Smart Card Daemon
• libpcsclite-dev - PC/SC development files
• python3-dev - Python development headers
• swig - Interface compiler for Python bindings

Install them using:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y pcscd libpcsclite-dev python3-dev swig

Or if you have mise installed:

mise run install-deps

Installation

This project uses uv for Python package management.

# Install uv if you haven't already
curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh

# Install Python dependencies
uv sync

Or with mise:

mise run setup

Usage

Command Line

Connect your smartcard reader and insert a Thai ID card, then run:

uv run python thai-idcard.py

Or:

mise run run

The script will:

• Detect available smartcard readers
• Connect to the first reader automatically
• Read personal data from the Thai ID card including:
  • Citizen ID
  • Thai/English full name
  • Date of birth
  • Gender
  • Card issuer
  • Issue/Expiry dates
  • Address
  • Photo (saved as {CID}.jpg)

Web Interface (Streamlit)

For a modern web-based interface with visual feedback:

# Modern interface with visual feedback
uv run streamlit run debug/app.py

Features:

• 🔍 Visual reader detection and selection
• 🔌 Connection status monitoring
• 📖 Interactive card reading with progress bars
• 📸 Photo preview and download
• 💾 Export data as JSON, CSV, or photo
• 🐛 Real-time debug logging (full interface)

See debug/README.md for detailed documentation.

Python Library

from pythaiidcard import ThaiIDCardReader

# Basic usage - auto-connect and read card
reader = ThaiIDCardReader()
with reader.card_session():
    card = reader.read_card(include_photo=True)

    print(f"Name: {card.english_fullname}")
    print(f"CID: {card.cid}")
    print(f"Age: {card.age}")
    print(f"Expires: {card.expire_date}")
    print(f"Valid: {not card.is_expired}")

    # Save photo
    if card.photo:
        card.save_photo()  # Saves as {cid}.jpg

# Advanced usage - manual control
from pythaiidcard.reader import ThaiIDCardReader

# List available readers
readers = ThaiIDCardReader.list_readers()
for reader_info in readers:
    print(f"Reader {reader_info.index}: {reader_info.name}")
    print(f"  ATR: {reader_info.atr}")
    print(f"  Connected: {reader_info.connected}")

# Connect to specific reader
reader = ThaiIDCardReader(reader_index=0)
reader.connect()

# Read without photo for faster operation
card = reader.read_card(include_photo=False)

# Read with progress callback
def on_photo_progress(current, total):
    print(f"Reading photo: {current}/{total}")

card = reader.read_card(
    include_photo=True,
    photo_progress_callback=on_photo_progress
)

reader.disconnect()

# Access card data - Structured models
# Names are parsed into structured Name objects
print(f"Thai First Name: {card.thai_name.first_name}")
print(f"Thai Last Name: {card.thai_name.last_name}")
print(f"English Prefix: {card.english_name.prefix}")  # "Mr.", "Mrs.", etc.
print(f"English Full Name: {card.english_name.full_name}")

# Address is parsed into structured Address object
print(f"House Number: {card.address_info.house_no}")
print(f"Moo: {card.address_info.moo}")
print(f"Soi: {card.address_info.soi}")
print(f"Street: {card.address_info.street}")
print(f"Subdistrict: {card.address_info.subdistrict}")
print(f"District: {card.address_info.district}")
print(f"Province: {card.address_info.province}")
print(f"Full Address: {card.address_info.address}")

# Backward compatibility - original string properties still work
print(f"Thai Name: {card.thai_fullname}")  # Returns full name string
print(f"English Name: {card.english_fullname}")  # Returns full name string
print(f"Address: {card.address}")  # Returns full address string

# Other computed properties
print(f"Gender: {card.gender_text}")  # "Male" or "Female"
print(f"Issue Date: {card.issue_date}")
print(f"Days until expiry: {card.days_until_expiry}")

# Export as JSON
import json
card_json = card.model_dump_json(indent=2)
print(card_json)

# Read NHSO (National Health Security Office) data
nhso_data = reader.read_nhso_data()
print(f"Main Hospital: {nhso_data.main_hospital_name}")
print(f"Insurance Type: {nhso_data.main_inscl}")
print(f"Expiry Date: {nhso_data.expire_date}")
print(f"Is Expired: {nhso_data.is_expired}")

# Read Laser ID (laser-engraved ID on card)
laser_id = reader.read_laser_id()
print(f"Laser ID: {laser_id}")

Data Fields

The library extracts and parses card data into structured models:

ThaiIDCard Model

Field	Type	Description
cid	str	13-digit citizen identification number (validated with checksum)
thai_name	Name	Structured Thai name (prefix, first_name, middle_name, last_name)
english_name	Name	Structured English name (prefix, first_name, middle_name, last_name)
date_of_birth	date	Birth date (Buddhist Era → Gregorian converted)
gender	str	Gender code ("1"=Male, "2"=Female)
card_issuer	str	Issuing organization
issue_date	date	Card issue date
expire_date	date	Card expiration date
address_info	Address	Structured address (house_no, moo, soi, street, subdistrict, district, province)
photo	bytes	JPEG photo data (optional)

Name Model

Automatically parses names from Thai ID card format (prefix#firstname#middlename#lastname):

Field	Type	Description
prefix	str	Name prefix (e.g., "นาย", "นาง", "Mr.", "Mrs.")
first_name	str	First name
middle_name	str	Middle name (may be empty)
last_name	str	Last name
full_name	str	Computed full name with proper spacing

Address Model

Automatically parses Thai address format with proper component separation:

Field	Type	Description
house_no	str	House number (บ้านเลขที่)
moo	str	Village/Moo number (หมู่ที่)
soi	str	Soi/Lane (ซอย)
street	str	Street/Road (ถนน)
subdistrict	str	Subdistrict/Tambon (ตำบล) or แขวง (Bangkok)
district	str	District/Amphoe (อำเภอ) or เขต (Bangkok)
province	str	Province (จังหวัด)
address	str	Computed full address with Thai prefixes

Computed Properties

Property	Type	Description
age	int	Current age calculated from date of birth
gender_text	str	Gender as text ("Male" or "Female")
is_expired	bool	Whether the card has expired
days_until_expiry	int	Days remaining until card expires
thai_fullname	str	Full Thai name (backward compatibility)
english_fullname	str	Full English name (backward compatibility)
address	str	Full address string (backward compatibility)

NHSOData Model

National Health Security Office health insurance data:

Field	Type	Description
main_inscl	str	Main insurance classification code
sub_inscl	str	Sub insurance classification code
main_hospital_name	str	Main registered hospital name
sub_hospital_name	str	Sub hospital name
paid_type	str	Payment type code
issue_date	date	NHSO registration issue date
expire_date	date	NHSO registration expiry date
update_date	date	Last update date
change_hospital_amount	str	Number of hospital changes allowed

Computed Properties:

• is_expired (bool): Whether the NHSO registration has expired
• days_until_expiry (int): Days remaining until NHSO registration expires

Laser ID

Thai ID cards also contain a laser-engraved ID that can be read separately:

laser_id = reader.read_laser_id()  # Returns string

This is a unique identifier laser-engraved on the physical card.

Dependencies

Python Packages

• pyscard (>=2.3.0) - Python smartcard library for PC/SC interface
• Pillow (>=11.3.0) - Python imaging library for photo handling
• pydantic (>=2.0) - Data validation and settings management
• python-dateutil (>=2.8.2) - Date parsing utilities

Development Dependencies

• streamlit (>=1.28.0) - Web interface framework (optional)
• ruff (>=0.8.4) - Linting and formatting

Troubleshooting

SystemDependencyError: Missing required system dependencies

The library will automatically check for required system dependencies on Linux systems with apt package manager. If dependencies are missing, you'll see a helpful error message with installation instructions.

Example error:

SystemDependencyError: Missing required system dependencies:

  ✗ PC/SC Smart Card Daemon (pcscd)
  ✗ PC/SC Lite development library (libpcsclite-dev)

To install missing dependencies, run:

  sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y pcscd libpcsclite-dev python3-dev swig

To skip the dependency check (if you know dependencies are installed via other means):

from pythaiidcard import ThaiIDCardReader

reader = ThaiIDCardReader(skip_system_check=True)

"No such file or directory: winscard.h"

Install the system dependencies listed above, particularly libpcsclite-dev.

"No readers available"

• Ensure your smartcard reader is connected
• Check that the pcscd service is running: sudo systemctl status pcscd
• Start it if needed: sudo systemctl start pcscd

Permission denied

Add your user to the scard group:

sudo usermod -a -G scard $USER

Then log out and log back in.

Project Structure

pythaiidcard/
├── pythaiidcard/              # Main library package
│   ├── __init__.py       # Package initialization
│   ├── reader.py         # ThaiIDCardReader implementation
│   ├── models.py         # Pydantic data models
│   ├── constants.py      # APDU commands and response codes
│   ├── exceptions.py     # Custom exceptions
│   ├── utils.py          # Utility functions
│   └── system_check.py   # System dependency checking
├── debug/                # Debug interface
│   ├── app.py           # Modern compact interface
│   └── README.md        # Debug interface documentation
├── thai-idcard.py       # Legacy CLI script
├── pyproject.toml       # Project configuration
└── README.md            # This file

Key Components

• ThaiIDCardReader: Main class for reading Thai ID cards
• ThaiIDCard: Pydantic model with validated card data
• Name: Structured name model (prefix, first_name, middle_name, last_name)
• Address: Structured address model (house_no, moo, soi, street, subdistrict, district, province)
• NHSOData: Health insurance data from National Health Security Office
• CardReaderInfo: Information about available card readers
• System Check: Automatic validation of system dependencies
• Debug Interfaces: Streamlit-based web UIs for testing and debugging

License

See LICENSE file for details.