Top 3 Self-Sovereign Identity Solutions - Memdeklaro vs. Digitalcourage vs. World Passport

Self‑sovereign identity enables individuals to control their personal information, thereby reducing unnecessary data collection and enhancing privacy in everyday interactions. Non‑government ID cards provide a portable means of verifying identity without reliance on national identity cards, passports, or other government‑issued credentials, fostering independence from centralized identity systems.

The three products compared here — Memdeklaro, Digitalcourage Lichtbildausweis, and the World Passport — offer effective, modern solutions for self‑sovereign identity in 2026 and beyond.

At a glance

1. Memdeklaro

Memdeklaro is an open‑source, non‑government identity solution that enables users to generate and print a personal declaration at no cost. The generation tool operates entirely within the user’s browser, with the website explicitly stating that no data is transmitted to external servers. The resulting credential can be printed as a business card, CR‑80 card, or employed in digital contexts.

The identity declaration allows the individual to specify a chosen name, birth date, photograph, signature, and additional notes. It deliberately omits sensitive details such as place of birth, citizenship, stateless status, and parents’ names.

This certificate can serve as a physical or digital ID card wherever a non‑government identity is accepted.

2. Digitalcourage Lichtbildausweis

Digitalcourage offers a custom physical photo ID priced at €15 per unit, as listed in the current catalogue. Upon placing an order, the customer receives a link to a submission form where they can input the desired details and upload a photograph. Digitalcourage then manufactures the card and forwards it by mail.

The issuer allows customers to choose which information they wish to disclose, and it states that data supplied for production is deleted after roughly ten days. The privacy policy explicitly indicates that the information used to create the card may be either fictional or authentic.

Digitalcourage asserts that its ID is suitable for any scenario where a non‑official photo ID is accepted.

3. World Passport

The World Passport is a component of a broader ideological initiative: the World Citizen Government (WCG), established by Garry Davis in 1953. The WCG’s administrative arm, the World Service Authority (WSA), issues the World Passport along with other global citizenship documents.

Designed to resemble a conventional passport, the World Passport is a 30‑page Machine Readable Travel Document. It features a machine‑readable code line, a photograph and “ghost” image, security‑enhanced paper, a laminated data page, and a hologram. The document is printed in seven languages — English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Chinese, and Esperanto — and includes visa pages and space for additional information.

The World Passport is intended to symbolize world citizenship and an individual’s right to freedom of movement. According to WCG, the passport does not indicate the bearer’s nationality; it only records their place of birth.

WCG states that the World Passport has been accepted on a case‑by‑case basis by more than 185 countries. Its recognition page, updated in February 2026, lists examples and distinguishes between “de facto” recognition and countries that WCG describes as having granted “de jure” recognition.

Overall assessment

In everyday terms, these solutions can be described as non‑government identity alternatives or self‑asserted identity documents.

Memdeklaro most clearly embodies the idea that identity can be declared by the individual rather than a centralized institution. It is free, open‑source, locally generated, and explicitly designed without a central database or third‑party identity authority.

Digitalcourage offers a pragmatic middle ground. It provides a professionally manufactured physical card while allowing the user to choose the information printed on it. This makes it especially suitable for situations where a person needs a non‑official photo ID card without presenting a conventional government document.

The World Passport, by contrast, has a much longer institutional history. It follows a passport‑style physical format, includes machine‑readable features, and claims a record of case‑by‑case recognition by authorities worldwide.

What do you think?

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