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ID Card Parser Setup Guide

Step-by-step dashboard guide to configure an ID card parser, define fields, run bulk extraction, and export results.

Before You Start

Before setting up your parser, ensure you have:

  1. A PerfectParser account (sign up at perfectparser.com).
  2. A healthy credit balance (each identity page processed consumes 1 credit).
  3. A sample ID card or passport photo (PDF, PNG, or JPEG) to use during the parser setup.

When creating a new ID & Passport Parser, choose the document organization structure that matches your files:

  • Single Document Per File: Select this option if each uploaded image or PDF contains exactly one ID card (front/back on one page) or passport photo page.
  • One Document Per Page: Select this option if you scan multiple customers' ID cards together into a single, merged PDF file.

We suggest configuring the following schema fields for your ID & Passport Parser to capture all essential compliance data.

Field NameTypeDescription
document_typeTextThe type of ID found (e.g. Passport, Driver's License, National ID).
document_numberTextThe unique document identifier or passport number.
full_nameTextThe holder's full legal name as printed.
date_of_birthTextThe holder's date of birth.
nationalityTextThe country of issue or nationality.
issue_dateTextThe date the document was issued.
expiry_dateTextThe date the document expires.
issuing_authorityTextThe government authority that issued the ID.

AI Instructions (Optional)

To help the AI parser extract field values with maximum accuracy, copy and paste the following prompt instructions into the AI Instructions (Optional) field during setup:

Extract the document type, unique document number, holder's full name, date of birth, nationality, issue date, expiration date, and issuing authority.

Step-by-Step UI Setup

Follow these steps to set up your ID & Passport Parser using the single-page setup in the PerfectParser dashboard.

Step 1: Create the Parser

Log in to your dashboard, click Parsers in the left-hand navigation menu, and click the New Parser button.

Step 2: Configure Name and File Organization

In the Parser Details & Setup section:

  1. Enter a clear, recognizable name in the Parser Name field (e.g., "ID & Passports").
  2. Choose your document structure under How are your files organized? (e.g., select Single Document Per File).

Step 3: Upload your Sample ID

Upload your sample document by dragging and dropping it into the upload box on the left-hand Sample Document Preview panel, or clicking the box to choose a file from your computer.

Uploading a sample ID in the New Parser screen

Step 4: Run Auto-Detection

Once the document finishes uploading:

  1. Copy the prompt from the AI Instructions (Optional) section above and paste it into the AI Instructions (Optional) box.
  2. Click the Auto-Detect Fields button. The AI will analyze the sample document's layout and suggest extraction fields within 10 to 15 seconds.

Step 5: Verify and Refine Fields

Review the generated schema on the right. You can rename fields, change data types, or edit the helper descriptions to guide extraction. When you are satisfied with the schema, click Create Parser at the bottom right.

Reviewing and configuring detected fields in the parser schema editor

Step 6: Run a Batch Extraction

To process your identity documents:

  1. Click Bulk Extraction in the left sidebar or the top header.
  2. Select your newly created ID & Passports parser.
  3. Upload one or more ID scans. PerfectParser will start extracting data immediately.

Starting a new bulk extraction batch

Step 7: Export Extracted Data

Navigate to Batch History in the left sidebar or click the Batch History tab on the parser details page. Click Show Files to inspect individual ID extractions, view confidence scores, and verify the structured output.

Viewing files and inspecting confidence in Batch History

To download your structured data:

  1. Click the Export button on the completed batch card.
  2. Select Export as Excel or Export as CSV from the dropdown menu to download the structured table directly to your computer.

Exporting the structured extraction results to Excel or CSV


Developer Integration

If you want to automate identity document parsing programmatically inside your applications:

Looking for product features and use cases?

See the ID Card & Passport Data Extraction solution page.