Where I am a citizen (France) those documents have had a complicated history of being mandatory (for foreigners first, to control them), then since 1955 non-com

Where I am a citizen (France) those documents have had a complicated history of being mandatory (for foreigners first, to control them), then since 1955 non-compulsory. Yet, Police forces can decide to control your identity in public and if you have no means to prove it to them they are allowed to detain you until "verified" (whatever that means)[0]. Of course, not having an ID card or similar document is also preventing you from having access to unemployment services, voting/being voted in, pass exams, being registered at a bank, traveling, etc.[1] Effectively, some citizenship rights, some entitlements, and to some extent some rights can be set aside due to not having a document that isn't compulsory. Yep.. [0] in French: https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F1036 https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F1036 [1] in French: https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F11601 https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F11601