Irish citizens applying for a passport will be asked to produce a public service card from Autumn.
The card, which has been issued to 2.3 million people since 2011, is supported by a recognition database controlled by the Department of Social Protection.
People will also need the card for when applying for driving licenses from next year.
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Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe told The Irish Times: "Given the increase in acts of terrorism over the last several years, every democratic country should be obliged to deploy the most robust means of authenticated travel across borders that it has available."
The Minister stressed that the card will not be compulsory despite the fact it will be vital for getting both a passport and a driving license.
He added: "It is not and will not be compulsory to have a PSC."However, government has an obligation to deploy the most robust means of online and physical identity verification possible to ensure that it is doing all it can to reduce fraud, personation and the risk of identity theft in in the delivery/accessing of public services."
The Road Safety Authority recently announced that anyone taking the driver theory test would also be required to have the card from next month.
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