E11 Apps

How to put both sides of an ID card on one PDF page

By E11 Apps, the developer of PDF Burrow. Updated . 4 min read.

To put both sides of an ID card on one PDF page, photograph the front and the back, crop each to the card's edges, and place them one above the other on a single A4 or Letter page. The result looks like a classic photocopy of both sides. It is what banks, landlords, employers and mobile shops usually ask for when they want an ID card to PDF copy.

Why offices want both sides on one page

Many identity cards carry information on both faces: your photo and name on the front, and an address, a barcode or an issue date on the back. A single page with both sides:

  • proves you supplied the whole card, not half of it;
  • is easy to print and file in one sheet;
  • avoids two separate attachments getting separated;
  • looks familiar to staff used to photocopies.

The same ID card to PDF layout works for driving licences, residence permits, student cards, health insurance cards and bank cards where you have been asked for a copy.

How to turn an ID card to PDF on your phone

  1. Place the card on a dark, plain surface in good, even light.
  2. Photograph or scan the front. Make sure all four corners are visible.
  3. Turn the card over and capture the back the same way.
  4. Crop each image tightly to the card's edges.
  5. Place both images on one page, front on top and back below.
  6. Save as PDF and check that every number and letter is readable.

Most ID cards are the same standard size used for bank cards, about 85.6 mm by 54 mm. If the tool lets you print at real size, the copy will look exactly like a photocopy.

Getting a clean, readable copy

ID cards are small and shiny, which makes them harder to capture than a sheet of paper.

  • Avoid glare. Laminated cards reflect light. Tilt the phone slightly or move the light to the side until the shine disappears from the text.
  • Turn off the flash. It almost always causes a bright spot on the photo or hologram.
  • Get close enough. The card should fill a good part of the frame so small print stays sharp.
  • Use colour. Many offices want to see the photo and coloured security features clearly.

For more advice on light and angle, see our phone scanning tips.

Printing the ID card copy

If you need a paper copy, print the PDF on A4 or Letter at 100% or actual size. Do not use fit-to-page if you want the card images to come out at real card size. The guide to printing a PDF from Android explains print settings.

Protect your ID copy

A copy of your ID is valuable to a fraudster. A few habits make it much less useful to anyone who should not have it.

Add a purpose watermark. Stamping text such as "Copy for flat rental only, October 2026" across the card makes it harder to reuse elsewhere. Keep it readable but clearly visible over the card. See how to add a watermark to a PDF.

Send it securely. If you email it, consider protecting the PDF with a password and sharing the password by a different route, such as a phone call. The password protection guide shows how.

Share only what is needed. If the recipient does not need certain numbers, ask whether you can cover them. Some organisations allow it, others do not.

Clean up afterwards. Delete the photos from your gallery and from chat threads once the PDF is sent, so copies are not lying around.

Do not edit the card

It can be tempting to "tidy up" an ID copy, for example by changing an old address. Do not. Altering an identity document is illegal in most countries, and staff are trained to spot changes. If the details are out of date, update the card with the authority that issued it.

Making ID card PDFs with PDF Burrow

PDF Burrow has an ID Card to PDF tool that puts the front and back of an ID card on one clean page. It runs on your phone, so the images of your card are not uploaded. You can then stamp a purpose line with Add Watermark, lock the file with Password Protect, and send it to a printer with Print PDF.

Frequently asked questions

Should the ID copy be in colour or black and white?

Colour is usually better, because it shows the photo and security features clearly. Check the organisation's rules, as some accept either.

Is it safe to send a copy of my ID by email?

It carries some risk, as emails can be forwarded or stored for a long time. Add a purpose watermark, protect the PDF with a password and share only with organisations you trust.

Can I put two different cards on one page?

Yes, the same method works. Keep each card's front and back together and label them if the recipient might be confused.

Why is the text on my ID copy hard to read?

Usually because of glare or because the card was too far from the camera. Retake it closer, without flash, with the light coming from the side.

More PDF Burrow guides

  • How to password protect a PDFTo password protect a PDF, set a strong password in a protect tool and save an encrypted copy. Then share the password separately from the file.
  • How to add a watermark to a PDFTo watermark a PDF, choose your text, set its size and transparency, and stamp it across every page. How to make one that is visible yet readable.
  • How to print a PDF from your Android phoneTo print a PDF on Android, open it, tap Print, choose a printer on the same Wi-Fi and check the settings. You need a print service for your printer.
  • Phone scanning tips for clean, readable PDFsThese document scanner tips cover light, angle, background, focus and filters, so your phone scans come out flat, sharp and easy to read every time.