HID Seos Compatible Cards & Fobs
HID Seos is HID Global's current flagship smart card credential, delivering AES-128 encryption, Common Criteria EAL 5+ hardware, and SIO Data Binding — making it immune to all known cloning attacks.
Introduced in 2014, Seos operates on ISO/IEC 14443 Type A and uses a secure element certified to Common Criteria EAL 5+ with AES-128 mutual authentication and diversified session keys; its Secure Identity Object model is media-independent, meaning the same credential architecture powers both physical Seos cards and HID Mobile Access on NFC/BLE smartphones. Because Seos enrollment requires HID's Trusted Identity Platform and facility-specific cryptographic keys, no third party can manufacture functional replacements — American Key Cards is transparent about this and focuses on helping customers navigate re-enrollment rather than making impossible claims.
HID Seos specifications
- Brand / OEM
- HID Global / ASSA ABLOY
- Technology
- 13.56 MHz Contactless Smart Card — ISO/IEC 14443 Type A, NFC-compatible
- Frequency
- 13.56 MHz
- Chip
- Custom HID secure element — Common Criteria EAL 5+ certified, AES-128 cryptographic co-processor
- Bit formats
- 26-bit Wiegand H10301, 37-bit H10302 / H10304, Corporate 1000 (35-bit), OSDP Secure Channel (bidirectional encrypted), Any HID format — SIO-encoded
- OEM part numbers
- 5005 (iCLASS Seos Card, 16k), 5006 (iCLASS Seos Card, 8k), 5015 (iCLASS Seos Embeddable Card, 16k), 5016 (iCLASS Seos Embeddable Card, 8k), 510x (iCLASS Seos + Prox Card), 5266 (iCLASS Seos Key Fob, 8k)
Honest note: HID Seos is a secured credential
HID Seos is the most secure physical access credential HID Global produces. It is built on an ISO/IEC 14443 Type A chip with a Common Criteria EAL 5+ secure element, AES-128 mutual authentication, and a diversified session key protecting every transaction. Credential data is wrapped in a Secure Identity Object with SIO Data Binding — the payload is cryptographically tethered to the specific chip and cannot be transplanted or replayed. HID Mobile Access uses the identical Seos technology stack, delivered via NFC or BLE on a smartphone. As of 2025, there are no publicly known successful cloning attacks against Seos credentials. American Key Cards does not and cannot clone, duplicate, or reproduce Seos cards. Customers with lost or damaged Seos credentials require re-enrollment through their system integrator using HID's Trusted Identity Platform — we can advise on the correct blank part number and refer to authorised dealers. If you're deploying a new system or need standard prox credentials your readers also accept, contact us and we'll tell you exactly what's possible.
Can HID Seos cards be copied?
No. HID Seos relies on secure encryption, so it cannot be cloned from an existing card. This is a security strength, not a limitation of our service.
Where HID Seos is used
- Federal government and defence facilities
- Financial services and banking
- Critical infrastructure (utilities, data centres)
- Healthcare with strict identity assurance requirements
- Enterprise mobile credential deployments (HID Mobile Access)
Compatible readers
Related formats
You might also need
HID iCLASS SE
HID iCLASS SE is the second-generation 13.56 MHz smart card platform, introducing Secure Identity Objects (SIOs) and AES encryption to make credential cloning technically infeasible.
View compatible cardsHID iCLASS (Legacy)
HID iCLASS (legacy) is the first-generation 13.56 MHz contactless smart card from HID Global, widely deployed from the early 2000s onward but now considered cryptographically outdated for high-security use.
View compatible cardsMIFARE DESFire EV3
MIFARE DESFire EV3 is NXP's current-generation flagship smart card — EAL5+ certified, AES-128 only (single DES removed), with Secure Unique NFC messaging, 1 million write cycles, and extended read range — not cloneable, recommended for all new high-security deployments.
View compatible cardsHID Seos — FAQ
Can a HID Seos card be cloned or copied?
No. Seos uses AES-128 encryption, a Common Criteria EAL 5+ secure element, and SIO Data Binding that cryptographically locks the credential to the exact chip it was enrolled on. There are no publicly known successful cloning attacks against Seos. If your card is lost, you need re-enrollment through your access control system — not a copy.
My Seos card is lost. What are my options?
You need a new blank Seos card enrolled with your credentials by your system integrator or HID authorised dealer. The most common blank card for replacement is the HID 5006 (8k Seos card) or 5005 (16k). American Key Cards can help you identify the right part number and connect you with an authorised enrolling dealer.
What is the difference between iCLASS SE and Seos?
Both use SIO and AES encryption, but Seos adds ISO/IEC 14443 Type A compliance for broader NFC interoperability, a media-independent credential model (the same SIO can live on a card, fob, or smartphone), and supports OSDP Secure Channel for encrypted reader communication. Seos is HID's current flagship and recommended for all new high-security deployments.