Printable PVC Cards with MIFARE RFID Chip Options
Printable Plastic Cards for Access, Membership, and Loyalty Systems
Printable PVC cards are plastic cards designed for adding visible information such as logos, names, photos, barcodes, QR codes, serial numbers, and membership details.
This product combines a printable PVC card body with optional 13.56 MHz RFID chip configurations, including MIFARE Classic 1K/4K, MIFARE Ultralight, MIFARE Ultralight C, and MIFARE DESFire options.
These cards are suitable when a project needs both printed plastic-card identification and compatibility with access control, membership, loyalty, hotel, campus, or closed-loop card systems.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Product Type | Printable PVC RFID card / printable plastic card |
| Material | PVC |
| Card Format | CR80 |
| Dimensions | Approx. 85.5 × 54 mm |
| Thickness | Approx. 0.8–0.84 mm |
| Frequency | HF 13.56 MHz |
| Interface | ISO/IEC 14443 Type A for listed MIFARE options |
| Chip Options | MIFARE Classic 1K, MIFARE Classic 4K, MIFARE Ultralight, MIFARE Ultralight C, MIFARE DESFire 2K/4K/8K |
| Printing Surface | White printable PVC surface |
| Printing Method | Direct-to-card or retransfer printing, depending on printer compatibility |
| Inkjet Option | Requires inkjet-coated card surface and compatible printer tray |
| Printing Sides | Single-sided or double-sided, depending on card and printer |
| Personalization Options | Logo, name, photo, barcode, QR code, serial number, card number, and security background |
| Encoding Options | UID matching, data encoding, sector setup, application initialization, and database matching, depending on chip |
| MOQ | 500 pcs |
Printer and reader compatibility should be confirmed before bulk production. The selected chip, surface finish, printer model, ribbon, encoding format, and software platform all affect final card performance.
Typical Applications
Access Control Cards
Printable PVC RFID cards can be used for employee access, residential entry, office security, and restricted-area control when matched with compatible readers.
Membership and Loyalty Cards
Gyms, clubs, retailers, and service providers can print branded cards linked to member accounts, loyalty points, or customer records.
Hotel Key Cards
Hotels can use compatible RFID card configurations for guest rooms, elevators, staff areas, and facility access.
Campus and Student Cards
Schools and universities can print student cards for identification, library services, attendance, access control, or campus facilities.
Event and Visitor Cards
Organizations can issue printed plastic cards for conferences, exhibitions, temporary access, VIP passes, or visitor management.
Which MIFARE Chip Should You Choose?
| Chip Option | Main Characteristics | Suitable Use |
|---|---|---|
| MIFARE Classic 1K | Common 13.56 MHz chip with 1K memory | Existing access, membership, loyalty, and ID systems that require Classic 1K |
| MIFARE Classic 4K | Larger memory than Classic 1K | Legacy systems requiring more sector-based memory |
| MIFARE Ultralight | Lower-memory credential | Limited-use cards, visitor cards, simple tickets, and basic identification |
| MIFARE Ultralight C | Limited-use chip with stronger authentication than basic Ultralight | Event cards, transport-style tickets, and controlled limited-use applications |
| MIFARE DESFire 2K/4K/8K | Multi-application chip family with stronger security options | Higher-security access, campus systems, hotel systems, and multi-service credentials |
Choose the chip according to the existing reader, software, security requirement, memory requirement, and application type.
A card operating at 13.56 MHz is not automatically compatible with every RFID system. The chip family, memory structure, authentication method, and data format must match the target platform.
How to Print on Plastic Card Surfaces
To print on plastic card surfaces, the card must match the printer type and printing method.
Most standard printable PVC cards are used with professional direct-to-card or retransfer card printers. These systems print names, photos, logos, barcodes, and QR codes onto the card surface.
For inkjet printing, a normal glossy PVC card is not enough. The card must have an inkjet-compatible coating and must be used with a printer and card tray designed for plastic card printing.
Before mass production, test the card with the intended printer, ribbon or ink system, encoder, reader, and software.
Printable PVC Card vs Printable PVC RFID Card
| Comparison Point | Printable PVC Card | Printable PVC RFID Card |
|---|---|---|
| Main Function | Visual printing only | Visual printing plus contactless RFID identification |
| RFID Chip | No chip | MIFARE Classic, Ultralight, DESFire, or other compatible HF chip |
| Typical Use | Photo ID, membership card, visitor card, loyalty card | Access control, hotel card, campus card, membership system, closed-loop applications |
| System Requirement | Compatible card printer | Compatible printer, RFID reader, chip type, and software platform |
| Encoding | Not required | Required when card data must match a backend system |
| Cost Level | Lower | Higher due to embedded chip and antenna |
A printable PVC card is suitable when the card only needs visible information such as a logo, name, photo, barcode, or QR code.
A printable PVC RFID card is suitable when the same card also needs to be read by a compatible 13.56 MHz RFID system.
Need Printable PVC RFID Cards for Your System?
Contact JIA RFID with your printer model, reader type, required chip, artwork, encoding format, and order quantity.
The team can confirm card surface, chip compatibility, and encoding requirements before preparing samples for print and reader testing.
Frequently Asked Question
The top questions about printable pvc cards
Printable PVC cards are plastic cards with a surface that can be personalized using a compatible card printer. A printable plastic card may be chipless or may include an RFID chip, depending on the selected configuration.
Only if the card has an inkjet-compatible coating and the printer supports plastic card trays. Standard printable PVC cards are usually intended for ID card printers, direct-to-card printers, or retransfer printers.
No. A standard printable PVC card may be chipless. This product page focuses on printable PVC cards that can include 13.56 MHz RFID chip options such as MIFARE Classic, MIFARE Ultralight, or MIFARE DESFire.
No. MIFARE Classic 4K provides more memory than MIFARE Classic 1K. The correct choice depends on the reader system and memory requirement.
Only if the reader and software support DESFire. MIFARE DESFire and MIFARE Classic are different chip families and are not automatically interchangeable.
Yes. Encoding options depend on the selected chip and system requirements. Services may include UID matching, application setup, sector configuration, or database matching.
The minimum order quantity is 500 pcs.
Provide the printer model, reader model, required chip, card artwork, printing method, encoding format, application type, and quantity.
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