Series 4, 5 and 6 smartcards are due to expire – action required

Certificate renewal is no longer available for these older smartcards from 31 January 2025. After this date, if the smartcard expires you will need to replace it with a newer series smartcard.

All Series 4, 5 and 6 smartcards will no longer be able to sign electronic prescriptions from 31 March 2025.

For series 4, 5 and 6 smartcards that are not due for renewal soon, users will no longer be able to use them to authenticate from 30 April 2025 at the latest.

Some national services may stop supporting series 4, 5 and 6 smartcards before end April to support SHA256 prescription signing. This is only available on series 8 and above smartcards.

All smartcard users are required to check their smartcard serial number (first two digits- at the back of the smartcard); any card that does not start with serial number 08 or 09 would need to be replaced.

Read the full detail in the March 2025 registration authority newsletter.