Hotel Key Cards Compatible With CISA
CISA eSIGNO contactless and Mobile Access hotel locks.
The direct answer
Yes — American Hotel Cards supplies RFID key cards compatible with CISA eSIGNO and CISA Mobile Access locks. They use 13.56 MHz MIFARE credentials on the ISO/IEC 14443-A standard, in CR80 format, custom-printed and supplied blank (or pre-encoded to your profile) for your property to program on its own CISA system. We never copy a guest’s active card.
Overview
How CISA reads a key card
CISA, part of the Allegion group, builds the eSIGNO contactless hotel lock line along with CISA Mobile Access for smartphone-based entry. The eSIGNO locks read 13.56 MHz credentials in the MIFARE family, and the platform is contactless by design. Cards we supply are standard CR80 RFID cards with the chip matched to your CISA configuration.
Because eSIGNO is a MIFARE platform (Classic or, where configured, encrypted DESFire), the right card is the one matched to your setup. We supply blank cards for your own CISA encoder to program, or pre-encoded cards to a profile you provide, plain or fully custom-printed to your brand.
The credential is written by your own CISA management software and encoder; we provide compatible card stock. On encrypted DESFire configurations the credential cannot be cloned, so on-site encoding on your own system is the secure path — and the one we use. For properties running CISA Mobile Access, a physical eSIGNO-compatible card remains the reliable fallback for guests without the app.
Card specification
The CISA-compatible card, in detail
MIFARE Classic / DESFire (13.56 MHz)
| Chip | MIFARE Classic 1K · MIFARE DESFire (matched to your eSIGNO config) |
|---|---|
| Protocol | ISO/IEC 14443-A |
| Frequency | 13.56 MHz |
| Mobile key | CISA Mobile Access supports smartphone entry alongside the card |
| Format | CR80 — 85.6 × 54 mm (0.76 mm / 30 mil) |
| Encoding | Blank for on-site encoding, or pre-encoded to your profile |
| Printing | Full-bleed CMYK, Pantone, metallic foil, spot UV, sequential numbering |
| MOQ | From 500 cards |
| Lead time | Approx. 2–3 weeks after artwork approval |
How encoding works
CISA eSIGNO credentials are written by your own CISA management software and encoder, not by us. We supply the blank or custom-printed card; your property programs the room, dates and access rights on-site. On DESFire configurations the credential is encrypted and cannot be cloned, so encoding on your own system is the secure path. We provide compatible stock and never copy a live guest card.
What we make for CISA
We supply cards compatible with CISA eSIGNO, CISA Mobile Access and CISA Smart Lock (13.56 MHz MIFARE, encoded on your own CISA system). Send us your lock model or a sample card and we will confirm the exact chip — Classic or DESFire — before you order.
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Cards we recommend for CISA
Every one carries the right credential for your locks — choose the material and finish that fits your property.
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CISA compatibility, answered
What key cards work with CISA eSIGNO locks?
CISA eSIGNO locks read 13.56 MHz MIFARE credentials. American Hotel Cards supplies compatible CR80 cards — MIFARE Classic or DESFire to match your configuration — custom-printed and shipped blank for your CISA encoder, or pre-encoded to your profile.
Can you copy or duplicate our existing CISA card?
No. We supply compatible blank or custom-printed cards that your own CISA system encodes with each guest’s details. On encrypted DESFire setups the credential cannot be cloned. We never copy a live guest card; you keep control of access.
What chip and technology does CISA eSIGNO use?
CISA eSIGNO is a contactless RFID system operating at 13.56 MHz on ISO/IEC 14443-A using MIFARE credentials (Classic or encrypted DESFire). CISA Mobile Access adds smartphone entry. We match the card to your specific configuration.
Can you print our branding on CISA-compatible cards?
Yes. CISA-compatible cards are fully custom — full-bleed CMYK, Pantone matching, metallic foil and spot UV — all surface finishes that do not affect how the lock reads the card.
What is the minimum order for CISA-compatible cards?
Minimums start at 500 cards, with most custom orders shipping in roughly 2–3 weeks after artwork approval. Plain stock and reorders are typically faster — share your timeline and we will plan around it.
We use CISA Mobile Access — do we still need physical cards?
Most properties keep both. Mobile-key adoption is never universal — guests skip the app, run out of battery or use unsupported phones — so an eSIGNO-compatible card (or an NFC card) is the dependable fallback that keeps every guest moving at the door.
Ready when you are
Get CISA-compatible cards made for your property
Request a free sample pack to test the chip and the print against your own CISA doors, or send us your lock model and quantity for a tailored quote. We confirm compatibility before anything prints.
Prefer email? sales@americanhotelcards.com · samples@americanhotelcards.com
CISA and CISA (Allegion) are trademarks of their respective owners. American Hotel Cards is an independent supplier and is not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by CISA (Allegion) or any lock manufacturer. “Compatible with CISA” describes technical interoperability only — we supply compatible blank or custom-printed card stock that your own system encodes; we do not copy guest cards.