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In my country first government issued id is done in the presence of a parent/guardian at the age between 16 and 18. Police before issuing the id will take your fingerprints and you can replace id (if stolen, lost, expired) with a fingerprint only. No questions and no witnesses necessary.

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What happens if you lose your fingerprints in some way? Deep burns on your fingers can permanently change your fingerprints. What if you are in an accident and both hands or arms have to be amputated?

Could a bad actor put some sort of coating or prosthetic on their fingers to successfully impersonate someone else?

Ugh, biometrics...

That's a valid concern, but only for a rather infinitesimal minority of people. Pretty much the definition of a "corner case", so rather irrelevant on the whole.

You can for example sing a contract with someone without notarizing it, but you need two witnesses for contract to be valid/accepted by the legal system.

I guess something like this would resolve the situation. Two persons to confirm your identity.

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