diff --git a/src/cpr_data_access/models/search.py b/src/cpr_data_access/models/search.py
index b0002caa..1d764683 100644
--- a/src/cpr_data_access/models/search.py
+++ b/src/cpr_data_access/models/search.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 from datetime import datetime
+import re
 from typing import List, Mapping, Optional, Sequence, Union
 
 from pydantic import BaseModel, field_validator
@@ -19,6 +20,9 @@
     "source": "family_source",
 }
 
+_ID_ELEMENT = r"[a-zA-Z0-9]+([-_]?[a-zA-Z0-9]+)*"
+ID_PATTERN = re.compile(rf"{_ID_ELEMENT}\.{_ID_ELEMENT}\.{_ID_ELEMENT}\.{_ID_ELEMENT}")
+
 
 class SearchParameters(BaseModel):
     """Parameters for a search request"""
@@ -58,9 +62,9 @@ def ids_must_fit_pattern(cls, ids):
             CCLW.family.10014.0
         """
         if ids:
-            for i in ids:
-                if len(i.split(".")) != 4:
-                    raise QueryError(f"id does not seem valid: {i}")
+            for _id in ids:
+                if not re.fullmatch(ID_PATTERN, _id):
+                    raise QueryError(f"id seems invalid: {_id}")
         return ids
 
     @field_validator("year_range")
diff --git a/tests/test_search_requests.py b/tests/test_search_requests.py
index 85b49daf..5f3aa20b 100644
--- a/tests/test_search_requests.py
+++ b/tests/test_search_requests.py
@@ -59,13 +59,25 @@ def test_whether_valid_family_ids_are_accepted():
     assert isinstance(params, SearchParameters)
 
 
-def test_whether_an_invalid_family_id_raises_a_queryerror():
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "bad_id",
+    [
+        "invalid_fam_id",
+        "Not.Quite.It",
+        "CCLW.family.i00000003.!!!!!!",
+        "UNFCCC.family.i00000003",
+        "UNFCCC.family.i00000003.n000.11",
+    ],
+)
+def test_whether_an_invalid_family_id_raises_a_queryerror(bad_id):
     with pytest.raises(QueryError) as excinfo:
         SearchParameters(
             query_string="test",
-            family_ids=("CCLW.family.i00000003.n0000", "invalid_fam_id"),
+            family_ids=("CCLW.family.i00000003.n0000", bad_id),
         )
-    assert "id does not seem valid: invalid_fam_id" in str(excinfo.value)
+    assert f"id seems invalid: {bad_id}" in str(
+        excinfo.value
+    ), f"expected failure on {bad_id}"
 
 
 def test_whether_valid_document_ids_are_accepted():
@@ -76,13 +88,24 @@ def test_whether_valid_document_ids_are_accepted():
     assert isinstance(params, SearchParameters)
 
 
-def test_whether_an_invalid_document_id_raises_a_queryerror():
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "bad_id",
+    [
+        "invalid_fam_id",
+        "Not.Quite.It",
+        "CCLW.doc.i00000003.!!!!!!",
+        "UNFCCC.doc.i00000003",
+    ],
+)
+def test_whether_an_invalid_document_id_raises_a_queryerror(bad_id):
     with pytest.raises(QueryError) as excinfo:
         SearchParameters(
             query_string="test",
-            document_ids=("invalid_doc_id", "CCLW.document.i00000004.n0000"),
+            document_ids=(bad_id, "CCLW.document.i00000004.n0000"),
         )
-    assert "id does not seem valid: invalid_doc_id" in str(excinfo.value)
+    assert f"id seems invalid: {bad_id}" in str(
+        excinfo.value
+    ), f"expected failure on {bad_id}"
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("field", ["date", "name"])