IDkaardi

ID-kaart, commonly known as the Estonian national electronic identity card, is issued by the Police and Border Guard Board to Estonian citizens and residents. It functions as both a traditional identity document and a personal, portable platform for electronic identity. The card includes a microprocessor chip that holds digital certificates and keys used to prove identity and sign data online.

With the ID-kaart, users can authenticate themselves to Estonian e-services such as government portals, tax and health systems, and many private-sector sites. It also enables legally binding digital signatures and email encryption. The card is recognized under the European Union's eIDAS framework, allowing cross-border authentication with compatible systems in other member states.

Operation requires a card reader or a computer with built-in smart-card support, and software to access the PKI credentials. Access is controlled by PIN codes: PIN1 for authentication, PIN2 for digital signing, and a PUK to unlock the card if PINs are entered incorrectly. The card bears the holder's name, personal identification code, issuing authority, and validity dates, and must be renewed before expiration.