IDkaardid

ID-kaardid are identity cards issued in Estonia that integrate a physical identification document with a cryptographic smart card. They serve as a national identity document and provide secure access to a wide range of online services. The card is issued by the Police and Border Guard Board and is available to Estonian citizens and permanent residents from around age 15. The data page contains the holder’s name, date of birth, personal identification code, address and photograph, while the embedded chip stores cryptographic certificates used for electronic identification, digital signing and encryption.

Two PIN codes protect the card: PIN1 is used for authentication and digital signatures, PIN2 for decryption and other sensitive operations; a PUK code can be used to unblock blocked PINs. The ID-kaart uses public key infrastructure (PKI) and legally binding digital signatures, enabling citizens to log in to e-services provided by the state, submit documents, sign contracts and participate in e-voting where applicable. It also supports encryption of data exchanged with government services and private-sector providers that support the system.

As a travel document, the ID-kaart may be used for border crossing within the European Union and in some other countries where it is accepted. In addition to the ID-kaart, Estonia supports alternative digital identity solutions such as Mobile-ID and Smart-ID for online authentication and signing. The ID-kaardid program has been central to Estonia’s e-government, privacy protection framework and digital society.