Ozg

OZG, or Onlinezugangsgesetz (Online Access Act), is a German law enacted in December 2017 to digitalize public administration and provide nationwide online access to a large range of official services. The core objective is to make public services accessible online from a single entry point and to standardize the processes across federal and state authorities.

Key provisions and mechanisms include the creation of a central federal portal, known as the Bundesportal, through which residents can find and access online public services. The law also promotes the use of a citizen’s account (Servicekonto or Bürgerkonto) to store and reuse personal data and documents across different authorities, reducing repetitive data submission. Authentication for online services is intended to be possible via the eID function of the German electronic identity card and other secure digital identities under the eIDAS framework.

Implementation targets and scope: the OZG initially set a list of hundreds of services to be digitized and required federal and state governments to deliver these services online by standardized formats and interfaces. It emphasizes interoperability, data protection, and the reuse of existing digital infrastructures, such as electronic forms and the telematics infrastructure (TI).

Status and impact: progress has varied by jurisdiction, with some services successfully offered online and others still reliant on traditional channels. The OZG remains a foundational element of Germany’s broader digital-government strategy, guiding ongoing modernization efforts, cross-authority data exchange, and the expansion of online public services across the country.