Smartkaardid

Smartkaardid is a type of electronic payment card used in Estonia. The cards were first introduced in 2004 by the Estonian government as part of its e-government initiatives. They were designed to enable citizens to pay bills and participate in online auctions using only their digital signature.

Smartkaardid are essentially electronic identification cards that can be used for electronic certification as well as for digital signing. They can also be used to access certain government services and to undertake online transactions. Each smartkaard has a unique identifying number and a digital certificate stored on it, which can be used for secure authentication.

The cards are used in conjunction with Estonia's unique e-residency program, which allows non-residents to register and manage a digital identity for the purpose of online business and banking. Estonia's e-government framework and smartkaardid system are considered a pioneer in e-government development, particularly in terms of the ease of use and accessibility of online services.

To obtain a smartkaard, applicants must possess an Estonian ID card or a digital certificate from the country's foundation layer-based identity system. Smartkaardid can be used to vote in elections and to make various types of financial transactions, among other activities. The Estonia government is continually developing and expanding services connected to the smartkaard, driven by the country's prominent position at the forefront of digital governance. The country's mobile ID, a new development in Estonia, also shares some similarities with smartkaardid.