Digital ID in Estonia: ID card, Mobile-ID, Smart-ID
How to prove who you are online in Estonia with the ID card, Mobile-ID and Smart-ID, how e-Residency fits in, and the EU wallet timeline as of October 2026.
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In Estonia you prove who you are online with the ID card, Mobile-ID or Smart-ID. The country has one of the oldest and most widely used eID systems in Europe, and the ID card and Mobile-ID are part of a scheme notified under eIDAS at the high level. The EU wallet is still being procured, with a launch expected around mid-2027.
At a glance
| Item | Estonia |
|---|---|
| National eID | Estonian eID scheme (ID card, Mobile-ID and further means) |
| Card with eID function | ID card, mandatory for citizens, with PIN codes |
| Mobile / app solution | Mobile-ID (SIM-based); Smart-ID (private app) |
| Bank-based ID | Banks accept ID card, Mobile-ID and Smart-ID |
| eIDAS notification | Yes, scheme notified November 2018, level high; means include ID card, Digi-ID, e-Residency Digi-ID and Mobile-ID |
| EU wallet (October 2026) | Procurement under way since May 2026; launch expected around mid-2027 |
| Responsible body | Information System Authority (RIA) |
The national system
The Estonian ID card contains a chip with certificates, so you can authenticate and sign with legal effect. Citizens must hold one, and it is used for e-services, banking, voting and signing contracts. You unlock it with two PINs: one for logging in and one for signatures. The card scheme is notified at the high level, as explained in our page on levels of assurance.
Mobile-ID places the certificates on a special SIM card, so your phone becomes the card reader. Smart-ID is an app run by a private company and is widely used for banking and e-services. Smart-ID was not listed among the means of Estonia’s notified scheme in the Commission overview we consulted. e-Residency offers a Digi-ID to non-residents so that they can sign documents and use Estonian services remotely.
How to get and use it
- For the ID card, apply at a police and border guard office or service point. Remember to keep the PIN envelope and install the official ID software on a computer if you want to use the card on a PC.
- For Mobile-ID, ask a participating mobile operator for a Mobile-ID SIM and activate the service.
- For Smart-ID, register through your bank or an official channel after you hold a valid eID.
- To log in, choose your method on the service’s login page and enter the relevant PIN or confirm in the app.
Mobile-ID needs attention in 2027. Mobile operators are replacing SIM cards to meet updated EU rules, and users must exchange their SIM before 19 May 2027. The service itself stays available.
The EU wallet in Estonia (October 2026)
RIA announced an international tender on 18 May 2026 to find a provider for the Estonian EU Digital Identity Wallet and expects the contract process to take about a year, with a launch around mid-2027. By the end of 2026, Estonian public bodies must nevertheless be able to accept wallets from other member states, and RIA plans a minimum viable version of its relying party register around the turn of the year. Adoption of the wallet will be voluntary, and you can keep using your ID card and Mobile-ID. For the EU-wide schedule, see our timeline of the wallet rollout and the general EU wallet guide.
Use abroad and for foreigners
The notified scheme means other EU countries that connect their services to the eIDAS network should accept an Estonian ID card or Mobile-ID. Services differ, so test the login first. See using your national eID in another EU country.
Foreigners can take part through e-Residency, and residents with an Estonian residence permit receive an ID card for non-citizens. The neighbours Latvia and Finland have their own systems, which connect to Estonia mainly through eIDAS.
Privacy and security in brief
Keep your PIN codes apart from the card and never type them into a page that you reached through a message. The PIN2 for signatures is the one that matters most, because a signature is legally binding. If a card, SIM or phone is lost, block the certificates through the official channels at once. The state’s information site id.ee and the RIA page on the EU wallet list the current instructions.
Quick checklist
- Check the expiry date of your ID card and the PIN envelope.
- If you use Mobile-ID, plan the SIM replacement before 19 May 2027.
- Keep a second method such as Smart-ID or the ID card as a backup.
- Follow RIA for the outcome of the wallet procurement.
Frequently asked questions
Which digital ID do most people in Estonia use?
Estonians use the ID card, Mobile-ID and Smart-ID. The ID card and Mobile-ID are state-backed means in the notified scheme, while Smart-ID is a private service widely used for banking and e-services. Which you choose often depends on the device and the service.
What is e-Residency?
e-Residency is a programme that gives non-residents a digital identity, the e-Residency Digi-ID, with which they can sign documents and use Estonian e-services. It is not citizenship or physical residence. The Digi-ID is valid for five years and is part of the notified scheme.
What happens to Mobile-ID in 2027?
Because of updated EU rules, mobile operators are replacing the SIM cards that support Mobile-ID. Users must swap their SIM before 19 May 2027 to keep the service, which will remain available.
When will Estonia have an EU wallet?
The state launched a procurement in May 2026 to find a provider, and RIA expects a contract in about a year and a launch around mid-2027. Using an ID card or Mobile-ID remains possible meanwhile.