Last updated: October 12, 2024
Electronic use of the e-Residency ID-card is your key to a range of online private and governmental e-services. It allows you to digitally sign and encrypt documents for safe transfers.
The Republic of Estonia guarantees your electronic identity, therefore allowing you to communicate and make secure electronic transactions with your ID-card online.
To use your e-Residency ID-card electronically you need:
- e-Residency & digital ID-card
- PIN-codes – issued together with the ID-card.
- A computer with an active internet connection
- A smart card reader – many newer computers have built-in card readers in the computer itself or the keyboard. You'll also be given an e-Residency starter kit, including a smart ID card and a card reader when you collect your card.
- ID-software – install it from here and make sure you always have the latest version of the software installed. ID-software is widely-used and allows you to use your ID-card electronically. 3 programs will be installed on your computer: ID-card utility, DigiDoc4 Client and DigiDoc4 Crypto:
- With the ID-card Utility, you can check the functioning of your ID-card and validity of the certificates, change PIN and PUK codes.
- DigiDoc4 Client is a program that can be used to sign digitally with your ID-card, check the validity of digital signatures and open and save documents inside the signature container.
- DigiDoc4 Crypto enables you to secure files for safe transfer using your ID-card and to view secured documents (decrypt). Securing or encrypting enables you to protect sensitive information from other people in the short term.
- Valid certificates – once expired, you can renew them in the ID-card Utility software. You can read more details about renewing the certificates on the ID.ee website.
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