Activities necessary for the functioning of electronic identity
For the functioning of electronic identity, the state must ensure the existence and functioning of the public key infrastructure. The state sources much of the PKI-related services from the private sector (SK ID Solutions AS), e.g. the certification service, the infrastructure for checking the validity of certificates, the infrastructure for sharing the public key (the LDAP service), and the environments for creating keys (e.g. the ID-card’s chip).
The state organises the most important eID-related activities:
- The field of eID in Estonia is developed by the state’s Information System Authority (RIA) and the Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs in cooperation with the Police and Border Guard Board, the Ministry of the Interior, and other partners from the public as well as the private sector.
- RIA is responsible for the collection of software applications (ID-card’s basic software) necessary for using eID.
- RIA is responsible for the quality and safety requirements of eID services.
- The Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs is responsible for the legislation related to the security requirements of PKI services.
- The tools of secure authentication and signature (ID-card, etc.) are procured and issued by the Police and Border Guard Board in accordance with the Identity Documents Act.
What does the Information System Authority (RIA) do?
- develops the vision and strategy for the field of eID and is the advocate for and the developer of positions in the field of eID in Estonia;
- is responsible for the security and compliance of the secret key carrier of eID tools and the software on them;
- is responsible for the functioning, development, and management of ID-software (the DigiDoc application) designated for the end user;
- is responsible for the development, functioning, and management of eID’s software components designated for the developers and providers of e-services;
- is responsible for the interoperability of international electronic identities, e.g. the functioning, development, and management of transnational software solutions;
- shapes the vision and the strategy for the development of the field;
- participates in national and transnational work groups and is involved in the national development of the field of PKI;
- insures users in-service support for the ID-card’s basic software;
- ensures support for developers.
What do the other parties do?
- issues identity documents (ID-card, residence card, and e-Resident’s digital ID) in accordance with the Identity Documents Act;
- organises public procurements for identity documents, part of which is also eID (cooperating with the Information System Authority);
- is responsible for the security of physical documents (security elements);
- organises the personalisation of documents;
- ensures a reliable issuing process for the documents;
- resolves technical issues and problems related to ID-cards in cooperation with the Information System Authority.
- Issues diplomatic IDs, including eIDs.
- Responsible for the e-residency programme.
- Issues eID certificates and validity information of the certificates.
Support for developers
The id.ee portal provides instructions on where, why, and how to use Estonian digital documents (ID card, e-resident’s digital ID, residence permit card, etc.) and mobile ID.
The portal also provides information about adding the digital signature or signature verification functions to your system.
The eID software has an open source code, so that all interested parties can see the source code and take part in its development via GitHub.
eID symbols
and other symbols of electronic identity (eID) can be used free of charge by all providers of e-services.
The visLogos ual materials of eID have been developed by the Information System Authority in cooperation with the creative agency Tank OÜ and the preparation of materials has been supported by the EU structural funds support scheme “Raising Public Awareness of the Information Society” funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
Related links
Last updated: 20.10.2025
