The Chamber of Deputies in Czechia has passed a draft amendment that will enable the use of digital ID cards stored on mobile devices. Set to be in use from 2024, this initiative is a part of the Digital Czech Republic project, which aims to digitize public access to government services. The digital ID cards, which are voluntary and supplementary to physical IDs, cannot be used for remote verification or international travel. They will contain the same information as the physical cards, and their digital format will be just as legally valid as the physical document.
The digital IDs will be gradually accepted by various institutions, starting with central state administration bodies next year, followed by regions and the police by July, and eventually by all other administrative bodies, including embassies, by 2025. To access the digital ID, users will need a special mobile application called eDoklady (“eDocuments”), currently being developed by the Digital Information Agency (DIA) and expected to be ready for a test launch by December 2024.
The digital ID initiative in Czechia is also seen as a precursor to the European Digital Identity project, which aims to unify digital identities across the EU. The Czech digital ID will be integrated into the EU’s future digital wallet system. The adoption of the digital ID is pending final approval from the Senate and the President, and the government estimates the implementation and annual operating costs at around CZK 500 million and CZK 50 million, respectively.
This move is part of the government’s broader effort to modernize public administration and improve citizen convenience by transitioning from offline to online services. Despite these advancements, Czechia still ranks 19th in Europe and 28th globally in the Digital Quality of Life index, trailing behind its neighbors in the electronic government category.
Source: Expats.cz
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December 1, 2023 – by the Mobile ID World Editorial Team
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