e-Residency Program to Allow Data Submission via Mobile App

Tallinn, September 25, 2024 – Estonia is taking a big step forward in its e-Residency program by exploring ways for e-residents to securely provide biometric data using just their smartphones. The Estonian Ministry of the Interior has called for companies to submit proposals for developing a solution that would let e-residents submit photos and fingerprints through a mobile app.

The initiative, led by the Ministry’s IT and Development Centre (SMIT), is poised to make the application process faster and easier for e-residents, while strengthening security and data protection. Kaija Kirch, Head of SMIT’s Identity Services Department, believes this new technology could significantly streamline the experience. “With this innovation, applicants can complete the entire process from anywhere, without needing to visit an embassy or service office,” she said. “It’s a leap towards replacing the current physical e-Residency card with a fully mobile solution.”

The proposed app would do more than just collect photos and fingerprints. It’s designed to check the authenticity of identity documents and evaluate security features in real time, according to Anita Preinvalts, a Senior Superintendent with the Identity and Status Bureau of the Police and Border Guard Board (PBGB). “This will ensure efficient identification and reduce the risk of fraud,” she noted.

Currently, e-residents must visit a designated location to activate their digital ID. But if the mobile app includes a fingerprint comparison feature, this in-person step could eventually become unnecessary, especially for renewing digital IDs.

Liina Vahtras, Managing Director of the e-Residency program, called the move “a major innovation” that could have a big impact by 2027. “We aim to offer a fully digital alternative to the plastic e-Residency card, enabling e-residents to activate their digital ID on their smartphones as soon as they pass a background check,” she explained.

This new approach could reduce the application process from two months to just two weeks, making it easier and faster to become an e-resident of Estonia. It’s a change that will make Estonia’s business environment even more attractive, while also providing economic benefits to the state.

For more details or to submit a proposal, visit the Public Procurement Register before the deadline on October 17, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. (EET).