Now many live attached to the mobile phone, they almost never part with it. Hard to forget it at home, easier to forget the keys, wallet, or documents. But soon in Estonia, at least for documents, a solution is coming: mRiik. This is the digital identity app and will basically allow you to have identity documents (passport, ID card, driver’s license) in the user’s phone. The app, which can only be used in Estonia, also gives access to all digital services related to education, health, and vehicle management. Holding everything in a single pocket.
The app is currently being tested in the Baltic Republic and it could officially debut in the summer, allowing Estonians to download it freely on their device. But this, at least at the moment, does not mean that you can automatically avoid carrying documents in physical form: the app makes it theoretically possible, but laws and regulations still need to be changed.
Greta Preast, head of the app at the State Information System Authority, explained to broadcaster Err that at first only the information on the person’s identity card will be displayed.
The obstacle to be overcome is bureaucratic: amendments to the current law are needed so that the digital version of documents can be used legally. But the government is working on it. “Talks are underway with the police, border guard, and the interior ministry” – Preast explained – “to discuss whether and how the documents can be used as presented in the app.”
A path that is also confirmed to Err by Elen Kraavik, advisor at the Department of Border Guard and Migration Policies of the ministry. “There are no changes under consideration yet and we are analyzing whether anything actually needs to change, and how, to make digital ID cards as they appear in the mRiik application usable“, Kraavik said.
Until these aspects are clarified, the Estonian app will display the documents for informational purposes. For example, through a QR Code, citizens have the possibility to check documents among themselves and access some information.
The mRiik app shows IDs (passport, ID card, driver’s license) and services that can also be found in the eesti.ee portal (my children, prescriptions, sick leave certificates, dental benefits information, my vehicles, and motor insurance history). Three external services are also supported: the AI Bürokratt, public maintenance environment Anna Teada and the Land Board’s map.
Once launched, it will be possible to download the app from the App Store (iOS) and the Play Store (Android). Users will be able to log in using the Mobile-ID and Smart-ID systems.
The mRiik digital ID app can only be used in Estonia.