eIDAS support

eIDAS stands for ‘Electronic Identification and Trust Services for electronic transactions in the Internal Market’ and refers to the eIDAS Regulation 910/2014 of the European Union. With this regulation, the European Union turns eIDAS into a regulated market. The digital borders are removed and the eID methods of member states may be accepted by other member states.

The eIDAS Regulation of the European Union goes beyond electronic identification. An important part of the Regulation deals with electronic trust services, such as digital signatures, electronic seals, time-stamps, electronic delivery, and website authentication. The Regulation ensures that an electronic signature has the same legal value as its paper based equivalent, allowing transactions such as signing contracts to be finalized online.

If a member state of the European Union wants to get other member countries to recognize their nationally issued eID method, the country needs to notify their eID scheme to the European Commission. It is then subject to a peer review by other member states. While notification is voluntary, acceptance of notified and approved foreign eID schemes by September 2018 is not.

The eIDAS regulation entered into force on the 17 September 2014. From September 2018, the mutual recognition of eIDs notified by member states becomes mandatory.

The project name, with which the project is known to the European Commission, is ‘eIDAS2018 for Municipalities’. The name refers to the eIDAS regulation and the year 2018 in which the European public services need to accept the eIDs of notified member states. ‘Municipalities’ stands for the 81 municipalities that participate as front-runners in the project.

In 2016, Connectis has build the largest regulated cross-border electronic identification project in the world. 81 municipalities in the Netherlands accepted the eIDs of European citizens and European representatives of Dutch businesses within their online service environment. On september 28th all public and non-public organizations has to be ready to receive European citizen on their online services. 

The project of Connectis is co-financed by the European Commission and supported from a policy perspective by the Ministry of Economic Affairs in the Netherlands. The portal suppliers Dimpact, Kodision, Lost Lemon and SIMgroep support the connections to the 81 participating Dutch municipalities.

The digital infrastructure is build in 2016. By the end of the year, European citizens and European representatives of Dutch businesses can access the online public services of the participating municipalities in the Netherlands.

The 81 participating municipalities make services, such as applying for (birth) certificates (parking) permits and charges, digital for hundreds of millions of foreign citizens and foreign representatives of Dutch businesses. For some services a registration in the RNI (‘Register Niet-Ingezetenen’) or a verification of the Chamber of Commerce information may be required.

Hundred millions of expats, students, tourists and representatives of Dutch businesses gain access to the online service environment of 81 Dutch municipalities. They save time and money by reduced and simplified administrative processes without a mandatory physical visit to one of the municipalities.

The project improves the business climate of the Netherlands. It also contributes to the development of the Netherlands als the ‘Digital Delta of Europe’. Furthermore, it also provides the Dutch society with annual savings of millions of euro’s in taxpayers’ money.

An eID allows you to prove your identity online. It provides you with secure access to online public services. Services like requesting official documents and filing your tax returns online becomes possible with just one click. Most eIDs also include a signature option, making it possible for citizens and businesses to sign electronic contracts with their eID.

Over 20 European countries have a nationally issued eID method in place for citizens and businesses. Some even have issued several methods. These include ‘Digid and ‘eHerkenning’ in the Netherlands, the ‘Buergerkarte’ in Austria, ‘Identity Malta’ in Malta and ‘SuisseID in Switzerland’.

The usage of a nationally issued eID improves your digital safety. Instead of countless login combinations for each service you access online, you can use a single eID as a method for online access.

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An eID is a personal identification method and may not be shared with other citizens or businesses.

The data that is saved on an eID varies across different eID methods. Technical specifications about which data is commonly used in Europe can be found here. 

Within years, the online services of organisations such as universities, financial services and the healthcare industry are expected to be accessible with eIDs. The possibilities are endless.  

To login with an European eID a simple and secure 3-step process is available:

1. Go to the website of one of the 81 participating municipalities and select “Login for foreign users**”;
2. Select your country and your supported eID;
3. Login to the website of your supported eID and get redirected to the website of the Dutch municipality for which you are accessing the public services. You now have access to the services offered online.

**= Access depends on availability of eID in your country of citizenship and the status of the connection made to your country of citizenship.

***= For some services a registration in the RNI (‘Register Niet-Ingezetenen’) or a verification of the Chamber of Commerce information may be required.

To login with an European eID a simple and secure 3-step process is available:

1. Go to the website of one of the 81 participating municipalities and select “Login for foreign users**”;
2. Select your country and your supported eID;
3. Login to the website of your supported eID and get redirected to the website of the Dutch municipality for which you are accessing the public services. You now have access to the services offered online.

**= Access depends on availability of eID in your country of citizenship and the status of the connection made to your country of citizenship.

***= For some services a registration in the RNI (‘Register Niet-Ingezetenen’) or a verification of the Chamber of Commerce information may be required.

Some examples of public services that will become accessible online are applying for (birth) certificates, (parking) permits and objecting against (waste) taxes.

Not every participating municipality can open the same public services to European citizens and businesses. On the website of the municipality you are interested in you can read more about this.

The 81 participating Dutch municipalities accept the eIDs of up to 32 European countries. Currently, it is not (yet) possible to log in with an eID from a non-European country. An overview of the countries and the eID methods that are already accepted can be found here.

The 81 participating Dutch municipalities accept the eIDs of up to 32 European countries. An overview of the countries and the eID methods that are already accepted can be found here.

If you have not been succesful in logging, this can be caused by different factors. Potentially, your eID method is not (yet) supported [hyperlink to which eID methods]. Please e-mail us at eidassupport@connectis.nl if you suspect that a technical issue is not allowing you to log in.

You can register for an eID in your country of citizenship. An overview of the countries and contact details of the issuing organisation of your eID can be found here.

As a citizen, you can file for a Dutch eID if you are in the possession of a ‘BSN’ (citizen service number). More information can be found here.

If you work for a Dutch company, you can also consider filing for an eRecognition account. More information can be found here.

An eID is a personal identification method. The issuing organisation in your country imposes requirements on the registration process. Often, a check is performed on your address details, your passport or identity card and your date of birth. The requirements for filing for an eID may vary per country and per eID method. Contact details of the issuing organisations can be found here.

If you lose your eID method, we advise you to contact the issuing organisation of your eID. An overview of the countries and contact details of the issuing organisation of your eID can be found here.

An overview of the countries and contact details of the issuing organisation of your eID can be found here.

Connectis shares the experiences participating municipalities during project execution. Combined lessons learned and 30 reference cases of participating municipalities are published here in phases.

There are opportunities for new municipalities to connect. Interested organisations can contact the project manager of eIDAS.