Digital ID by Country: A 2026 Guide to Live National Systems

Digital ID doesn’t mean one single thing. In one country, it is an electronic wallet that legally replaces a physical ID card. In another, it’s a login for government services. In a third, it’s a digital credential that still depends on a physical document underneath.

That makes global comparisons difficult. 

In this guide, we focus on the most mature national digital ID systems already in use. We also separate live systems from transitional models and countries that are still building toward broader rollout.

In early 2024, we conducted a study on digital IDs to understand how businesses in aviation, finance, government, technology, and telecommunications perceive the concept of digital ID. The results showed that digital ID had already moved into the mainstream business conversation. 81% of respondents said they were familiar with the technology, while 42% said their companies were already integrating it into operational systems.

However, several challenges remain. 74% pointed to the lack of global standards as a barrier, while 50% cited cybersecurity risks and 44% raised data privacy concerns. Against that backdrop, 35% still saw physical documents as irreplaceable for identity verification.

At the same time, most respondents associated digital IDs with clear benefits, including better user experience, better identity verification processes, and stronger security and fraud prevention.

In other words, the market is interested, but not naive. Organizations see the upside of digital IDs, yet many still expect physical and digital identity to coexist for years.

For this overview, a digital ID is a government-backed digital credential that:

• Exists in digital form.

• Contains personal identity data and can be used as proof of identity.

• Supports authentication or access to services through a trusted identifier.

In other words, a digital ID functions as more than a simple sign-in tool or a limited electronic record. We make that distinction because many countries are still in transition: some already operate mature digital identity systems, while others offer only partial or intermediate models that are not yet usable as national digital credentials in the same sense. 

A good example is ICAO’s Digital Travel Credential (DTC). It represents a person’s identity in digital form and includes an identification dataset. To generate a DTC, the holder verifies their physical passport using an NFC-enabled device, which confirms the chip’s authenticity and data integrity. This allows a traveler to be identified at boarding through facial recognition matched against DTC data, without presenting a physical passport.

This overview uses a narrower definition than many international eID comparisons. Some studies, including PwC’s, also count federated, private, or service-access eID ecosystems. However, we do not exclude systems simply because they sit inside broader apps, as long as digital identity remains a core function rather than a secondary feature.

Countries have moved toward digital ID at different speeds and through different models. Some, such as Estonia, began building national digital identity systems decades ago. Others have launched more recently or are still expanding systems that remain limited in scope.

Here are the main live digital ID systems worldwide as of April 2026:

Some countries have not yet reached the level of maturity reflected in the main list, but they are clearly moving in that direction.

Chile is increasingly worth watching because its digital identity model is no longer limited to ClaveÚnica as a government login layer. In December 2024, Chile launched a digital national ID card with mobile access, adding a credential layer to an ecosystem that already had broad adoption.

At the same time, the country still looks more like a two-part system — a mature service-access identity layer plus a newer mobile ID credential — than a consolidated national digital ID app. That makes Chile a strong candidate for future inclusion, but still slightly more transitional than the main-list systems for now.

Japan is expanding the commercial use of the My Number Card. In February 2026, the Digital Agency opened the IC chip’s free space to additional private-sector applications under the Number Act framework, building on JPKI infrastructure already used by 1,183 private-sector companies as of March 5, 2026. This makes Japan an important market to watch as its digital identity ecosystem grows beyond government services.

Mexico is worth monitoring because identity modernization around CURP and Llave MX is clearly progressing. However, as of April 2026, the public picture still points more clearly to rollout infrastructure and digital service access than to a fully mature, broadly operational national digital ID credential at scale.

Thailand has built a substantial digital identity ecosystem, including the ThaID app and the wider NDID framework. While these systems already support identity proofing and access to connected services, the current public-facing use case still looks closer to digital service access than to a broadly operational national digital ID credential. For now, Thailand is better treated as a country to watch.

The UK is developing GOV.UK Wallet for digital ID storage (name, photo, etc.), relying on GOV.UK One Login. As of March 2026, the wallet is pre-launch amid consultations, with a statutory trust framework in place but not yet fully operational nationwide.

Some identity-related systems do not fully fit the definition used in this overview.

One example is government-verified login systems such as Ireland’s myGovID and Australia’s myID. These services provide users with secure access to public services after identity verification, but they are primarily access tools for selected online services rather than broadly usable digital identity credentials.

Another transitional model includes government-issued digital credentials that contain personal data and a scannable QR code, but are often stored as e-files or printed for use in limited scenarios. One example is the Philippines’ ePhilID.

Because these formats either remain tied to online access or are still used partly as printable document substitutes, they are not treated in this overview as fully operational digital IDs. At the same time, they show how some countries are moving toward broader digital identity systems in stages.

Our list of digital ID programs also doesn’t include mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs), which are already issued by local departments of motor vehicles in countries like Argentina and Mexico. 

The reason is that mDLs usually serve limited purposes — like identity verification during traffic stops — and often complement, rather than replace, physical documents. 

This makes mDLs a specific use case, distinct from the nationwide digital ID systems discussed in this article. Nevertheless, ISO/IEC 18013-5 defines how mDLs can support secure storage, offline validation, and user-controlled data sharing, making mDLs a potential component of broader public-sector digital identity ecosystems.

With that being said, let’s move to the established digital ID systems, country by country.

Austria evolved toward digital identity through earlier systems such as Handy-Signatur and Bürgerkarte before launching ID Austria in its current form. The system allows people to identify themselves online, access digital services, and use official digital credentials through Austria’s app ecosystem.

A key part of that ecosystem is eAusweise, an app that lets users present digital credentials on a smartphone. These credentials are currently valid for official use only within Austria.

The system offers two levels of functionality: 

• Basic: Retains all features of the former mobile signature.

• Full: Enables digital ID use on a smartphone and supports EU-wide recognition.

To access the full version, individuals must schedule an appointment at a government registration office. They must present an official photo ID, such as a passport, identity card, driver’s license, or another document proving residency in Austria, along with any required supporting documents for identity verification.

With full functionality, ID Austria allows users to prove their identity anywhere in the country, verify themselves online, access digital services, and conduct secure online transactions.

Bhutan’s National Digital Identity (NDI) was formally introduced to the public early in 2025. Throughout the year, the government continued onboarding and awareness efforts. In Samtse, for example, local officials have been helping residents install the app, complete registration, and learn how to present credentials, with a particular focus on people who are less confident with smartphones.

In October 2025, the NDI team and Bhutanese authorities announced that key parts of the system had been anchored to the public Ethereum blockchain. According to project materials, this made NDI the first national-scale digital ID system to use Ethereum in this way. The migration of existing credentials was expected to continue into early 2026, with total coverage projected to reach nearly 800,000 residents once complete.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has launched a mobile app called e-IDDEEA, which lets citizens access digital versions of their passports, driver’s licenses, or ID cards. The country is aligning its digital identity framework with EU standards, and IDDEEA is presented as supporting eIDAS-aligned identification and trust services. 

Besides digital identity functions, e-IDDEEA also supports qualified electronic signatures that can be used remotely across connected services. These include both government services — tax payments, health insurance, or childbirth benefits — and private-sector organizations such as banks and telecom operators.

To register, users must first activate their qualified electronic signature in person at an authorized IDDEEA registration office. They then receive the credentials needed to log in to the app and use its digital identity function.

Brazil’s digital identity ecosystem is built around gov.br, a government platform that combines identity verification, digital documents, and access to public services. Through the app, users can authenticate themselves using biometrics or bank-linked verification methods, access more than 12,000 federal and state services, and store official credentials such as the national ID (CIN), digital driver’s license (CNH Digital), work card, and vaccination certificate.

A key part of the system is its graded trust model. Gov.br accounts are classified as Bronze, Silver, or Gold depending on how the user’s identity has been validated: 

• Bronze is based on matching personal data already held by government databases such as the Federal Revenue Service, Social Security, or the national traffic authority. 

• Silver adds stronger checks, including facial biometrics against the driver’s license database, validation through partner banks, and institutional login for public servants. 

• Gold is the highest-assurance level, relying on methods such as facial biometrics checked against the Electoral Justice database, reading the National ID QR code in gov.br, or validation through ICP-Brasil.

This allows Brazil to reserve higher-trust transactions for more strongly verified users without making basic digital access too hard to obtain.

China’s digital ID system is currently designed for online use and doesn't support offline identity checks, but it still stands out for both its privacy model and its technical implementation.

China officially launched the National Online Identity Authentication Public Service in July 2025. Citizens can register voluntarily to receive a unique online identity token, sometimes described as a “network number.” Then the token can be used to verify identity and sign up for digital services across the web without repeatedly disclosing full personal details to private platforms. 

To register, users complete identity verification tied to Chinese official identity documents, facial recognition, and a linked mobile phone number. Public descriptions of the system emphasize that it is meant to support trusted digital identification while strengthening personal data protection within a state-managed framework. 

According to the official statement (available in Chinese), the system is designed to support trusted digital identification and protect personal data. It complies with several key regulations, including the Cybersecurity Law, the Data Security Law, the Personal Information Protection Law, and the Law on Countering Telecommunications Fraud.

Costa Rica introduced its digital ID card — a full alternative to the physical one — in September 2025. The credential is available through the IDC-Ciudadano app and is intended to serve as a digital alternative to the physical ID card across many everyday interactions, including public services and private-sector use: banks, telecom providers, and more.

One important exception applied during the 2026 election cycle, where only physical ID cards were accepted. 

To obtain the digital ID, Costa Rican citizens must register online through a dedicated website using their email and identification number. After registering, users can download the IDC-Ciudadano app and activate their digital ID card using facial verification.

Czechia’s digital identity model combines the traditional national ID card with eDoklady, a mobile app that lets citizens keep a digital copy of their ID card on a smartphone. The app is designed for digital identity proofing and is positioned as the first step in a broader document wallet, with additional credentials planned for the future. 

Since mid-2024, eDoklady has been accepted by a growing range of authorities and institutions. To activate it, users sign in through Identita občana and must already hold a valid physical ID card. The app can currently be used on up to two devices.

Denmark’s primary digital identity system is MitID, the national eID used to access public services and online banking. Users can obtain it either by verifying their identity with a passport in the MitID app or by completing the process in person at a Citizen Service Center.

In addition, the digital driving license app is valid in Denmark and can also be used as proof of identity in situations where the physical driving license would normally be accepted. The digital health insurance card app, Sundhedskortet, works like the plastic card and provides the same benefits.

Denmark is also preparing for the EU Digital Identity Wallet framework. Under the updated EUDI model, national wallets are meant to build on existing member-state systems such as MitID and support mutual recognition across the EU.

Estonia is one of the pioneers of digital identity, with its national e-ID ecosystem in place for more than two decades. One of its distinctive features was the digital ID card: a physical smart card designed for online identification and digital signing rather than travel or in-person identification. It allowed users to access e-services, sign documents, manage banking and business tasks, and take part in e-elections through card readers and supporting software.

As of May 1, 2025, Estonia stopped issuing new digital ID cards, although previously issued cards remain valid until expiration. 

At the same time, the country continues to support Mobile-ID, a SIM-based digital identity that can be used for logging into e-services, confirming payments, and signing documents. Mobile-ID is issued by local operators Telia, Elisa, and Tele2, and its certificates are valid for five years.

Like other EU member states, Estonia is also moving toward the EU Digital Identity Wallet framework. Under that framework, each member state must provide at least one wallet to citizens, residents, and businesses, building on national digital identity systems already in place.

France’s France Identité app is designed as the digital companion to the new-format national ID card. It lets users keep identity documents on a smartphone, generate one-time digital proof of identity instead of sharing photocopies, and sign in to more than 1,800 services without a username or password. 

The app is available to adults who hold the new bank-card-format French identity card and have a compatible smartphone with NFC.

Since February 2024, users have also been able to add a digital driving license to France Identité. For more sensitive online procedures, France also offers a certified digital identity flow: after creating an identity in the app, the user completes an NFC read of the card, generates a QR code, and finishes certification at a town hall or consulate.

Greece launched the Gov.gr Wallet in August 2022 as the official app for storing digital versions of national ID cards and driver’s licenses. Within Greece, these digital documents have the same legal validity as their paper equivalents, except for international travel.

Users can sign in with Taxisnet, Greece’s main government e-service login, together with a verified mobile number, or through internet banking credentials. Greece also provides a dedicated service that lets users withdraw their digital ID or driver’s license, or disable the app on a device even without access to that device.

By late 2025, the wallet had expanded well beyond ID cards and driver’s licenses. Government materials listed ten document types in the app, including disability cards, unemployment cards, vehicle data, academic IDs, insurance capability, speedboat operator licences, and pet information. The wallet can also be used for fan identification at football and basketball games. 

The redesigned version also added a gov.gr search function, a visible Citizen Inbox for documents and notifications, and a protected Personal Number view that blocks screen capture.

India’s Aadhaar system has existed since 2009, but in 2025 the government began pushing its use more directly as a smartphone-based digital credential. In April 2025, authorities unveiled a new Aadhaar app designed to let residents verify identity digitally using QR codes and face authentication instead of repeatedly sharing photocopies of their card. 

To get started, residents download the app, enter their Aadhaar number, confirm it with a one-time password sent to the registered mobile number, then set a six-digit PIN and, optionally, switch on face-based sign-in. 

At the same time, Aadhaar still requires in-person enrollment, physical letters and cards remain in circulation, and commentary on the new app stresses that many institutions will need to update processes and train staff before offline verification becomes standard practice.

Kuwait’s Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) launched its mobile digital ID app in 2020. Today, Kuwait Mobile ID (Hawyti) gives citizens and residents a mobile-based civil ID that can be used for identity verification, authentication to government and private-sector e-services, and trusted digital signatures.

The app can display the civil ID digitally, share identity data through QR codes, and continue working offline after activation. PACI also presents it as a credential wallet for additional government-issued documents. 

The app has two enrollment levels. Self-enrollment in the app provides a high level of verification, while stronger functions such as trusted digital signatures require a qualified level linked to PACI service centers or self-service kiosks.

The Maldives’ national digital identity platform, eFaas, dates back to 2012, when it functioned mainly as a login for government services. Its evolution into a broader mobile identity credential came later, in 2023, with the public release of the eFaas app and the rollout of app-based identity features such as facial verification.

Now, the Maldives’ National Digital Identity can be used in person and online, with a one-tap login to affiliated services, passwordless login via QR scanning, an inbox for notifications, and biometric verification in the app.

In December 2025, it was also reported that there were plans to launch smart ID cards in 2026 with an integrated digital identity. As of February 2026, eFaas supports 137 digital service portals, 282.6k active users, and 222.9k mobile app users.

Poland’s national digital identity app, mObywatel 2.0, launched in mid-2023 together with mDowód, a full electronic identity document inside the app. Since July, 2023, Polish public offices have been required to accept mDowód shown on a smartphone, and official materials describe it as having the same legal validity in Poland as the physical ID card.

mDowód is not a scan of a plastic ID card but a separate electronic document with its own identifiers and validity dates. Verification works through a QR code, with a six-digit code as a fallback. The holder can see what data will be shared and must approve the transfer. 

By January 28, 2026, the Ministry of Digital Affairs reported that more than 11 million mDowód documents had been issued and that the overall mObywatel user base had also reached 11 million. The same update said 16 new documents were added during 2025, and the app had gained a qualified signature feature. 

Officials also said work was continuing on additional documents and on Poland’s path toward the European Digital Identity Wallet.

Portugal’s digital identity ecosystem combines the physical Citizen Card with Chave Móvel Digital (CMD), a mobile authentication system, and the ID.gov.pt app, which works as a digital wallet for official credentials. Through the app, users can store and present documents such as driving licenses, health cards, and professional certificates.

A major strength of the Portuguese model is that it connects identity, authentication, and digital document storage in one system. The Citizen Card brings together core identifiers, while CMD enables secure mobile login without requiring a card reader. The wider framework is also aligned with eIDAS, which supports legal recognition and interoperability across the EU.

Saudi Arabia’s Absher platform combines digital identity with a broad set of government services. A core part of that system is the digital ID, which Absher describes as an official proof for citizens and residents. Official service pages also state that digital documents displayed through Absher can be recognized and used at many entities, giving the platform a stronger identity function than a simple login layer.

Users can create and activate a digital identity through the Absher ecosystem, including verification steps tied to the Nafath app and biometric checks such as fingerprint validation. That setup allows the identity credential to sit inside a broader national e-government platform while still functioning as a real digital proof of identity.

Singapore’s national digital identity system, Singpass allows users to access public and private digital services, view a Digital IC, prove their identity in person, share data by scanning QR codes, and authorize transactions or sign documents digitally.

Residents register through the official Singpass platform and can then use the service on the web or in the app. The app supports biometric verification through fingerprint or face recognition, with a six-digit passcode as a fallback.

South Korea launched its mobile resident registration card in 2025, making a digital version of the core national ID available through the Mobile ID app. It is designed for use across public services, finance, and other identity-check scenarios, while keeping the credential securely stored on the user’s device. 

Users can obtain this ID by completing NFC verification of their electronic physical card (applicable for IDs issued after January 1, 2025) via a mobile phone or by registering at a local community center. Biometric verification is also required to prevent identity theft.

Each South Korean digital ID is tied to a specific smartphone, which helps limit misuse if the device is lost or replaced. This model differs from Singapore’s approach, where a single digital ID can be used on multiple devices such as smartphones or tablets.

Spain’s mobile digital ID system, MiDNI, lets citizens carry a digital version of their national ID card on a smartphone. 

Launched in April 2025, the app supports identity verification for accessing government services. The next phase will expand its use to include online identity verification and electronic signatures. Once fully rolled out, MiDNI promises to enable users to vote, open bank accounts, check into hotels, rent cars, and more completely online.

To register, users can go to a dedicated website, an on-site documentation unit, or a self-service police update station. In all cases, registration involves email verification and confirming identity using a physical national ID card.

UAE Pass is the national digital identity system of the United Arab Emirates and is available to citizens, residents, and eligible visitors. Beyond storing identity data in digital form, it also works as a single sign-on for public and private services and supports legally recognized digital signatures. 

To register, users can download the app and activate it using facial recognition along with ID verification via Emirates ID, Gulf Cooperation Council ID, or passport. Alternatively, they can use a self-service kiosk that captures fingerprints.

Vietnam’s VNeID app is the country’s official digital identity platform. It gives users a government-issued electronic identity account that can be used for identification, authentication, and access to digital services.

VNeID functions as a document wallet and can hold and present a growing set of official documents. Users can integrate citizen ID cards, driver’s licenses, vehicle registration, health insurance cards, passports, birth certificates, and, more recently, even land ownership certificates. 

VNeID uses a two-level identity model. Level 1 supports basic digital identification and access to online services. Level 2 is the higher-assurance version, verified biometrically against the National Population Database, and unlocks broader use. With Level 2, users can handle residence registration, notarization workflows, driver’s license renewal, vehicle ownership transfer, banking-related identity checks, bill payments, and access to online public services. They can also register and use an official digital signature inside the app.

For digital IDs to become as widely accepted as ICAO-compliant travel documents, countries need both shared standards and trusted frameworks for issuing and verifying digital credentials.

Today, most digital ID systems remain national or regional. They often work well within their own ecosystems, but interoperability across borders is still limited. That is one reason digital wallets have not yet become a universal identity layer.

Adoption is also slowed by a second challenge: trust. Digital ID systems need to prove that they are secure, interoperable, and supported by the legal and technical infrastructure required for real-world use.

Just like passports and ID cards have built-in security features, digital IDs are stored in specialized applications often referred to as digital wallets. These apps use encryption and other protective measures. The identification data itself is typically protected with advanced cryptographic methods, as is the case with DTCs. 

This makes digital IDs a safer and more convenient alternative to physical documents, which can be lost, stolen, or tampered with. (Of course, a mobile phone with a digital wallet can also be lost or stolen.)

Launching digital ID at the national level requires a specific infrastructure for issuing and verifying digital identities. This is typically referred to as a digital ID system. It brings together key stakeholders: governments, service providers, and individuals. 

To participate, service providers usually need accreditation that confirms they meet requirements for privacy, security, accessibility, risk management, and fraud prevention. Individuals (citizens or residents) simply sign up, verify their identity, and gain access to the system.

Digital IDs do not eliminate the need for physical identity checks. In many systems, issuing a digital credential still begins with verifying a physical ID document and the person presenting it.

That is why document authentication, face matching, and biometric liveness detection remain critical. In remote onboarding, these checks help prevent spoofing and create the trust link between a physical identity document and its digital counterpart.

As a result, the shift toward digital ID does not replace identity verification, but raises the bar for it. If you’re building a digital ID flow or preparing for one, see how Regula helps verify physical documents, match faces, and add liveness checks at the point where trust is created.