e-Residency program
What is e-Residency?
The Republic of Estonia is the first country in the world to offer e-Residency. Everyone has the opportunity to apply for the secure digital identity provided by the Estonian government – to gain secure access to digital services, to get anything and everything done digitally (sign all documents, launch and manage companies, do banking, encrypt files, etc.).
An Estonian e-resident is foreigner for whom Estonia has created a digital identity and issued a digital identity card. The e-resident’s card is a state-issued digital document that can only be used in the electronic environment in order to identify the person and to give digital signatures.
You can find more information on homepage of e-Residency.
How to apply for an e-resident’s digital ID card?
The easiest way is to apply online. For further information regarding how to apply for e-residency readhere.
While in Estonia, it is possible to apply for an e-resident’s digital ID card through the Police and Border Guard Board.
Issue of an e-resident’s digital ID card
The application is processed by the Police and Border Guard Board, who will perform a background check and make a decision regarding the granting (or refusal) of the e-resident’s digital ID.
In the case of a decision to grant e-residency, the e-resident’s digital ID card, card reader and PIN codes will be sent to the place of issue, selected when the application was submitted. Please note that it is not possible to collect the e-Residency card in any of the Offices of the Estonian Honorary Consuls.
The applicant will be notified as the e-Residency ID-card reaches the Estonian Embassy in Berlin. The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs hands out e-Residency cards through mobile pickup points such as Frankfurt am Main and Munich 1-2 times per year. If the applicant wishes to pick up the e-Residency card in Frankfurt am Main or Munich, they will be informed about upcoming consular missions in a timely manner so they can smoothly schedule their meeting with the consular department of the Estonian Embassy in Berlin. It is always possible to pick up e-Residency cards at the Estonian Embassy in Berlin, but one must make an appointment in our e-calendar in advance. The digital ID-card must be picked up in person at the embassy and the applicant must bring their passport. When the e-Residency card is handed over, the fingerprints of the applicant will be scanned.