ID Austria and Digital Office Registration and Information

ID Austria will replace mobile signatures as an electronic identification method in the future. It enables digital proof of our own identity using the “Digital Office” application.

ID Austria can be obtained at all registration authorities. For those who already use mobile signatures, there is an option to switch to ID Austria through the online process. This online process allows users to take advantage of the benefits of the new identification solution without having to go through a physical authority procedure.

Who Can Use ID Austria?

To apply for ID Austria, we must meet the following conditions:

We have turned 14 years old (after our 14th birthday).
We have a smartphone with the latest version of the “Digitales Amt” app installed.
We have activated face or iris recognition (e.g., Face ID) or fingerprint identification (e.g., Touch ID) on our smartphone.
We have completed our identification at the authority. Exception: Users of Handy-Signature who already have their Handy-Signature registered with the authority have the option to transition online to ID Austria without having to undergo identification again. If the Handy-Signature was not registered with the authority, online transition to the basic functions of ID Austria is possible.

ID Austria can also be used with a FIDO security key and a phone number or signature card.

What happens when the ID Austria regular operation phase is launched?

The ID Austria regular operating phase began on December 5, 2023. For ID Austria users, this means no change. Mobile signature has been completely replaced by ID Austria for web and app logins. Those who are still using mobile signature simply need to switch online to ID Austria.

When logging in with mobile signature, we are automatically guided through the steps necessary for transition. To do this, visit the ID Austria login screen (for example, on the oesterreich.gv.at website) and select the “Switch from Mobile Signature to ID Austria” link. The Bürgerkarte has also been replaced by ID Austria.

What Functions Does ID Austria Perform?

The ID Austria can be used as an electronic identifier for online procedures, and it is also suitable for electronic signatures. In addition, it provides the opportunity to present identification documents (such as driver’s license, proof of age) in digital form. It is important to emphasize that the well-known physical documents will, of course, remain valid.

ID Austria is the further development and replacement of Handy-Signatur/Bürgerkarte. ID Austria can be used for the following applications (excerpt):

Electronic Signature: Regarding electronic signatures, ID Austria meets all European regulations. A qualified signature with ID Austria is equivalent to a handwritten signature valid across the EU (exceptions can be found in § 4 of the Signature and Trust Services Act). This means it can be used to electronically sign documents in any part of Europe.

Login Function: The login function – and thus the electronic verification of user identification – can be used for Austrian online procedures and applications. Other EU countries are obliged to accept ID Austria as equivalent to their own eIDs at the highest security level. Of course, Austrian web applications can be accessed and used from abroad at any time using the ID Austria function.

The function of the ID Austria identification: With ID Austria, identification documents such as driver’s licenses can also be displayed on smartphones. The validity of the driver’s license for traffic checks is initially limited to Austria only. The ID Austria does not replace the travel document required for border crossing during travel.

ID Austria allows replacing personal appearance during official administrative procedures, if an official service is available online, then personal appearance is not necessary.

Validity of Existing Handy-Signature

The Handy-Signatur was replaced by ID Austria on December 5, 2023. Therefore, you need to switch to ID Austria. If you log in using Handy-Signatur, you will be automatically guided through the steps necessary for the transition. To do this, visit the ID Austria login screen (for example, on the oesterreich.gv.at website) and select the “Switch from Handy-Signatur” link, or log in to the “Digital Office” application.

If Handy-Signatur is registered at an official level – for example, through a municipal office or the FinanzOnline system – it can enable a full functional transition to ID Austria online.

If Handy-Signatur is not registered at an official level (such as through A1, post office, or social security), a new official identification is necessary. To do this, first complete the basic functional online transition from Handy-Signatur to ID Austria on the oesterreich.gv.at website or in the “Digitales Amt” app. Then visit a registration authority to obtain a fully functional ID Austria.

During the online transition, ID Austria will continue the remaining validity period of Handy-Signatur with full functionality. The extension of validity can be done online under the “ID Austria extend” menu item.

The basic version of ID Austria also retains the validity period of the Mobile Signature, but it cannot be extended. You can find the validity period of the Mobile Signature or the basic version of ID Austria under the “View Signature Certificate Data” section in the “Manage My ID Austria” menu.

How can you check if Handy-Signatur is registered at an official level, and thus can be fully transitioned to ID Austria online?

Under the “View Signature Certificate Data” menu item, we can log in with our Mobile Signature and view our certificate details. There, we can find the “official” or “non-official” information. If our Mobile Signature was registered at an official level (for example, through a municipal office or the FinanzOnline system), we can directly upgrade it online to the full functionality of ID Austria. If it was registered at a non-official level (for example, through A1, post office, or social insurance), we can only upgrade it online to the basic functionality of ID Austria.

According to the regulation, the following are considered official registration locations:

the federal or state supreme body
municipal office
district administrative authority
Austrian Ministry of Finance
FinanzOnline system

How can Handy-Signatur be switched to ID Austria with basic functionality?

During the online process, we can switch the Handy-Signatur to ID Austria with basic functionality. We can follow the steps of the transition and skip the “Upgrade to Full Functionality” step (entering the identification number). With this method, we switch to ID Austria with basic functionality. The basic functionality version of ID Austria provides the same functional environment as Handy-Signatur. Signing with SMS-TAN remains possible. The basic functionality version of ID Austria retains its validity period but cannot be extended. If the basic functionality version of ID Austria expires, we must register a new ID Austria at an authority.

How can Handy-Signatur be switched to ID Austria with full functionality?

We can transfer our Handy-Signature to ID Austria with full functionality online or in person. The online process or visiting a personal registration authority depends on where we registered the Handy-Signature. For more information, see: How can we check if our Handy-Signature is registered at the official level, and thus can be transferred online to ID Austria with full functionality?

Our officially registered Handy-Signature (for example, through a municipal office or the FinanzOnline system) can be transferred online. → Transfer guide for our officially registered Handy-Signature

During the online transition, ID Austria continues with full functionality for the remaining validity period of our Handy-Signature. Under the “ID Austria extend” menu item, we can view the validity period and extend it for an additional five years.

For our non-official level Handy-Signature (such as through A1, post office, or social insurance), we must visit a registration authority for identification purposes. To do this, first complete the basic functional online transition from Handy-Signature to ID Austria on the oesterreich.gv.at website or in the “Digital Office” app, then visit a registration authority.

Note: To use the full-featured version of ID Austria, an appropriate identification factor is required, such as an app or FIDO security key. Signing with SMS-TAN is no longer supported for security reasons.

What is the difference between the basic function and the full function of ID Austria?

We are using the basic function of ID Austria, which includes all the features of Handy-Signature. We can continue to sign documents using SMS-TAN. The transition from Handy-Signature to the basic function of ID Austria takes place through an online process. In this case, the validity period of Handy-Signature is taken over by the basic function of ID Austria, but there is no possibility of further extension. Therefore, we recommend switching to the full function of ID Austria before the expiration of the certificate.

We can check the validity period of the ID Austria basic function in the “View Signature Certificate Details” section under the “Manage My ID Austria” menu. If the ID Austria basic function expires, we must re-register the ID Austria with an authority.

The full functionality of ID Austria, often referred to as the “full version”, offers new application possibilities in addition to the basic function, such as using identification on smartphones and recognition across the EU. A secure registration requires official identification, and signing via SMS-TAN is no longer supported. When switching from Handy-Signature to the full functionality of ID Austria, it takes over the validity period, and can be extended online with the “Extend ID Austria” option under the “Manage My ID Austria” menu item.

Why Does ID Austria Not Fully Support Signing with SMS-TAN? What Alternatives Are Available Instead of SMS-TAN?

For online registration and signatures, we can also request SMS for identification confirmation using SMS-TAN with the basic functions of Handy-Signatur or ID Austria.

The full functionality of ID Austria enables the provision of attributes from official registries and complies with higher EU-level security standards, which also allow the use of identification documents on smartphones. Therefore, we currently do not offer identification via SMS-TAN.

Currently, the following alternatives are available instead of SMS-TAN:

In the “Digital Office” application: Receive a notification from the application that prompts you to open the signature and confirm it using fingerprint or facial recognition. Note: If notifications are not enabled, you can manually select the “Profile” tab and then the “Open Signatures” option to confirm identifications and signatures.
In the “A-Trust Signature” application: Receive a notification from the application that prompts you to open the signature and confirm it using fingerprint, facial recognition, or device PIN code.
FIDO Security Key: To use this device, replace SMS-TAN by adding it in the “Manage My ID Austria” menu as an authentication factor.
Signature Card: If you have a signature card, you can also add it in the “Manage My ID Austria” menu as a second authentication factor.

What identification options are available for ID Austria?

Currently, our identification options for identification or signing using ID Austria (full functionality), or for registering ID Austria, are as follows:

Use of the “Digital Office” application with fingerprint/facial recognition – see system requirements for more information.
Connect FIDO security key to the computer.
Alternative identification application for ID Austria (currently, for example, using the “A-Trust Signature” app with fingerprint/facial recognition or device PIN).
Use of signature card with card reader.

With the ID Austria basic function, it is still possible to sign and identify using SMS-TAN. However, the ID Austria basic function cannot be extended and offers fewer features than the full ID Austria function. When the ID Austria basic function expires, we will need to re-register with an authority.

How Does Using ID Austria Work with a FIDO Security Key?

When using FIDO security keys to log in to ID Austria in a web browser, the following options are available:

We can use FIDO2 Tokens (Fast IDentity Online Token), which are devices that can be connected to computers, similar to a USB drive. When we add the FIDO security key to ID Austria, a key pair is created that securely identifies us: the private key remains inside the key, while the public key is linked to our ID Austria account. Authentication is done by signing a challenge using the private key.
FIDO security keys serve as a second authentication factor for web logins, similar to a fingerprint stored on a smartphone, to confirm identification.

FIDO security keys are available in commercial circulation, and it is important to check their compatibility with ID Austria.

If you already have an ID Austria account, you can add a FIDO security key in the “Manage My ID Austria” menu. It is important to know that FIDO security keys cannot be shared between multiple people.

If you don’t have an ID Austria account yet, you can complete the registration using SMS-TAN and FIDO security key, and this does not require a smartphone.

When using a FIDO security key, it must be kept connected to the device during setup and use. A additional window will appear in the browser from a qualified trust service provider, where you can follow the identification process: you need to enter the FIDO security key PIN code, and then touch the key to confirm the identification.

Note: Depending on the device type, when connecting a FIDO security key, the device may suggest creating a passkey and scanning a QR code. In this case, you can choose the “Use another device” option and continue the process as described above.

Which FIDO security keys are compatible with ID Austria and where can they be purchased?

Tokens that have FIDO2 Level 2 certification and support WebAuthn can be used with ID Austria. Currently, the following meet this requirement:

GoTrust Idem Key FIDO2
Trustkey G310H
Yubico Security Key NFC in black color (USB-A + NFC, USB-C + NFC)
Yubico YubiKey FIPS series (5 NFC FIPS, 5C NFC FIPS, 5C FIPS, 5 Nano FIPS, 5C Nano FIPS, 5Ci FIPS)

The widespread models generally connect to the computer via USB or NFC. They can be purchased in commercial circulation, and depending on the variant available, their price can range between 30 and 70 euros.

What functions does the Digitales Amt app offer with the full functionality of ID Austria?

The Digitales Amt application allows you to create digital signatures and log in to online services using ID Austria:

Creating Signatures:

Signing documents
Logging in to e-government services on the web
Logging in to e-government services in applications (such as FinanzOnline [+], eAusweise)
Logging in to e-government services available across the EU • Digital office services (such as changing address, requesting voter card, signing PDFs in the app, Digital Babypoint, etc.).

Active fingerprint or facial recognition is required for identification.

Is Biometric Identification Required for ID Austria?

ID Austria complies with EU-wide security standards, and therefore at least one secure second authentication factor is required in addition to the signature password. Biometric identification is not necessary for all authentication factors. Currently, the following options are available:

The “Digitales Amt” application is protected with fingerprint or face/iris recognition.
Fingerprint or face/iris recognition ensures that no one can log in or perform digital office processes on our behalf.
Our biometric data is found as an encrypted mathematical representation in the secure area of our device and never leaves it. The device’s operating system and installed programs cannot access this data. The data is only used within the secure area for identification and to verify that the scanned fingerprint or face matches the registered biometric data.
Without biometrics:
An alternative identification application for ID Austria, currently for example the “A-Trust Signatur” application, with device PIN code.
FIDO security key.
If we want to register a new ID Austria with a FIDO security key, follow the instructions for SMS-TAN and FIDO security key registration.
Adding a FIDO security key to an existing ID Austria account is possible under the “Meine ID Austria verwalten” (Manage My ID Austria) option.
Signaturkarte: If we have a signature card, we can use it to register and use ID Austria.

Digital Office Download

Digitales Amt can be downloaded from the Apple Store and Google Play.

Download for Android phones here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=at.gv.oe.app&hl=de_AT&pli=1

Download for iOS phones here: https://apps.apple.com/at/app/digitales-amt/id1454775189

ID Austria Registration for Non-Austrian EU Citizens

Other EU citizens do not have access to the ID Austria processing methods available to Austrian citizens. As EU citizen, you can register at the specified police locations, and you need to book an appointment for this.

For ID Austria registration, bring a recent photo, your passport/ID card, and a document proving your Austrian connection (such as Meldebestätigung, student ID, employer confirmation, etc.).

The appointment booking form can be found here. At the agency, select the ID Austria registration, and then fill in the details accordingly.

More information can be found on Austria’s official ID Austria portal, by clicking here.