eIDAS identification makes using services across the EU smoother and safer, enabling the use of national identification tokens in another Member State.
Information about eIDAS identification
You will be able use the Finnish Citizen Certificate for identification in the public administration services of the EU countries at the beginning of 2026.
You can identify a service that accepts European identification tokens for identification from the below icon. You can use the Finnish Citizen Certificate to identify yourself in services in which the Finnish flag is displayed during the identification stage.
Citizen certificate and eIDAS
The citizen certificate is a Finnish electronic identity card that enables secure identification and electronic signatures.
eIDAS (electronic IDentification, Authentication and Trust Services) is an EU regulation that creates a union-wide common framework for electronic identification and trust services.
With the citizen certificate, Finns can identify securely in different EU countries’ electronic services.
Watch this video about how identification works with the citizen certificate and eIDAS. Video length 1m22s.
How to activate your ID card
To activate the citizen certificate for eIDAS identification, you must activate your identity card. Upon activation, you will create two PIN codes: a basic PIN code (PIN1) and signature PIN code (PIN2). The basic PIN is used for identification, whereas the signature PIN is needed for electronic signatures.
Read the instructions for activating the citizen certificate
Once activated, your identity card can be used for eIDAS identification. This means that Finns can sign in to public services in other EU countries in the same way as Finnish services. For example, if a Finn wants to use health services or tax services in another EU country, they can do so with the citizen certificate.
Where can eIDAS identification be used?
eIDAS identification streamlines EU citizens’ use of services across the union, as it enables them to use their own national identification tokens in another Member State. This improves access to services and boosts trust in electronic services across the EU.
The citizen certificate and eIDAS identification are key tools for digital identity management and secure online services. They provide users with a reliable and easy-to-use way to manage their affairs online, both at home and abroad.
eIDAS identification can be used in various public services across the EU. Some examples:
Public services: You can use eIDAS authentication to sign in to another country’s public services, such as healthcare, tax services, and social security. For example, the Suomi.fi service provides eIDAS identification for foreigners to use in the Finnish public administration’s services.
Training: Many European universities and educational institutions accept eIDAS identification for student registration and other education services.
Corporate services: Businesses can use eIDAS identification in e-commerce and to sign agreements, for example. This facilitates cross-border business and boosts trust in electronic services.
Banking services: Banks in some countries allow eIDAS authentication for secure login and identity verification.
EU countries that enable identification using a Citizen Certificate
Sweden, Estonia, Czechia, Hungary, Slovakia, Spain, the Netherlands, Liechtenstein, Portugal