E-Government Act and Administrative Procedure Act

Section 2 (3) of the E-Government Act (E-Government-Gesetz, EGovG), requires all federal authorities to offer electronic proof of identity in all administrative procedures where there is a legal requirement to ascertain a person’s identity or where they consider identification to be necessary for other reasons. On the basis of Section 1 (1) of the E-Government Act, this requirement applies to the federal authorities’ administrative activities under public law. These federal authorities include bodies, institutions and foundations under public law which are directly accountable to the Federal Government.

On the basis of Section 3a of the Federal Administrative Procedure Act (Verwaltungsverfahrensgesetz), the electronic identification function of the national identity card, the eID function, in conjunction with an electronic form, is one of the options permitted under federal law as a substitute for the written form.

Online Access Act

The Act to Improve Online Access to Administrative Services (Online Access Act, Onlinezugangsgesetz, OZG), requires federal, state and local governments to offer the option of using their administrative services online via administration portals by the end of 2022.

For many administration services, those wishing to use the service must identify themselves. Online identification means that this type of service can be provided digitally, replacing the need to identify the applicant in person at the authority.

On the basis of the Online Access Act, the federal and state governments are currently setting up a network of portals with user accounts.

The eIDAS Regulation

Alongside provisions in German legislation, German authorities are also required to implement Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market and repealing Directive 1999/93/EC (the eIDAS Regulation). They must create the conditions necessary to allow individuals and businesses from other EU countries to identify themselves easily and securely for the purpose of accessing German administrative services, using the electronic identification documents issued to them by their home country.
One way of doing this is by using the federal user account, which has been provided by the Federation since 2019 and which complies with the eIDAS Regulation. This implements the eID function to identify users for administrative services at the highest assurance level.

Available throughout Germany and beyond

By integrating the eID function, you enable the majority of Germany’s population to access your digital citizen services.

As at 1 November 2020, the 62 million Germans who are required to have an identification document had a national identity card with a chip. This is in addition to the approximately 12 million people from non-EU or non-EEA countries living in Germany. Since 1 September 2011, they have received electronic residence permits which serve as proof that the holder is entitled to reside in Germany and are also equipped with the online identification function. In addition, the eID card with eID function for citizens of the European Union and the European Economic Area was introduced on 1 January 2021.

Low-threshold integration into digital citizen services

eID service providers or providers of identification services can help you to integrate online identification into your citizen services. This often removes the need to operate your own eID infrastructure.

Simple to operate and user-friendly

Regular use of smartphones, tablets and the internet means that the public has ever-higher expectations in terms of simplicity and user-friendliness. To use the eID function, all applicants need is their identity card, the six-figure pin that they set for themselves, a modern NFC-enabled smartphone (Android or iOS) and suitable software, for example the Federal Government’s AusweisApp app.

Then all they need to do is hold their ID card up to their smartphone and enter their PIN number – that’s it! The online identification process takes just a few seconds. Users can identify themselves online anywhere, at any time.

Automatic data transfer to specialist systems

When the eID function for identification and authentication is used, the data of the person identifying themselves can be transferred directly into the specialist system. You receive personal data that has been checked by the registration authorities, and you can move on to the automated further processing of the data in your specialist system, without having to worry about typing mistakes.