A new digital ID card being rolled out in Estonia has won a top international security award at a conference held in Morocco. The card, developed by French technology company Thales, was named Best New National eID Card at the High Security Printing EMEA conference, a major event that brings together government officials and security experts from Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The award recognises a new generation of identity cards that combines stronger security features with the ability to receive software updates remotely.
Estonia, one of the world’s most digitally connected countries, has signed an eight-year agreement with Thales to manage the entire system behind the cards. The company is responsible for producing the cards, developing the chip software, personalising user data and handling secure delivery.
The new eID will be used by Estonian citizens, residents, diplomats, refugees and asylum seekers.
For citizens, the card provides access to a wide range of digital government services, including online voting. Residents and e-residents can use it to run businesses and manage taxes online. It also helps diplomats access secure government systems and allows refugees to access public services and healthcare.
The card includes several security features designed to make forgery more difficult. It is made from layers of translucent polycarbonate with transparent edges, making signs of tampering easier to spot. It also contains special optical elements and colour-changing inks that can be checked without advanced equipment.
A contactless chip stores encrypted information and helps verify that the data on the card matches the information engraved onto it.
One of the biggest changes is the ability to update the card remotely.
If new cyber threats emerge or security standards change, Estonia can send software updates directly to the card’s chip when users connect it to a computer or approved terminal. This means the government may not need to replace large numbers of cards every time a security upgrade is required.
Officials say this could save money and reduce the environmental impact linked to producing and distributing replacement cards.
The eID is a key part of Estonia’s digital society. More than 99% of public services in the country can already be accessed online.
People use the card to sign documents electronically, access banking services, view medical records, manage prescriptions and pass through automated border gates within the Schengen area.
The system also meets the requirements of the European Union’s eIDAS regulation, which sets standards for electronic identification across the bloc.
As a result, Estonian citizens can use their digital identity to access public services in other EU countries, helping make digital services easier to use across Europe.
