Czechs Should Soon Be Able to Prove Their Identity Digitally

The Czech government has given its initial approval to a draft law concerning the use of digital identity verification, potentially replacing traditional paper documentation.

Digital identification will not replace physical IDs, but people will no longer have to carry them. The digital document will require a mobile phone app, to be developed by the Digital and Information Agency.

With this app, users can request various forms of identity verification, such as bank identity proof and other electronic identity validations. The app generates a unique code, which can be verified by relevant authorities, such as the police or the post office, using their respective reader apps.

According to the bill’s details, the implementation of this project is estimated to cost the state administration approximately CZK 500 million upon launch, with expected annual operational expenses of CZK 50 million.

The law assumes that the digital copy will have the same legal effect as the original document. It will not be possible to issue a digital copy without the existence of a physical document, and they will not contain any data beyond the physical document. Citizens can choose whether to prove their identity with a regular document or digitally.

All government agencies will be required to accept both physical and digital versions of the ID card. Nevertheless, it’s worth highlighting that digital documents will not be suitable for international travel; in such cases, a standard ID card will still be mandatory.

The law is expected to come into force on 1 January 2024, and the obligation to accept digital versions of ID cards will be phased in gradually, according to Bartos. From the beginning of the year, central civil service bodies should accept them, and from July, regional authorities.

In 2025, the obligation would be extended to all remaining administrative bodies, including embassies.