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Public Service Providers
This section describes how public sector service providers can connect to an existing eIDAS-Node in order to offer online services capable of identifying citizens and businesses from other Member States. These cover eGovernment portals that enable citizens to declare taxes, claim benefits and interact with public authorities.
1Determine which online services should accept eID schemes from other Member States
The eIDAS Regulation (910/2014) and its implementing decisions set the legal framework overseeing electronic identification (eID). Under this legislation, all public entities offering online services and authenticating users based on a national eID scheme must also recognise the notified eID schemes of other Member States. This obligation to recognise a foreign eID scheme applies to all online services that require a "substantial" or "high" level of identity assurance, so long as the foreign eID scheme provides the same level of identity assurance or higher as the national one. Compliance is voluntary for services with a “low” assurance level.
2Approach your Member State's Single Point of Contact
The mutual recognition of different national eIDs is enabled by each Member State implementing an eIDAS-Node. These nodes are configured to recognise all notified eID schemes in Europe. Public sector service providers need only to connect to an eIDAS-Node in order to authenticate users from different Member States and offer them services.
The specific steps required to connect to your national eIDAS-Node will depend on your Member State's chosen infrastructure and eID scheme(s). Each Member State has appointed a Single Point of Contact to provide information on how to connect to the national eIDAS-Node.
Contact your Single Point of Contact to find out your next steps.
3Draft an integration plan
Your Single Point of Contact will refer you to the organisation responsible for managing eIDAS integrations in your Member State. Involving them in integration planning will make sure that their support and experience is available to you when needed. You may keep your plan brief with just enough information to give an idea of what will be delivered, when and by whom.
4Integrate and test
Integrate your service with the eIDAS-Node in a test environment and run end-to-end tests for all use cases. Some Member States' eIDAS teams may also offer connectivity or conformance testing services.
5Go live and promote
Go live with your online services and offer them to citizens and businesses across EU borders.