Request a certificate of good conduct with eID
Easily obtain a certificate of good conduct anywhere in the EU
EU Member States keep digitalised records of their residents’ convictions, which is essential for criminal proceedings, but also key in other situations. For instance, some employers may request a certificate of good conduct to assess if a candidate is suitable for a particular job.
To address these needs, EU Member States have taken steps to make it straightforward for their residents to request a certificate of good conduct. In many Member States, it is already possible to request this certificate online.
But it is critical that users are properly identified and authenticated before their criminal record is sent to them — and that is where eIDAS eIDs are beginning to make a difference.
What is eID and how does it work?
Countries across the EU have developed national electronic identity schemes to improve citizen’s access to national services. But all these national eID systems had differing security mechanisms and were based on different philosophies, lacking cross-border recognition and validation.
To address this, an EU approach, underpinned by the eIDAS Regulation, has been set up. CEF eID now provides the standards and supports the infrastructure (the eIDAS network) which allows these national eID schemes to be mutually recognisable.
A network of eIDAS nodes has been set up across all EEA Member States, based on these standards. This means that an ever growing number of notified national eID schemes can now be used to identify citizens who wish to access different public services in other EU countries.
An overview of the countries already providing notified eID schemes under eIDAS can be found here.
Where can you request a certificate of good conduct with an eIDAS eID?
If you have an eID from a notified eID scheme, you can start using it right away to access online public services in EU countries. The list of notified eID schemes is growing rapidly — currently 19, across 15 Member States. 1
Countries which have already connected their Certificate of Good Conduct service to the eIDAS network make it possible for citizens from other EU countries to access it, using a notified eIDAS eID.
Here are some examples of where this is already possible:
Lithuania
At the Lithuanian eGovernment Portal, users can electronically submit a request for receiving a digital certificate or extract of their criminal register, review the progress of previous requests, or provide consent for sharing their register with authorised persons.
Slovakia
The online General Prosecutor's Office of the Slovak Republic offers the possibility of receiving one’s criminal record extract, which can be shared electronically or in paper. Users have the option of logging in with the national Slovak eID card or with a notified eIDAS eID.
Other countries where you can use an eIDAS eID to apply for a certificate of good conduct
Austria - Finland - Lithuania - Luxembourg - Slovakia
If you know of another EU Member State where this service can be accessed using an online eID, contact us with the details and we will add them to the list.
If you do not yet have an eID from a notified eID scheme, but are a citizen from one of the countries that already provide them, you can consult the overview of notified eIDs across the EU and apply to get one.