Your key to e-government: Czech Digital Identity

1 March 2025 Practical Tips Marek Singer

Submit documents, receive official letters, handle administrative tasks online – through your Czech Digical Identity.

Think of it as your digital ID card. E-offices can’t see you or your physical ID. That’s why you have to show them a digital one. Identita občana is the only way to establish an authorised connection to e-government services.

Examples of use: submit your tax return online, view your criminal record, submit applications and forms to the Labour office.

Benefits of Having a Digital Identity and Data Mailbox

(data mailbox is your verified e-mail box. Read more about it in our guide)

Secure communication: Prevents loss of important documents and ensures official communication with government authorities.
Fast and paperless: Reduces the need for physical visits to government offices.
Legally recognized: Messages sent through the data mailbox are legally binding, just like registered mail.
Free for individuals: There is no fee for setting up and using a personal data mailbox

If you already have a Data Mailbox, read below for more information about how to easily connect to eGovernment.

Who can create a Czech Digital Identity

All Czech citizens and foreigners with any of the following documents:

valid residence permit (permanent residence permit, long-term residence permit including employee card etc.), or
long-term visa (issued for more than 90 days),
registration certificate (EU citizens only)

plus, you need to have a mobile phone number with the country code of the Czech Republic „+420“.

How to set up a Digital Identity

A digital identity allows you to securely access various e-government services.

As an expat, you can obtain a digital identity through different methods:

A. Using the Mobile eGovernment app (MEG)

This is the most convenient way to create and access your digital identity and data mailbox through your smartphone.

Download the mobile app for Android and for iOS.
Visit this website, select “I don’t have anything”, and follow the instructions.
Use your MEG app to access your digital identity.

B. Using your Bank Identity (BankID)

If you have a Czech bank account, we recommend this as the easiest way to create a digital identity.

Currently, not all banks provide the option to set a BankID, so be sure to check in with your bank first. These banks have been confirmed to provide the service: Česká spořitelna, Fio banka, MONETA Bank and Raiffeisenbank.

You then need a residence permit (permanent residence, temporary protection visa, temporary residence, etc.) with a machine-readable zone. Both EU or nonEU foreigners can then apply.

Each bank will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to set up your BankID. A general guide on signing up for BankID would look like this:

Log in to your internet banking account.
Navigate to the section for digital identity activation.
Follow the instructions provided by your bank to complete the process.
Once activated, you can use your bank identity to log in to government services.

For more information about BankID, visit this website (in Czech).

C. Using NIA ID (National Identity Authority)

If you don’t have a Czech bank account, you can register for a NIA ID.

Visit the Identita Občana portal.
Click on “Register for NIA ID.”
Fill in your personal details and complete the verification process.
Verify your identity with your ID card physically at a Czech POINT office (There’s one in OC Letmo shopping centre or at Žerotínovo náměstí 3)
Once verified, your NIA ID is activated, and you can use it to log in to online services.

D. Using an eID Card (for EU Citizens)

If you are an EU citizen and have an electronic ID card (eID) from your home country, you may be able to use it to create a digital identity.

Check if your country’s eID is compatible with the Czech system.
Follow the steps on the Identita Občana portal to register your eID.
Use your eID to access government services online.

Check the official website chcidatovku.gov.cz for more info.

I already have data mailbox

If you already have your data mailbox and you wish to set up a digital identity, the process is easier.

Connecting MEG (Mobile government key) from a data box

If you have your login credentials to your data mailbox, an easy path for setting up an eGovernment Mobile Key is open to you.

Once you have successfully logged into your data mailbox, select the settings option (cogwheel), then select “LOGIN OPTIONS” and continue by selecting “Establish Citizen Identity”.

You will be asked to consent to the release of information before being redirected to the National Point portal.

You can then choose which means of identification you wish to establish.

Your choices are eGovernment Mobile Key or NIA ID. If you have already established an NIA ID, this option will be disabled as each citizen can only have one NIA ID. Selecting a given ID will take you to the page for creating/connecting it. If you want to know more information about a given resource, click on the “More” link on the screen

Picture source: info.identita.gov.cz, and Canva.com