Flemish Government Secures Free Itsme Digital ID Access Through 2029

The Flemish government has reached an agreement with Belgian Mobile ID to provide free access to the Itsme digital identification app for its agencies, local authorities, and schools through 2029. Under the new arrangement, Digitaal Vlaanderen, the region’s digitalization agency, will cover the costs up to an undisclosed expenditure ceiling.

Itsme, launched in 2017, was developed by a consortium of four Belgian banks—Belfius, BNP Paribas Fortis, ING, and KBC—along with telecom providers Orange Belgium, Proximus, and Telenet. The app enables Belgian citizens to verify their identity when interacting with government services, banks, insurance companies, and other private sector services. Since its launch, the platform has seen significant adoption, with more than 350,000 Belgian citizens already using the service in 2018 for tasks ranging from tax payments to accessing pension subsidies.

While citizens have always used Itsme at no cost, public and private partners previously paid fees for access. The app facilitates digital signatures for official documents including permits, certificates, school regulations, and reports, with these electronic signatures carrying the same legal validity as handwritten ones under the European Union’s eIDAS (electronic IDentification, Authentication and trust Services) regulations. This compliance positions Itsme as a qualified trust service provider within the EU’s digital identity framework.

The agreement comes as part of broader digital initiatives in Flanders, reflecting Belgium’s commitment to digital transformation in public services. The Itsme platform has become increasingly important as the EU moves forward with its Digital Identity Wallet initiative, which aims to create interoperable digital identity solutions across member states.

Source: Belga

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January 29, 2025 – by the ID Tech Editorial Team