Latvia Faces Potential eID Card Invalidation for Digital Signatures
Approximately 400,000 Latvian national ID cards could become invalid for digital signature transactions as early as June 2026, due to expiring microchip certifications and evolving European regulations. The Latvian government is actively seeking solutions to mitigate the potential disruption, while urging citizens to utilize mobile e-signature options.
The Looming Invalidation
ID cards issued between 2019 and 2021 contain a microchip whose manufacturer discontinued support and certification in the summer of 2022. To maintain their status as qualified signature creation devices (QSCD), these cards require recertification by June 2026, a process that is likely to be impossible due to the chip limitations [Source: LSM English].
EU Regulations and the Five-Year Rule
The issue is compounded by changes to the EU’s Digital Identity Regulations (eIDAS), which stipulate that certifications for QSCDs are valid for only five years, half the validity period of Latvian ID cards [Source: LSM English]. Failure to recertify the chips would render them non-compliant with EU regulations.
Digital Signatures: A Critical Component of Latvian Life
Digital signature transactions are widely used in Latvia. As of September 2025, over 1.33 million Latvians possessed an eID card [Source: Labs of Latvia] and [Source: LVRTC]. In the first eight months of 2025, eSignature tools were used to sign documents 11 million times [Source: LVRTC]. The country has also been a pioneer in recognizing digital signatures from other nations, such as Ukraine.
Government Response and Potential Solutions
Replacing the affected ID cards is estimated to cost around 11 million euros (approximately US$12.6 million), a cost the government is seeking to avoid. The Citizenship and Migration Affairs Office (PMLP) is exploring legislative options to maintain the validity of the cards for digital signatures even without EU-level certification [Source: LSM English].
Authorities are also encouraging citizens to activate the mobile e-signature service (eParaksts Mobile), which does not rely on the potentially invalidated ID card chips. The use of eParaksts Mobile has seen significant growth, with a 421% increase in usage for identity verification since 2022 [Source: LVRTC].
Long-Term Plans for National ID System
The Latvian government discussed establishing a new national ID issuance system in 2025, with an estimated cost of 10 million euros, with over two-thirds of the funding expected to come from the European Union [Source: LSM English]. This new system is anticipated to be operational within four years.