Belgian eID for business: itsme, eID card, Smart-ID and MyGov.be
The Belgian eID for business: itsme, the eID card, MyGov.be and Smart-ID compared, the AML rules and NBB guidance, what users see, routes by sector, and the fallback for people without a Belgian eID.
In short
Belgium has two Belgian eID schemes the EU recognises at level High: the eID card and itsme.[1] itsme had more than 8 million users in Belgium at the end of 2025, according to Belgian Mobile ID.[2] For reach, plan for itsme first, keep the card's chip as the document-grade route, and add Smart-ID for customers who already hold it.
- Belgian AML law asks for particularly reliable verification and explicitly allows eIDAS electronic identification and the eID card.[8]
- Private services that must use strong user authentication by law or contract have to accept the EUDI Wallet on request by 24 December 2027.[18]
Belgian eID verification confirms a customer's identity with an electronic identification (eID) means the state recognises, not a document photo. Belgium has two schemes notified under eIDAS, the EU regulation on electronic identification: the identity card (citizen and foreigner eCards) and itsme, both through the federal authentication service FAS, both at level High.[1]
Two apps complete the picture: MyGov.be, the federal app run by FPS BOSA, and Smart-ID, assessed at the high assurance level in Belgium.[17][13]
Every Belgian eID at a glance
Levels of assurance (LoA) follow eIDAS: low, substantial or high. "Notified" means the scheme is on the European Commission's list.
| eID | Operator | Users (date) | Credential | LoA and EU notification | Data a business receives | Private-sector access | Didit status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| itsme | Belgian Mobile ID, founded by Belgian banks and telecom operators[23] | More than 8 million in Belgium (end of 2025)[2] | Phone app approved with the itsme code, a fingerprint or Face ID[4] | High, notified 18 December 2019[1] | Name, birth date, address, national register number, nationality, photo, age-over flags[4] | Direct contract or certified partners; no public price list[12] | Coming soon |
| eID card (citizen and foreigner eCards) | Belgian state; login through FAS, FPS BOSA[5] | Not published as a single figure | Chip card with an authentication certificate and a PIN[5] | High, notified 27 December 2018[1] | Belgian login through FAS: the national register number[5] | Government services log in through FAS; private access to FAS not confirmed in public sources (5 October 2026) | On request |
| MyGov.be | FPS BOSA[17] | More than 400,000 activations (October 2025), according to VRT | Phone app with PIN or biometrics[5] | High with PIN, substantial with biometrics, at FAS[5]; Not EU-notified[1] | Belgian login through FAS: the national register number[5] | Government login key; no private-sector route published | On request |
| Smart-ID | SK ID Solutions (Estonia)[13] | About four million globally, across 1,100+ services (2026); no Belgian figure published[14][15] | Phone app approved with a comparison code and a PIN[21] | Assessed High in Belgium[13]; Not EU-notified[1] | Full name, date of birth, personal code[21] | Contract with SK ID Solutions or a reseller[24] | Live |
Sources: Belgian Mobile ID press release, March 2026, and itsme's own accreditation notice (2023 data, an operator figure, not a regulator one).[2][3]
The Belgian eID timeline: from 2017 to 2027
The legal frame dates from 2017 to 2019; what changes next comes from EU law.
- 18 July 2017eID lawThe Law of 18 July 2017 on electronic identification sets the base for FAS.
- 2017itsmeBelgian Mobile ID starts building itsme.
- 27 December 2018Card notifiedThe eID card scheme is notified at High.
- 18 December 2019itsme notifieditsme joins the notified list at High.
- End of 20258 millionitsme has more than 8 million users in Belgium.
Belgian eID milestones.[1][2][6]
- 30 September 2026AMLA draftFinal draft standards treat eID as the default remote route.
- 24 December 2026Wallets dueEvery Member State must offer an EUDI Wallet.
- 10 July 2027AMLR appliesArticle 22(6) names eID as a verification means.
- 24 December 2027AcceptanceRegulated private services accept the wallet on request.
What changes in 2026 and 2027.[18][19][20]
Belgium had not published a launch date for its own European Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet in the sources reviewed for this guide (5 October 2026). Our EUDI Wallet page tracks the rollout.
The rules for Belgian eID verification
Four texts decide what a Belgian eID can do for a business.
| Text | What it does |
|---|---|
| Law of 18 July 2017 on electronic identification | The legal base of FAS; its Article 9 is FAS's processing basis.[5][6] |
| Royal Decree of 22 October 2017 | Accreditation of private eID keys for public applications; itsme's was renewed.[7][3] |
| AML Law of 18 September 2017, Article 27 | Particularly reliable verification; eIDAS eID and the eID card allowed.[8] |
| Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 (AMLR), Article 22(6) | From 10 July 2027, a document or an eID at substantial or high.[19] |
Article 27 §4AML Law of 18 September 2017, as quoted by the National Bank of Belgium
"en recourant à des moyens de vérification particulièrement fiables"
Source: National Bank of Belgium, identification and verification of identity[8]
The National Bank of Belgium (NBB) says the law "autorise explicitement" (explicitly allows) eIDAS electronic identification means and the Belgian eID card.[8] The NBB's archived AML compendium (21 February 2020) adds that, in standard-risk situations, institutions may use an eIDAS eID after a reliability analysis that weighs the "niveau de garantie" (level of assurance).[9]
Watch out
The NBB notes that remote verification with the eID card "peut être moins élevé que lors d'une vérification face-à-face, dans la mesure elle ne permet pas un contrôle visuel": without a visual check, a complementary measure may be needed.[8]
Article 22(6)(b)Regulation (EU) 2024/1624
"the use of electronic identification means which meet the requirements of Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 with regard to the assurance levels 'substantial' or 'high' and relevant qualified trust services as set out in that Regulation."
Source: EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1624[19]
The Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) final draft standards of 30 September 2026, sent to the Commission and not yet law, say eID means qualify "regardless of whether they are notified" as long as they meet substantial or high. Document-based alternatives are for customers who cannot reasonably present a document in person and lack such eID; the business must justify why the Article 22(6) methods could not be used.[20] That matters for Smart-ID, which is not EU-notified.
Belgium raised the minimum age to 21 for all games of chance in 2024, according to Bird & Bird. We found no rule from the gambling regulator or the telecom regulator that names a specific eID, and no Belgian state age-check service for commercial sites (5 October 2026). itsme exposes age-over claims, including 18 and 21.[4] At EU level, the Commission's guidelines under Article 28 of the Digital Services Act expect age verification for access to gambling content and ask platforms to offer more than one method.[22]
What the user sees with Smart-ID
In the classic Smart-ID flow below, the user enters a country and personal code, the page shows four digits, the app shows the same digits with the service's name, and the user confirms with a PIN. Some services make the app offer three codes.[16][21] Smart-ID+ drops the personal code for a QR code or an app-to-app switch.[25]
Sign in with Smart-ID
Country: Belgium. Enter your personal code.
Continue
Use an ID document instead
1The user picks Smart-ID and enters a personal code.
Check the code
4821
The same code appears in your Smart-ID app.
2The page shows a four-digit code.
Example service
4821
Wants you to log in. Check the code.
Continue
3The app shows the code and the service name.
Enter your PIN
Only if the code and the service name match.
4The user types the PIN in the app.
You are verified
- Full nameShared
- Date of birthShared
- Personal codeShared
- AddressNot shared
5Signed attributes land on the session.
Video pending: flow-app-code
An app sign-in with a comparison code, start to finish.
itsme works differently: the user scans a QR code on desktop or switches app to app on mobile, sees which organisation asks for which data, and approves with the itsme code, a fingerprint or Face ID.[4] See our itsme and Smart-ID integration guides.
The user checks the code and enters the PIN
A simplified Smart-ID sign-in through a verification provider.
Choosing a Belgian eID by use case
No Belgian rule we found ties a sector to one eID; the choice follows your risk assessment.
| Sector | Rule to check | First route | Fallback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banks, payments, fintech | AML Law Art. 27 and NBB guidance[8][9] | itsme or another eID at substantial or high | Document with chip reading, liveness and face match |
| Crypto | The same Art. 27 standard where you are an obliged entity | eID at substantial or high | Document route for customers without eID access |
| Gambling | Minimum age 21, according to Bird & Bird | eID with a signed date of birth or an age-over-21 claim[4] | Document with face match |
| Telecom | No eID-specific rule found (5 October 2026) | itsme or Smart-ID | Document route |
| Marketplaces | Risk-based; no eID mandate found | eID for sellers and payouts | Document route |
| Mobility | A driving licence is a separate document | eID for identity | Licence capture with face match |
1Show the eIDs Belgian users hold
itsme, Smart-ID and the eID card route.
The user can sign in with an eID at substantial or high
Verify with the eID
Signed name, date of birth and identifier.
Verify with a document
Chip reading, liveness and face match; record why.
2Screen and decide
Sanctions and PEP screening; the decision stays with you.
People without a Belgian eID
Non-Belgian residents receive a foreigner eCard, which sits inside the notified card scheme.[1] itsme is available in 32 European countries.[2] It can be activated without a Belgian ID document, but government partners need an itsme account linked to a Belgian eID and its national register number.[10] Whether such accounts fall inside the notified High scheme is not confirmed in public sources (5 October 2026). Belgians can activate itsme through their bank or with the eID card and a card reader.[11]
Minors: itsme opened to users from 13 in late 2025.[2] The identity card is compulsory from 12, with a Kids-ID below, according to Wikipedia. Cross-border customers can log in to FAS with another country's notified eID. FAS then passes name, date and place of birth, gender and a cross-border identifier, not what a Belgian card chip returns.[5] Baltic customers living in Belgium may already hold Smart-ID; see our guides for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Default route
Electronic identification
- Signed name, date of birth and identifier
- No photo of a document to inspect
- Accepted by the NBB for standard risk
AML Law Art. 27; AMLR Art. 22(6)(b)
Alternative route
Identity document
- Chip reading where the document has one
- Liveness and face match
- Record why the customer could not use eID
AMLR Art. 22(6)(a); AMLA draft RTS Art. 7
Launch checklist for Belgium
- Record in your risk assessment why each eID is reliable enough, citing its level of assurance.[9]
- Decide which attributes you need: itsme can return an address, a Smart-ID sign-in does not.[4][21]
- Add a complementary check when you rely on the card remotely.[8]
- Set the age threshold per product, 21 for games of chance.
- Offer a document route with chip reading for everyone else.
- Plan EUDI Wallet acceptance before 24 December 2027 if the duty applies to you.[18]
How Didit helps with eID verification in Belgium
Smart-ID is live on Didit for Belgium. The user picks it in the hosted flow or the SDK and approves a comparison code in the app; Didit never asks for the PIN. Turn it on in the console (Workflows, ID Verification, Countries, Wallets accepted) or the workflows API. A sign-in returns the full name, date of birth, personal code, the level of assurance (High) and a signature check, with no address or portrait. Only completed eID sign-ins are billed; failed, cancelled and timed-out ones are free. A completed Smart-ID sign-in costs $0.20 (pricing page). See the digital ID wallets page.
Not live yet: itsme is on Didit's roadmap. EUDI Wallet acceptance is coming soon.
Everyone else falls back in the same workflow to document capture with NFC chip reading, liveness and face match. A full KYC check costs $0.33, NFC verification $0.15 and AML screening $0.20. For age-gated products, age estimation at $0.10 can run first, with an eID or a document for borderline cases.
Screenshot pending: hosted-flow-wallet-chooser
The user picks Smart-ID in the Didit flow.
Screenshot pending: hosted-flow-smartid-code
The comparison code the user checks in the Smart-ID app.
Screenshot pending: console-wallets-accepted
Turning Smart-ID on for Belgium in the Didit console.
Didit provides
- Smart-ID sign-in in the hosted flow or the SDK
- The document route with chip reading for everyone else
- The signed attributes and the evidence of every check
Stays with you
- The risk assessment and the reliability analysis
- The onboarding decision
- The choice of which eIDs to accept
Accept Smart-ID in your Belgian sign-up today
Turn on Smart-ID and the document route in one workflow, and pay only for completed checks.
Key takeaways
- Belgium has two notified eIDs at High: the identity card and itsme.
- itsme had more than 8 million users in Belgium at the end of 2025, according to Belgian Mobile ID.
- The AML law explicitly allows eIDAS eID and the eID card, after the institution's own reliability analysis.
- Smart-ID is assessed High in Belgium, though not EU-notified.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Belgian eID?
It is the Belgian electronic identity card, a chip card with an authentication certificate and a PIN, issued to citizens and, as the foreigner eCard, to non-Belgian residents. It is notified under eIDAS at level High since 27 December 2018.[1][5]
Which Belgian eIDs are notified under eIDAS?
Two: the eID card scheme (citizen and foreigner eCards) and itsme, both through FAS and both at level High. MyGov.be and Smart-ID are not on the EU list.[1]
Can a Belgian bank onboard a customer remotely with an eID?
Yes. The NBB says the AML law explicitly allows eIDAS electronic identification means and the Belgian eID card, subject to the institution's own reliability analysis. For the card used remotely, the NBB expects a complementary measure because there is no visual check.[8][9]
What data does a business get from itsme?
Depending on the scopes requested: name, birth date, gender, address, email, phone, national register number, eID card serial, nationality, photo and age-over flags for 13, 16, 18, 21 and 30.[4]
Can people in Belgium use Smart-ID?
Yes. SK ID Solutions says Smart-ID's eID scheme has been formally assessed at the high assurance level in Belgium. SK has not published how many of its users are in Belgium; its live counter lists Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.[13][15]
What is MyGov.be?
MyGov.be is the federal app run by FPS BOSA.[17] At FAS it counts as high with a PIN or substantial with biometrics.[5] According to VRT, its login key went live in October 2025 as a public alternative to itsme.
From what age can people use a Belgian eID?
itsme opened to users from 13 in late 2025. The identity card is compulsory from 12, according to Wikipedia. Belgian games of chance require players to be 21, according to Bird & Bird.[2]
When must Belgian businesses accept the EUDI Wallet?
Every Member State must offer an EUDI Wallet by 24 December 2026. Private services that must use strong user authentication by law or contract have to accept it at the user's request by 24 December 2027; micro and small enterprises are exempt.[18]
What about customers without a Belgian eID?
Verify them with an identity document, reading the chip where there is one, plus liveness and face match. Under the AMLA final draft standards, not yet law, the business must justify why the Article 22(6) methods could not be used.[20]
Sources
- Overview of pre-notified and notified eID schemes under eIDAS, European Commission, read 5 October 2026.
- itsme grows to eight million users, Belgian Mobile ID, 17 March 2026.
- itsme accreditation renewed, Belgian Mobile ID.
- Data sharing, itsme developer documentation.
- FAS privacy notice, FPS BOSA.
- Loi du 18 juillet 2017 relative à l'identification électronique, etaamb.
- Arrêté royal du 22 octobre 2017, FPS BOSA.
- Identification et vérification de l'identité, National Bank of Belgium.
- AML compendium, archive of 21 February 2020, National Bank of Belgium.
- Activate without a Belgian ID document, itsme support.
- Get started, itsme.
- Identification for business, Belgian Mobile ID.
- 2025: advancing digital trust beyond borders, SK ID Solutions, 19 January 2026.
- Trust and competition in digital identity in Europe, e-Estonia, interview with SK's CEO, 2026.
- Smart-ID, SK ID Solutions, user counter read 5 October 2026.
- One confirmation code or three, Smart-ID help.
- Privacy policy, MyGov.be, FPS BOSA.
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 (eIDAS 2), EUR-Lex, Official Journal of 30 April 2024.
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 (AMLR), Article 22, EUR-Lex.
- Final Report, draft RTS under Article 28(1) AMLR, AMLA, 30 September 2026.
- Smart-ID and Mobile-ID, Didit documentation.
- Guidelines on Article 28 of the Digital Services Act (C/2025/5519), European Commission, July 2025.
- Nederlandse identificatiedienst iDIN overgenomen door itsme, iDIN, 17 December 2025.
- Price list for e-service providers, SK ID Solutions, valid from 1 June 2026.
- How does the new Smart-ID protect me from fraud, Smart-ID help.
Compare every national eID on the eID verification page.
One workflow for every customer in Belgium
Start with Smart-ID and the document route, and add Belgian schemes as they arrive.
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