Brussels (Brussels Morning) – Simplifying the administrative functions for people in Belgium has increasingly become a focus for the Federal Government. The roll-out of the digital identity wallet, called MyGov.be, marks a significant step in this process.
The MyGov.be application is a virtual wallet for authorised documents and an electronic point of contact for presenting requests to the administration. All government departments in the state can integrate their services into the app to encourage citizens’ administrative procedures.
“In Belgium, we live in a complex institutional model, which is why making life as easy as possible for our citizens is so important,” stated Mathieu Michel (MR), Secretary of State for Digitalisation, during a press gathering on Tuesday to mark the launch.
How can residents access and register with the Belgian digital identity wallet?
The application went live early on Tuesday morning and can now be downloaded for free from the usual venues. This makes Belgium one of the first EU Member States to establish a European digital identity wallet after the publication of the European eIDAS 2.0 regulation – a revised eIDAS regulation that delivers for the interoperability of national electronic identification systems.
People residing in Belgium can determine for themselves whether to download it. Once downloaded, a profile can be documented via Itsme or using an identity card and the eID system. The safety of the app is secured by limiting registration to these platforms.
What government services and documents are available in the application?
The Belgian digital identity wallet conveys together various government services as well as official documents online. Firstly, the application will contain the eBox – the Federal Government’s secure electronic mailbox with about 3.55 million citizen users and 683 incorporated services. This is an assembly point where residents can digitally receive, keep and manage their government documents.
It will also function as an electronic wallet where users can find all their documents such as birth and marriage certificates and identity data online.
What features are included in the initial version of MyGov.be
The application established on Tuesday has been dubbed the ‘1.0 version of MyGov.be’, as only a restricted number of documents are available at the moment. These include Covid vaccination certificates and the ISI+ card for those who are not permitted to an electronic identity document but are protected by Belgian social security (e.g. children, and cross-border workers).
“This will make life much easier for parents,” stated Federal Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke (Vooruit). “Parents were previously given just one physical card, meaning a decision had to be made on who would keep it.” This can induce complications, particularly when parents are divorced, but now both parents can have a digital card.
How will the MyGov.be app evolve in the coming years?
The design permits the application to be constantly revised as more government departments make their services available.
By 2025, the digital eID and the digital driving licence will also be integrated into the app, meaning people will no longer be required to carry around their physical cards. Other vaccination data will also be counted, which can be utilised when travelling to countries with mandatory vaccination. The My Benefits platform will also be combined, allowing people with low payments or people with disability to prove their social status easily.
How does MyGov.be aim to assist citizens with healthcare needs?
Eventually, by 2026, the European Health Insurance Card should also be included, which entitles people to acquire the same standards of care abroad and assures reimbursement for necessary care in EU nations and some non-EU countries. “Eventually, this application will help assure people have the necessary documents with them at all times,” Michel described.
Citizens can also utilise MyGov.be to request certificates and official documents through a virtual counter. It can already be utilised for authentication purposes, while a later upgrade will permit people to use it for digital signatures, as well as to share documents.
The first rendition of the wallet was tested at the start of the year by over 100 citizens. “It marks the first stage towards a comprehensive app for interaction between government and all Belgians,” Michel expressed. It has also been experimented with by several security partners, while all data on the application is encrypted.
