Digital Identity Cards from Austria Praised as Potential Blueprint for EU's Digital Identification System
Austria Leads the Way in EU-Wide Mobile Driver's Licence (mDL) Deployment
Austria has taken a significant step forward in digital identity solutions, becoming the first European Union (EU) member state to fully operationalise an mDL compatible with the upcoming EU Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet). The country's digital ID wallet, eAusweise, has already met the technical and legal requirements for the mDL, putting Austria ahead of schedule.
eAusweise, developed by youniqx Identity AG, a subsidiary of the Austrian State Printing House (OSD), supports the mDL, digital vehicle registration certificates, age verification, and identity verification on both iOS and Android platforms. Austria’s mDL is the only operational EU-wide mDL built to the ISO/IEC 18013-5 standard, meaning it meets the technical interoperability standards required by the EU for cross-border recognition.
This development allows Austrian drivers to present their digital driver's license on smartphones anywhere in Europe, facilitating easier travel and official identity verification across all member states starting 2026 when all EU countries must provide compatible mobile ID documents. The mDL and digital vehicle registration certificates can be displayed together via a single QR code, enabling fully digital roadside checks by police and digital sharing with family or colleagues.
Austria's rapid nationwide acceptance is evident, with over 800,000 mDL holders and more than 2.3 million app downloads. Compared to other EU countries, Austria is a pioneer and model for digital ID, being the only member state currently operating a fully compliant mDL system at this technical standard. Other EU states are expected to roll out their own mDLs by the legal deadline of December 2026, but Austria’s early and mature implementation gives it a competitive advantage in gathering operational experience for the EU-wide rollout.
The European Union has singled out Austria for special recognition in the field of digital identity solutions. Meanwhile, the U.S. government is putting pressure on Europe to make changes to the EU Digital Services Act as a condition of a final trade deal.
In addition to the mDL, citizens can already complete over 500 administrative procedures online through ID Austria, and next year the service will add a digital student ID. As Austria continues to expand its digital identity services, it is poised to remain at the forefront of digital identity solutions in Europe.
| Aspect | Austria | Other EU Countries | |-----------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|------------------------------| | mDL status | Fully operational, ISO/IEC 18013-5 compliant | Mostly in development or pilot phases, full rollout by end 2026 mandatory | | Platform | eAusweise app supporting mDL, vehicle reg., age, ID verification | Varied apps, many not yet fully compliant | | Adoption | >800,000 mDL holders, 2.3 million downloads | Lower uptake, rollouts pending completion of EU legal requirements | | Cross-border functionality | Supported, mDL valid EU-wide from 2026 | To be operational by 2026 at the latest | | Innovations | Single QR code for police roadside checks, strong data-minimization and user consent protocols | Mixed functionality, less mature |
References: [1] Austria's eAusweise app now supports mobile driver's license, digital vehicle registration certificates, age verification, and identity verification on iOS and Android devices [2] Austria's mDL is the only operational EU-wide mDL built to the ISO/IEC 18013-5 standard
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