BankID Digital ID Card: How To Set It Up Step-by-step (2023)
Back in April, BankID announced that they were launching a new BankID Digital ID card service for the summer of 2023. Now the update is finally here, and it’s possible to install your digital ID on your phone!
BankID’s new digital ID can be used when buying alcohol, shopping for other goods that require age verification, and collecting parcels at the post office (Postnord). However, the ID will not replace traditional identification while traveling within Schengen countries or doing government-related paperwork.
Let’s look at how to get the new digital ID card step-by-step.
How To Get The BankID Digital ID Card
What you’ll need
- To be at least 13 years old (some banks may have a higher age limit).
- A valid Swedish passport or national ID card.
- A mobile phone with Mobile BankID installed.
- An NFC reader (newer phones have this already).
- Driving licenses foreign passports, and ID cards issued by the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) are not valid.
1. Open the BankID app and tap on ID Card.
To get the digital ID card, you need to get the BankID app on your phone, and have a valid and active mobile BankID active.
2. Tap on Activate ID Card
You will see a notification stating that the new digital ID card is available and ready to be activated.
3. Tap on Select ID Document
You will see a message with the required documents to continue and the instructions you will follow.
4. Accept the Terms and Conditions
You can use the link to read the full terms and conditions (if you are worried about data and privacy handling, etc.).
5. Sign the agreement with BankID
Sign the agreement to confirm that you would like to install the digital ID card.
6. Choose the document you want to use
Note that Passports and national ID cards with a photo stored on a chip are valide. Driving licenses foreign passports, and ID cards issued by the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) are not valid.
7. Take a photo of your ID.
Use your phone’s camera and follow the instruction to upload a clear picture of the front of your valid document.
8. Scan your document using your phone’s NFC reader.
Hold your phone close to your ID. It can take a few seconds to start, and you will see a progress bar while it is scanning. Once it is done, you will see a confirmation screen.
9. Done! Tap on Show ID card to view it.
Once installed, you can tap on Show ID card to confirm it is correctly installed. Note that you must identify yourself with a PIN code, touch ID, or face ID, depending on your phone’s version.
Once you have verified your identity, you will see your digital ID on the screen. The ID has a QR code that changes every few seconds. You can show or share this QR code. You will also see your full name, personal number (personnummer), and age for quick access.
Is it safe?
The security is based on the same stable foundation as BankID identifications and signatures, with some additions for a physical environment. When individuals wish to present their digital ID card, they must first verify their identity in the BankID app. This process ensures that the person’s identity is verified each time. Displaying an invalid digital ID card will not be possible, which reduces the risk that companies and stores accidentally accept invalid ID documents.
Connected to a Swedish passport or national ID card
To activate a digital ID card, you need a valid Swedish passport or national ID card. A driver’s license will not work. The digital ID card will display the same photo as the ID document it was derived from. It will also carry the same validity period unless the customer’s Mobile BankID expires earlier.
An identification with a digital ID card is as secure and reliable as an ordinary identification with BankID, if the verification is done with the BankID interface and a proof of identification is received. BankID identification meets trust level 3 according to the Swedish eID quality mark, also compliant with the eIDAS regulation.
what is BankID?
BankID is Sweden’s most-common digital identification system. The e-ID can be used for signing documents, verifying identity online, and accessing government services, among other things. Out of 10.4 million Swedes, around 8.4 million use BankID with the vast majority choosing its mobile version.
There are different types of BankID:
- BankID on file: This is the most basic type of BankID. It is stored on your computer or mobile device and can be used to sign documents and verify your identity online.
- BankID on card: This type of BankID is stored on a smart card. It is more secure than BankID on file and is often used for transactions requiring higher security.
- Mobile BankID: This type of BankID is stored on your mobile phone. It is the most convenient type of BankID and is often used for everyday tasks such as online banking and shopping.
- BankID Digital ID Card (new): a digital ID card that can replace your physical ID card from the police or passport. Though the functionality is limited, you can buy alcohol at stores and pick up parcels from the post office.
BankID is issued by a consortium of Swedish banks. To get a BankID, you must be a customer of one of the banks that issue BankID. You must also be able to provide proof of identity, such as a passport or national ID card.
