Digital Identity – FAQ.
Everything you need to know about digital identity at a glance.
Choose which digital identity you need: xIDENTITY, Handy-Signatur, ID Austria, MobileID, sign-me
In order to sign documents in MOXIS by means of a qualified electronic signature (QES), a digital identity is a basic requirement. For this purpose, XiTrust offers various options.
xIDENTITY by A-Trust.
xIDENTITY is the digital identity of XiTrust & A-Trust, the Austrian Trust Center. Such an identity is required to sign documents electronically in a qualified and thus legally valid manner. Once you’ve got an xIDENTITY, you can use it to digitally sign documents, e.g. in MOXIS. Important note: electronically signed documents using xIDENTITY are implicitly accepted outside the EU.
A trust center certifies the respective identity of the communication partner in electronic communication processes. The trust center issues the qualified certificates that form the basis of a qualified electronic signature. The digital signature of the trust center, which is used to sign each issued certificate, ensures that the certificate is forgery-proof. A-Trust, Swisscom and D-Trust are examples of such trust centers.
To register for your digital identity, you will need
- a photo ID (e.g., passport, ID card)
- internet access including camera (either desktop or mobile device)
- mobile phone for identity confirmation
You can obtain your digital identity via
- Video ident procedure
This procedure takes about 10 minutes and is carried out by XiTrust partner WebID Solutions. To start the registration process, click here.
Fill out the form so that your data matches that of your identification document. After confirmation, you can start the video session with the call center agent by mouse click or use the received code to perform the procedure at a later time. Due to the large number of requests, there may currently be waiting times. You also have the option of booking an appointment for registration via the WebID mobile app.
During the video session carried out in this process, your data and the authenticity of your ID document will be verified. During this process, a special procedure is run through, giving you one hundred percent certainty that no other person can apply for a digital identity with your data. After successful verification, you will receive an activation code via SMS, which you confirm.
In the last step, you set your signature password. You will need this password every time you want to sign a document digitally. So remember your personal password well!
- Registration Officer
XiTrust offers training as a registration officer for customer employees. After successful training, these employees are authorized to issue digital identities. If you are interested in such a training, please contact your respective XiTrust contact person or use our contact request.
xIDENTITY primarily serves as a digital identity that is a prerequisite for signing documents electronically. Usually you will receive a document via MOXIS for signature and you can sign it using your digital identity.
With xIDENTITY-for-free, it is possible to upload and sign documents under “Sign now”, but without additional functionality such as batch signature (this and other functions are available in MOXIS). With this variant, you can make five signatures per month. If you would like to sign more than five documents per month, we offer you the possibility to do so with MOXIS.
Note: To ensure optimal use of the “Sign now” function, we recommend using the Google Chrome browser.
Your xIDENTITY is valid for 5 years. Before expiration, renewal of the identity on your own is possible, after expiration a new issue is necessary.
The eIDAS Regulation, which has been in force since July 2016, has established by law that the use of a certificate issued in the EU is also valid throughout the EU and must be recognized. Since the eIDAS Regulation has the strictest requirements worldwide in terms of signature guidelines and laws, electronically signed documents using xIDENTITY are implicitly accepted outside the EU as well.
When you open a PDF document signed with xIDENTITY in Adobe Reader, for example, you can immediately verify the validity of the signature or the certificate, respectively. Alternatively, you can also use other signature verification services (e.g. RTR signature verification).
Handy-Signatur by A-Trust.
The “Handy-Signatur” is the digital identity from A-Trust, the Austrian Trust Center. This is required in order to sign documents electronically in a qualified and thus legally valid manner. If you already have a “Handy-Signatur”, you can use it to digitally sign documents, e.g. in MOXIS. It is also possible to use Austrian e-government services (e.g. Green Pass, FinanzOnline). Important note: electronically signed documents by means of “Handy-Signatur” are implicitly accepted also outside the EU.
A trust center certifies the respective identity of the communication partner in electronic communication processes. The trust center issues the qualified certificates that form the basis of a qualified electronic signature. The digital signature of the trust center, which is used to sign each issued certificate, ensures that the certificate is forgery-proof. A-Trust, Swisscom and D-Trust are examples of such trust centers.
To register for a “Handy-Signatur”, you will need
- a photo ID (e.g., passport, ID card)
- mobile phone for identity confirmation
You can obtain your “Handy-Signatur” via
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- Registration authority
In Austria, there are a number of authorized registration authorities that offer registration as a service. You can find a list of the possibilities here.
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- Registration Officer
XiTrust offers training as a so-called Registration Officer for its clients’ own employees. After successful training, these employees acquire the authorization to issue digital identities. If you are interested in such a training, please contact your respective XiTrust contact person or use our contact request.
The “Handy-Signatur” primarily serves as a digital identity that is a prerequisite for signing documents electronically. Usually you will receive a document via MOXIS for signature and you can sign it using your digital identity.
Furthermore, it is possible to upload and sign documents on the website www.handy-signatur.at under “Sign PDF”, however, without additional functionality such as batch signature (this and other functions are available in MOXIS).
Your “Handy-Signatur” is valid for 5 years. Before expiration, renewal is possible on your own, after expiration a new issue is necessary.
The eIDAS Regulation, which has been in force since July 2016, has established by law that the use of a certificate issued in the EU is also valid throughout the EU and must be recognized. Since the eIDAS Regulation has the strictest requirements worldwide in terms of signature guidelines and laws, electronically signed documents using a “Handy-Signatur” are implicitly accepted outside the EU as well.
When you open a PDF document signed with a “Handy-Signatur” in Adobe Reader, for example, you can immediately verify the validity of the signature or the certificate, respectively. Alternatively, you can also use other signature verification services (e.g. RTR signature verification).
ID Austria by A-Trust.
ID Austria will replace “Handy-Signatur” as electronic proof of identity in the future.
It makes it possible to prove one’s identity digitally using the “Digital Office” app.
A pilot phase will be launched at selected authorities on January 28, 2021; this will be extended to other authorities from the end of March. ID Austria will be available throughout Austria from mid-2022.
From the summer of 2022, “Handy-Signatur”- users will be able to switch to ID Austria via an online process in the “Digitales Amt” app.
Source: oesterreich.gv.at
To obtain the ID Austria, you must meet the following requirements:
- completed 14 years of age (= 14th birthday)
- Smartphone with the app “Digitales Amt” in the latest version.
- activated facial recognition (e.g. Face ID) or fingerprint function (e.g. Touch ID) on the smartphone.
- Completed registration with the authority to establish identity. Bring a recent passport photo. Exception: For “Handy-Signatur”-users whose cell phone signature has been issued by the authorities, a simplified changeover to ID Austria will be possible from the summer of 2022 without the need for further identity verification by the authorities.
Note: It will be possible to register and use ID Austria without a smartphone.
Source: oesterreich.gv.at
On the one hand, the ID Austria can be used as an electronic ID in online procedures for logging in; on the other hand, it can also be used for electronic signatures.
In the future, ID Austria will include ID card functionalities in the physical world (e.g., driver’s license, registration certificate). However, the familiar physical documents will of course remain valid.
ID Austria thus represents the further development and replacement of the cell phone signature/citizen card.
Use ID Austria for the following applications (excerpt):
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- Electronic signature:
With regard to electronic signatures, ID Austria meets all European requirements. The qualified signature that can be executed with ID Austria is equivalent to a handwritten signature throughout the EU (for exceptions, see Signature and Confidential Services Act § 4). This means that it can be used to sign electronically anywhere in Europe.
- Electronic signature:
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- Login functionality:
The login functionality – and thus electronic proof of the user’s identity – can currently only be used for Austrian online procedures and applications. This function will be extended to electronic applications from other EU countries in the course of 2023. Austrian web applications can of course also be accessed abroad at any time and used with the ID Austria function.
- Login functionality:
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- ID Austria’s ID function:
In the physical world, ID Austria will also be able to be used as a visual identity document (e.g., driver’s license, registration certificate) in the future. For the time being, this option will only be available in Austria. However, the ID Austria will not replace a travel document when crossing a border.
- ID Austria’s ID function:
Source: oesterreich.gv.at
The participating authorities (for example, passport authorities or municipalities authorized to accept passport applications) are published at Registration authorities.
Source: oesterreich.gv.at
In the pilot phase, ID Austria still offers the same range of functions as the cell phone signature. The scope of application for ID Austria will be continuously expanded over the course of the year.
The aim of the pilot phase is to test the new system and ensure its quality for official operation.
During the pilot phase, an ID Austria can be applied for at selected registration authorities, which can be used for e-government services.
Starting in the summer of 2022, “Handy-Signatur”-users will have the option of switching to ID Austria via an online process in the “Digital Office” app.
In order to be able to use all ID Austria services (including the ID function on the smartphone) in the following regular operating phase (from mid-2022), various options are available for registration.
Source: oesterreich.gv.at
It’s that simple:
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- Download the latest version of the “Digitales Amt” app from the App Store or Google Playstore before visiting the authority. If you have already installed the “Digitales Amt” app, check that it is up to date. A smartphone with activated facial recognition (e.g. Face ID) or fingerprint function (e.g. Touch ID) is required to use the “Digital Office” app (this requirement applies to iOS and Android devices).
- Visit a registration authority: They will guide you through the registration process and provide you with further information. For “Handy-Signatur”- users whose identity has already been confirmed by the authorities, a visit to the authorities will no longer be necessary from summer 2022 – the changeover will take place via an online process.
Source: oesterreich.gv.at
Your existing citizen card or “Handy-Signatur” (qualified certificate) is valid for a total of five years from the time of activation and remains so until the expiry of these five years. The qualified certificate is an electronic attestation that links your identity data with a public key. The (qualified) signatures created with this certificate are equivalent to your handwritten signature. Only natural persons (signers) can create and sign qualified signatures.
From the start of the pilot phase, you can convert your existing citizen card or cell phone signature to the ID Austria with basic function and thus continue to use the previous range of functions of the cell phone signature. You can start this conversion process yourself on oesterreich.gv.at.
Afterwards, you can continue to use the functions you were accustomed to until the certificate expires by means of the “Digitales Amt” app and on oesterreich.gv.at.
Note: In order to use all ID Austria services (incl. the ID function on the smartphone) after the pilot phase, personal registration with a registration authority is required. For cell phone signature users whose identity has already been confirmed by the authorities, a visit to the authorities will no longer be necessary from summer 2022 – the changeover will take place via an online process.
Further information on registration can be found under Registration overview.
Source: oesterreich.gv.at
Take part in the pilot phase and upgrade your “Handy-Signatur” to ID Austria with basic function. In the pilot phase, ID Austria still offers the same range of functions as the “Handy-Signatur”. The scope of application for ID Austria will be continuously expanded over the course of the year.
How it works:
- Visite the website www.oesterreich.gv.at
- Select the “Profile” icon in the upper right corner
- Click on “Sign up with ID Austria
- Enter your cell phone signature (cell phone number and signature password)
- Confirm your participation in the pilot and the terms of use of A-Trust
- Click on “Upgrade to ID Austria
- Open the “Digitales Amt” app or another app linked to your “Handy-Signatur” and confirm the signature there
- You have successfully upgraded to ID Austria with basic function.
Source: oesterreich.gv.at
ID Austria with basic function contains all the functions of today’s cell phone signature.
ID Austria with full functionality opens up new, future application possibilities, such as the ID function on the smartphone and EU-wide recognition.
In the pilot operation currently underway, all users can convert their “Handy-Signatur” to ID Austria with basic functions. This does not require a personal appointment at the registration authority, but can be done online in the course of registration at oesterreich.gv.at, and in the future also in the app “Digitales Amt”.
In this context, “basic function” means that you can use the current functions of the “Handy-Signatur” until the mobile signature certificate expires. The “Handy-Signatur” certificate is valid for a period of 5 years after initial activation. New ID Austria functions planned from mid-2022, such as the ID card function on the smartphone, cannot be used with the “basic function”. For this, ID Austria with the full range of functions is required.
The upgrade of the “Handy-Signatur” to ID Austria with basic function is recommended for technical and legal reasons, because the cell phone signature will be successively supported by fewer and fewer digital government offerings from mid-2022 and will gradually be replaced by ID Austria.
In order to use the ID Austria with its full range of functions, an official identification is necessary. This means that a personal visit to a registration authority is required.
For “Handy-Signatur”-users whose identity has already been confirmed by the authorities, a visit to the authorities will no longer be necessary as of summer 2022 – the changeover will take place via an online process.
Once this identity has been established, new applications for ID Austria can be used. For example, an ID function on a smartphone or proof of identity for the use of digital offers from Austrian companies.
Source: oesterreich.gv.at
MobileID by Swisscom.
MobileID is the digital identity from Swisscom Trust Services, the Swiss trust center. This is required in order to sign documents electronically in a qualified and thus legally valid manner. If you already own a digital identity via MobileID, you can use it to digitally sign documents, e.g. in MOXIS.
A trust center certifies the respective identity of the communication partner in electronic communication processes. The trust center issues the qualified certificates that form the basis of a qualified electronic signature. The digital signature of the trust center, which is used to sign each issued certificate, ensures that the certificate is forgery-proof. A-Trust, Swisscom and D-Trust are examples of such trust centers.
Depending on the procedure, to register your digital identity you will need
- a photo ID (e.g., passport, ID card)
- internet access including camera (either desktop or mobile device)
- mobile phone for identity confirmation
You can obtain your digital identity via
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- SRS Direct
Visit a Swisscom Shop near you as a certified registration point for the qualified electronic signature. The validity of the issued identity is 5 years.
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- RA acengy
Contact the company that has sent you a document for signature to see if it has been certified as an RA agency. By means of face-2-face identification, an RA agency is allowed to issue digital identities that are valid for 5 years. If you are interested in such certification for your company, please contact your respective XiTrust contact person or use our contact request.
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- SRS Video
You go through a short video identification procedure at Swisscom partner Identity.tm, the validity is 5 years. You will receive the necessary voucher code via your respective contact person at XiTrust. Register now.
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- SRS Bank
If you own a German bank account, you will receive your digital identity within 2 minutes via the Swisscom partner Klarna, the validity is 2 years. You will receive the necessary voucher code via your contractual partner. Register now.
MobileID primarily serves as a digital identity that is a prerequisite for signing documents electronically. Usually you will receive a document via MOXIS for signature and you can sign it using your digital identity.
When you open a PDF document signed via MobileID in Adobe Reader, for example, you can immediately verify the validity of the signature or the certificate, respectively.
sign-me by D-Trust.
sign-me is the digital identity from D-Trust, the German trust center. This is required in order to sign documents electronically in a qualified and thus legally valid manner. If you already own a digital identity via sign-me, you can use it to digitally sign documents, e.g. in MOXIS. Important note: documents signed electronically using sign-me are implicitly accepted outside the EU.
A trust center certifies the respective identity of the communication partner in electronic communication processes. The trust center issues the qualified certificates that form the basis of a qualified electronic signature. The digital signature of the trust center, which is used to sign each issued certificate, ensures that the certificate is forgery-proof. A-Trust, Swisscom and D-Trust are examples of such trust centers.
To register for a digital identity via sign-me, you will need the following, depending on the identification method used:
- an identity card
- internet access including camera (either desktop or mobile device)
- mobile phone for identity confirmation
- online banking access accepted by the identification service provider
You can obtain your digital identity using one of the options bleow:
- ID card identification procedure (eID)
- video identity procedure
- Giro-Ident procedure
- Point-of-sale registration
Register and identify now.
sign-me primarily serves as a digital identity that is a prerequisite for signing documents electronically. Usually you will receive a document via MOXIS for signature and you can sign it using your digital identity.
The eIDAS Regulation, which has been in force since July 2016, has established by law that the use of a certificate issued in the EU is also valid throughout the EU and must be recognized. Since the eIDAS Regulation has the strictest requirements worldwide in terms of signature guidelines and laws, electronically signed documents using sign-me are implicitly accepted outside the EU as well.
When you open a PDF document signed via sign-me in Adobe Reader, for example, you can immediately verify the validity of the signature or the certificate, respectively.
