In 2002, Estonia created a digital identification system, based on the mandatory ID card. The e-Identity system means that all Estonian nationals and residents, regardless of location, have a state-issued electronic identity, called eID which enables them to interact with the state and use all of its services. People use their eIDs to pay bills, vote online, sign contracts, shop, access their health information, and much more. In 2017, a Czech research team found a
vulnerability in the physical chips used in many of the eID cards to establish identity, leading to the cards being temporarily locked. According to the Estonian State Information System Authority, exploiting the vulnerability would not have been easy or inexpensive, and there were no known cases of successful exploitation of the ID card or similar chips. In fact, no such cases were known by the time Estonia revoked the affected certificates. In 2014, Estonia became the first country to offer electronic residency to people from outside the country, a step that the Estonian government terms as "moving towards the idea of a country without borders." The program, called
e-Residency, is meant for anyone who wishes to become an e-resident of Estonia and access its diverse digital services, regardless of citizenship or location. Non-residents can apply to have a
smart ID card issued to them by the state, providing the same access to Estonia's various electronic services that a physical resident would be given. Use of the card for authentication with these services requires a four-digit pin code. The card, in conjunction with a separate pin code, also allows e-residents to digitally sign documents over the internet, a practice that is legally binding anywhere in the EU. While e-residency provides access to these services, it does not grant physical residency, the right to enter the country, or the ability to use the smart ID card as physical identification or as a travel document. It does not imply any support from the Estonian government in obtaining electronic residence. It is also not a way to avoid paying taxes in the country of actual residence – instead, one becomes a taxpayer both in Estonia and in the country where one is a citizen and tax resident. In the field of healthcare, Estonian
paramedics have access to an e-ambulance app, which – via X-Road – allows medical personnel immediate access to patient medical records. The system is also used for
telemedicine. Since 2010, e-prescription was established, nowadays 99% of medical prescriptions are handled online; routine refills can be issued without appointments. Since 2020, Proactive Child Care was introduced, meaning that parents of a newborn no longer need to apply for benefits. e-Estonia enabled
electronic voting via the i-voting app, which used an I.D.-card-based system to cast ballots remotely. In 2014, approximately one-third of all votes were cast using the app. Since 2000, Estonians have been able to declare taxes online. Now 98% of people declare their income electronically. In the year 2022, m-Parking was also established, which is a system that enables drivers to pay for city parking via mobile phone. In 2022, e-Cabinet meetings were introduced, which reduced government bureaucracy. ==See also==