Every person registered in Belgium will be able to request a digital copy of their physical identity card for their smartphone from November next year. The digital version, which will not be mandatory, will be as valid as the physical card.
From the age of 15, all people in Belgium are required to carry their identity card with them at all times. Failure to show an identity card is punishable by a fine of €26 to €500. However, people who grew up outside Belgium may not instinctively remember to carry theirs on them.
The digital identity card offers a solution to this problem. From November 2026, anyone who wants a digital ID will be able to apply for one free of charge, Interior Minister Bernard Quintin (MR) confirmed on VRT Radio 1. “We have so many things on our phones, including our payment cards. So it’s also time for a digital identity card.”
The digital document will have the same validity as the physical card, and can be used for identification and authentication. People will also be able to use it to identify themselves within the Schengen zone.
Importantly, the digital card will not replace the current physical card – both systems will co-exist for the time being – and having this version will not be mandatory, meaning people who solely want a physical copy can continue to use this system.
Security threat?
The Interior Ministry has not yet presented a prototype of the new system, so it is currently unclear what form it will take.
The Ministry is still working on the technical side, but this is not easy, Quintin said. As the digital ID offers so many possibilities, this also makes it a target for cybercriminals. “We are living in an era of cybercrime, so security is highly important.”
Quintin added that the new system will also be subject to strict security guarantees and will also have to be certified by the European Union.
Cybersecurity expert Inti De Ceukelaire stressed that, in some cases, digitisation even offers security benefits. “Owners of this document may be able to act more quickly if their physical card is stolen or lost.”