About Belgian eID (.beID)

TIP

Learn about how to configure your .beID connection within the Signicat Identity Broker.

.beID overview

The Belgian eID (.beID) is the card is issued by the Belgian government and is available for citizens over 12 years old. For children below 12, a version without the signing function is available (known as Kids-ID). There is also a version for foreign residents. The card is widely used in Belgium: In 2012, 99% of Belgian citizens over the age of 12 had the card. In 2018 it was estimated that it was being actively used for online authentication by approximately 5 million unique users.

Compatibility

Most standard USB card readers can be used to read the .beID card, as long as they are labelled “PC/SC compliant” and the corresponding driver is installed. The eaZyLink software has desktop support for Windows and Mac OSX operating systems.

For supported browsers, see the .beID site (opens new window).

Authentication

Holders of a .beID card can use it to log into the website of a service provider that supports this method. The screenshots below show the user experience during the process of authentication.

Other Sources

• .beID website (opens new window)
• .beID information on the Belgian government website (opens new window)