About ID Austria
ID Austria is an electronic identification (eID) method available in Austria. You can use ID Austria for end-user authentication, identity verification and electronic signatures of registered users.
Registered users can use ID Austria to authenticate themselves online when accessing digital services of the public and the private sector. Users authenticate securely while maintaining control over their personal data.
ID Austria is the modern successor to Handy-Signature and is available free of charge to all Austrian citizens and permanent residents.
End-user flow
Here is a process flow that depicts end-user authentication with ID Austria.
ID Austria - Process flow
ID Austria and Handy-Signature
ID Austria replaced the previous Handy-Signature, a mobile phone signature solution that has been deprecated. Starting December 5th, 2023 users of Handy-Signature have been invited to switch to ID Austria. For existing users of Handy-Signature, the switch is initiated automatically on their next log in.
Users of Handy-Signature can switch depending on their registration status:
- Handy-Signature users who have been officially registered with the authorities can upgrade to the full version of ID Austria ("Vollfunktion") and receive instant access.
- Other users who have not been registered officially can only switch to the basic version of ID Austria ("Basisfunktion").
Read more about the different identity levels of ID Austria below.
Level of Assurance
ID Austria is an eIDAS notified electronic identity since April 2022. It supports a high Level of Assurance (LoA).
ID Austria has two versions to meet two levels of assurance. These depend on how the user registered with ID Austria, as explained below:
- Basic (
Basisfunktion) - Online activation: Substantial LoA: If a person activates ID Austria entirely online (for example, upgrading from Handy-Signatur without in-person identity proofing), the credential is only recognized at LoA Substantial. - Full (
Vollfunktion) - In-person activation: High LoA: If a person activates ID Austria in person at a competent authority like the passport or registration office with an official photo ID checked against the Zentrales Melderegister (ZMR), then the credential is recognized at LoA High.
To switch to ID Austria Full (Vollfunktion), users need to register with the authorities or upgrade online using the Basic app version. The table below outlines the main features to compare the two levels:
It is important to note that ID Austria Basisfunktion does not store all the Personal Identifiable Information (PII) of the end-user.
When an end-user authenticates through your application, it is not possible to determine the LoA. Instead, ID Austria selects the level of assurance supported by the version of ID Austria held by the user. Once the authentication has completed, you receive the value of the LoA, as a property in the response.
ID Austria app
The ID Austria app is the primary user interface available to users for accessing Austria's electronic identity services. It allows citizens to authenticate themselves securely, sign documents digitally, and manage their identity credentials—all from their mobile device.
The app supports biometric login (for example, through fingerprint or facial recognition) and integrates seamlessly with both public services (like tax or health portals) and private sector platforms. It acts as a secure gateway to the ID Austria infrastructure, making digital identity usage intuitive and mobile-first.
Personal data and attributes
ID Austria provides access to a wide range of official data about the end-user. This information comes directly from Austrian government registers which contain basic personal details like name and date of birth and more advanced data such as legal representation for companies and detailed vehicle registration information.
For a complete overview of all available attributes and their detailed descriptions, see our ID Austria Attributes page.