A new reality is taking shape for the country’s citizens, as the Gov.gr Wallet digital app is now in effect, allowing users to «download» both their ID card and driver’s license onto their cell phones. The app is already available on the Google Play Store and the App Store, where users can already see firsthand what the two digital documents will look like going forward.

For his part, the Minister of Digital Governance, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, emphasized that citizens benefit from convenience, security, speed, as the system ensures immediate issuance and storage, integration into the mobile digital wallet, secure transactions through digital consent, reduced fraud, the ability to immediately revoke validity, and quick display and verification via a QR code. The minister noted that gov.gr’s internal infrastructure was utilized.

During the presentation of the app, Mr. Pierrakakis explained step by step how citizens can «download» the app.

«I download the app from wallet.gov.gr, log in using TaxisNet or my online banking credentials and a confirmation SMS, and generate each document with a confirmation SMS.».

Gov.gr Wallet – Detailed Overview

Digital copies have exactly the same legal validity as paper certificates within the country, with the sole exception of international travel. This means that citizens can now use their cell phones for any transaction within Greece, just as they have been using their ID cards and driver’s licenses until now. Furthermore, through the app, they can digitally sign documents even more easily, quickly, and securely via docs.gov.gr.

The application was designed and implemented by the National Network for Technology and Research Infrastructure – EDYTE S.A. (GRNET), an agency under the supervision of the Ministry of Digital Governance. All necessary data is retrieved through the Interoperability Center of the General Secretariat for Public Administration Information Systems.

The app in question, however, called Gov.gr Wallet, is already available on the Google Play Store and the App Store, where you can download it and see what the two digital documents will look like.

The digital ID and digital driver's license will be valid for use within Greece, although it should be noted that discussions are already underway to make it possible to use them at least within theEuropean Union.

Application Installation and Citizen Authentication

The Gov.gr Wallet is already available in app stores iOS and Android and it will be available in phases based on the last digit of a citizen’s tax identification number (AFM), starting today with the number 1, followed by 2 on Thursday, and so on. Alternatively, citizens can download the app from the website wallet.gov.gr. To securely access the app, citizens are first authenticated using their Taxisnet credentials and then by entering a one-time password (OTP – One-Time Password), which is sent to a mobile phone number verified as belonging to the user. To this end, before logging into the app, the user must:

or have registered their cell phone number with the National Communication Registry (EMEP) through notify.gov.gr,
or have digitally certified their signature through gov.gr (Affidavit, Power of Attorney, Digital Document Certification, Private Agreement).

Once authenticated, the citizen is asked to grant permission to receive notifications from the app, which are necessary for its operation due to the consent mechanism required when verifying a digital document. In addition, they have the option to enable the quick login feature, which is provided in accordance with each device’s specifications.

Creating and Saving Copies

Once they have logged into the app, citizens can create and save a digital copy of their ID card and/or driver’s license with just a few clicks. First, they select which document they want to generate, and then they receive a one-time password (OTP) via SMS, which they enter into the app. Immediately afterward, the document is generated and saved in the app and in the user’s mobile wallet. The same process is repeated for each new copy issued.

Digital Copy Information and Authenticity Verification

The digital copies in the Gov.gr Wallet include all the information contained on police ID cards and driver’s licenses, respectively. They also include a QR code and a unique document code, which are used to verify their authenticity. Specifically, regarding the digital copy of the driver’s license, the photo that will appear is sourced from the Greek Police’s Registry of Police ID Cards, so it will be the same as the one on the police ID card and not necessarily the same as the one on the driver’s license.

The authenticity of each digital copy is verified using its QR code. As soon as someone scans a citizen’s QR code using the Gov.gr Wallet app, the citizen receives a notification from the app, asking them to grant the verifier permission to verify their information. Once the citizen approves the verification, a six-digit code appears on the app’s screen, which the citizen must dictate or show to the auditor, who in turn enters it into their own device. Once the process is complete, and only then, the details of the digital copy appear once and only once on the inspector’s device, with no option to save them.

The ability to verify quickly

Citizens have the option to select the «quick scan» feature whenever they wish. Through this feature, citizens essentially provide “pre-approval” for the next and only check, provided it is conducted exclusively within the next five minutes. By presenting the quick-scan QR code, the check is completed more quickly, as the inspector gains direct access to the citizen’s information. In this way, citizens can be served more promptly, especially in situations where there are long lines or where speed is required, such as when entering concerts, boarding planes, etc.

The ability to sign documents on docs.gov.gr

Finally, through the Gov.gr Wallet, citizens can sign documents more quickly and securely via docs.gov.gr. Specifically, once citizens have installed the app on their cell phones and saved their ID card, they will be able to select and approve the issuance of a digital document through the app instead of receiving a one-time password (OTP) via SMS.

Loss or Replacement of Paper Certificates and Loss of a Device

If a citizen reports the loss of their police ID either in person at a police station or through gov.gr, then any digital copy that has been issued is automatically and immediately invalidated. The same applies if a citizen reports the loss of their driver’s license at a police station, a KEP, or the Transportation Directorate of the relevant region.

In cases where a new police ID card or driver’s license is issued for a reason other than loss, then the digital copies of the older paper certificates are automatically invalidated, and digital copies of the new certificates must be issued, following the same procedure used for their initial issuance.

In the event that the device on which the digital copies are stored is lost, the citizen may revoke the validity of the stored digital copies through the relevant service on gov.gr. Revoking the digital copies does not invalidate the corresponding paper certificates.

Necessary Clarifications

The issuance of digital copies is permitted only if the citizen is the lawful holder of the corresponding paper certificate. Therefore, in cases of temporary or permanent revocation or suspension of a police ID and/or driver’s license, the registries that interoperate within the application are automatically updated so that the citizen does not issue, store, or use the corresponding digital copies.

To use the Gov.gr Wallet, you must install the latest version of the app.

In addition, each citizen may store digital copies on only one device. If a citizen creates and stores a digital copy on a second device, the previous digital copies are automatically revoked.

Within Greece, digital copies have exactly the same legal validity as their paper counterparts. Consequently, as of today, citizens can present them in place of their police ID or driver’s license. As an exception, with regard to citizens’ transactions with credit institutions, financial organizations, and landline and mobile phone service providers, digital copies will become valid as of October 1, 2022.

A digital copy of an ID card is not a travel document. Therefore, it may only be used on domestic flights, but not on international flights or for travel within the Schengen Area.

Frequently asked questions and answers can be found in the app and at wallet.gov.gr. In addition, citizens can submit service and support requests at wallet.gov.gr/support.

Upcoming additions to the app

In the future, additional documents will be added to the app, such as registration information, information on the payment of vehicle registration fees, the results of the Vehicle Technical Inspection (KTEO) and the date of the next inspection, insurance details, etc. Furthermore, in the future, it will also be possible to authenticate on gov.gr using the Gov.gr Wallet.

What's Changing – The Data That Will Be Stored Digitally

Under the amendment, the mobile phone owner will be able to «present it, for the purpose of identification, to public sector entities as defined in subparagraph (a) of paragraph 1 of Article 14 of Law 4270/2014 (A’143), judicial authorities, and natural and legal persons in the private sector who are authorized to verify identity, in the context of exercising their respective powers and fulfilling their respective obligations.’.

Specifically:

Id. at