Background:

One of the reasons which makes the digitalisation of residence permits and identity documents worth investigating are the challenges related to physical documents, such as issuing documents and processing applications. Physical documents have significant drawbacks compared to electronic ones.

These challenges faced by Member States lead the EU to further explore digitalisation. The future development of the EU large-scale IT systems, especially VIS and Eurodac, will recast those systems as a primary source of information on third-country nationals residing legally on a long-term basis in the EU.

This ad hoc query was launched to explore current practices and possible lessons learned by EMN Member (EU Member States except Denmark) and Observer Countries on issuing or planning to issue digital-only identity and residency documents to third-country nationals.

Respondents:

No less than 25 European countries (23 EU Member States and 2 EMN Observer Countries) replied to the ad hoc query: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Georgia and Ukraine.

Findings:

Among other findings:

• Of the 25 European countries that answered the ad hoc query, 5 countries (DE, IT, LT, PL and GE) have stated that they already issue digital identity documents or residence permits to third-country nationals. 
   
• At the moment BE is planning to introduce the digital identity wallet for Belgian nationals as a first step, but it is not decided to extend it to third-country nationals.
   
• One of the advantages of digital documents over physical documents that the PL authorities experienced, is that digital documents do not require secure shipping or storage, which helps to reduce the costs of creating and issuing those documents.

For further information, please read the compilation of answers above.

The compilation of answers to this ad hoc query will be used to draft an EMN Inform, which is tentatively scheduled to be published at the end of 2023 or the beginning of 2024.