The Swedish parliament on Wednesday passed a new law establishing a government-backed electronic identification system, known as ‘Sverige-ID.’
The legislation, proposed by the government, introduces a ‘high-assurance’ state e-legitimation, as a voluntary complement to physical identification, that will allow citizens and residents to identify themselves online, share personal data, and provide electronic signatures. It is designed to strengthen national resilience in digital services and ensure compliance with the EU’s revised eIDAS Regulation for cross-border interoperability.
The decision follows new European Union rules designed to make digital IDs compatible across member countries. The rules also pave the way for a European Digital Identity Wallet, allowing people to prove their identity and access services throughout the EU.
Applications for Sverige-ID will open on December 1, 2026, when the law takes effect. The system, developed by the Swedish Police Authority in cooperation with the Agency for Digital Government (Digg), will be linked to national ID cards for citizens or special ID cards for registered residents. It will be accessible via a mobile app and available to Swedish citizens and foreign residents registered in Sweden (from age 9).
While the proposal enjoyed broad parliamentary support, it has drawn criticism from outside parliament. Privacy advocates and online commentators pointed to the risk of government surveillance and data centralization, and raised concerns that future mandatory use could limit personal freedoms or exclude certain groups. Others cited accessibility challenges for the elderly or those abroad. Sweden is already a highly digitalized society, where lack of a smart phone makes everyday life—from doctors appointments to bank errands—difficult for those unable to use these electronic devices.
