Smart-ID Earns EU High Assurance Recognition

Latvia notified the Smart-ID digital identity scheme at Level of Assurance High under the eIDAS framework, including its fully remote biometric onboarding.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Cybersecurity

Smart-ID Earns EU High Assurance Recognition

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SK ID Solutions' Smart-ID has been recognized at Level of Assurance High under the EU's eIDAS framework after Latvia's notification and peer review. The designation covers Smart-ID's fully remote biometric onboarding process, making it the first such method to reach this level.

Why it matters

The recognition allows Smart-ID to be accepted for qualifying public services across other EU member states. It is described as potentially opening the door to wider adoption of automated remote biometric identity verification.

The eIDAS Level of Assurance High designation is the framework's highest identity assurance tier, here applied to a fully remote biometric process. Details on how member states will implement acceptance of the scheme remain unspecified.

The players

SK ID Solutions

SK ID Solutions is the Estonian operator of the Smart-ID digital identity scheme.

iProov

iProov is a biometric authentication company whose Dynamic Liveness technology supports facial verification and liveness detection.

Signicat

Signicat is a European identity verification provider whose ReadID product handles NFC-based identity document checks.

Ingenium Biometric Laboratories

Ingenium Biometric Laboratories is an independent testing lab that evaluated iProov's technology against CEN/TS 18099.

The details

Smart-ID remote enrollment pairs iProov Dynamic Liveness for facial verification and liveness detection with Signicat's ReadID for NFC-based identity document verification. The iProov technology was independently evaluated against CEN/TS 18099 by Ingenium Biometric Laboratories.

Timeline

  1. Article on Smart-ID's EU recognition published November 9, 2026.

Big Picture

Smart-ID's designation applies the eIDAS Regulation's Level of Assurance framework to a process that verifies identity entirely remotely using biometrics. It marks a step beyond in-person or bank-based verification methods that the framework was originally built around.

Residents of EU member states may eventually be able to use Smart-ID for qualifying public services in other countries. Remote biometric onboarding could make identity enrollment possible without visiting an office in person.

The takeaway

Remote identity verification is gaining formal recognition at the EU's highest assurance tier, which could reduce friction for citizens seeking digital access to public services. Readers following digital identity should watch for member states announcing acceptance of Smart-ID.

Further reading

Explore more Cybersecurity coverage for context on digital identity verification.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Biometric Update.

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