itsme is a Belgian identity app run by a private company that was founded by banks and mobile operators. You link it to your eID card or passport once, and then you confirm logins and signatures with a code or biometrics. It is notified under eIDAS at the high level.

Do I need a card reader for the Belgian eID?

For a login with the eID card itself you need a reader and your PIN, or you can use a phone that supports the card. Most people use itsme instead, which needs no reader.

MyGov.be is the Belgian federal government wallet and portal. It collects official documents, gives access to the eBox mailbox and is intended to grow into Belgium's EU Digital Identity Wallet. You can register with itsme or with your eID card.

Can foreign residents use these systems?

Yes. Residents with a Belgian foreigner card can use the card for eID functions, and itsme is available to people who can link it to an accepted document. Check the current conditions on the official eID and itsme pages.

Digital ID in Belgium: itsme, eID card and MyGov.be

In Belgium you prove who you are online with itsme, a smartphone app, or with your eID card, which carries a chip and a PIN. Both are recognised for government and banking services and are notified under eIDAS at the high level of assurance. The federal wallet MyGov.be sits on top of them and is the base for Belgium’s EU wallet.

At a glance

Item	Belgium
National eID	Belgian eID scheme with the citizen eCard and the foreigner eCard
Card with eID function	eID card with chip and PIN (card reader or compatible phone)
Mobile / app solution	itsme (private); MyGov.be (federal wallet and portal)
Bank-based ID	Banks take part in itsme; itsme is also used for bank logins
eIDAS notification	Yes: eID card scheme (December 2018) and itsme (December 2019), both high
EU wallet (October 2026)	MyGov.be is the planned base; an independent tracker listed an upgrade as confirmed in July 2026, no public certified wallet confirmed
Responsible body	FPS Policy and Support (BOSA)

The national system

Belgium has two main routes. The eID card has been issued for many years. It contains certificates, so you can log in to government sites and sign documents when you combine it with the PIN and a reader. The foreigner card works in a similar way for non-Belgian residents.

The second route is itsme. The app was built by a private consortium and is now the usual way to log in to the federal tax portal, health insurance sites and online banking. You activate it once with your eID card or another accepted document, and later you confirm actions in the app. The scheme has the high level of assurance, which is why the levels of assurance guide matters if you wonder how it compares with a simple app login.

How to get and use it

To start, check that your eID card is valid and that you know the PIN. If you never activated it, the municipal office can help. Then:

Install itsme and follow the registration flow. It asks you to link a Belgian eID card, a passport or another accepted document and to create a code.
When a Belgian service offers “Log in with itsme”, confirm the request in the app. The request shows the name of the service, so read it before you confirm.
For the card route, plug the card into a reader or use a compatible phone, open the official eID page and enter your PIN.
Create a profile on MyGov.be if you want the eBox mailbox and documents in one place. You can register with itsme or with the card.

The EU wallet in Belgium (October 2026)

MyGov.be started in May 2024 as the federal answer to the EU wallet rule. It stores documents, receives official mail through the eBox and was announced to take on driving licence and health insurance card content later. Independent trackers described the wallet as an existing app with a confirmed upgrade path in mid-2026. We could not confirm that a certified EU wallet is open to all residents in October 2026, so for now keep using itsme and the eID card. Our EU wallet guide explains what the final wallet must offer.

Use abroad and for foreigners

Both Belgian schemes are notified at the high level, so public services in other EU countries that are connected to the eIDAS network should accept them. Test the login early, because services differ. See using your national eID in another EU country for the practical details.

If you move to Belgium, expect to receive a foreigner card after registering at your commune, and use that card as your eID. Neighbouring countries use different tools: the Netherlands relies on DigiD and the Luxembourg system is based on its own eID card, so a Belgian login does not carry over without the eIDAS route.

Privacy and security in brief

Never share your itsme code or PIN, even with someone who claims to call from a bank or the government. The app confirms the name of the requesting service, so a request you did not start is a warning sign. If you lose your phone or card, use the official stop line and the itsme support pages to block them. The federal portals MyGov.be and eid.belgium.be list current instructions.

Quick checklist

Check that your eID card is valid and that you know the PIN.
Set up itsme and test it on a low-stakes login first.
Create a MyGov.be profile if you want eBox and documents in one place.
Watch the BOSA announcements for the EU wallet upgrade.