Digital ID in Iceland: Rafræn skilríki, island.is, EU wallet
How to prove who you are online in Iceland: Rafræn skilríki from Auðkenni on SIM or app, island.is, the EEA link to the EU wallet and the state in October 2026.
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In Iceland you prove who you are online with Rafræn skilríki, electronic credentials issued by Auðkenni on a SIM card, as a mobile app or on a physical card. A national EU-style wallet is in preparation, but it is not a finished public app in October 2026.
At a glance
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| National eID | Rafræn skilríki from Auðkenni (SIM, app, card); no ID card eID function |
| Mobile or app solution | SIM-based credentials; Auðkenni app (since 2021) |
| Bank-based ID | Banks take part in the system and accept the credentials; the credentials themselves come from Auðkenni |
| EU relationship | EEA member, not EU; EU wallet regulation listed by EFTA as under scrutiny, not yet incorporated |
| EUDI wallet, October 2026 | National wallet announced for 2026 (Digital Iceland), no public sandbox |
| Responsible body | Digital Iceland (Stafrænt Ísland) for island.is and the wallet; Auðkenni for the credentials |
The national system
Iceland introduced electronic credentials in 2008 and has one of the highest adoption rates in Europe, with the system embedded in banks, e-government, health care and education. The service portal for the state is island.is, run by Digital Iceland. When you sign in there or at a bank, you use Rafræn skilríki.
The credentials come in three forms, according to Auðkenni. The SIM card version is tied to an Icelandic phone number and needs a visit to a registration centre. The app version is not phone-number dependent, needs an internet connection and can be self-registered. The card is a plastic card with a card reader and an annual fee. Auðkenni recommends having both a SIM and an app version, because mobile or internet networks can fail. The idea of different assurance levels is explained in our guide to levels of assurance.
How to get it and use it
All versions require approved personal identification. You need valid Icelandic identity documents; the app can be registered online with a valid Icelandic passport or ID card, while the SIM version is activated in person. During activation you choose a PIN. Credentials cannot be issued to anyone but the holder, and they work only online, not as a document you show in person.
If you are a newcomer without an Icelandic ID number (kennitala) and documents, you will have to complete residence formalities first; check the requirements with the authorities and Auðkenni before you plan around the credentials.
The EU wallet and the EEA (October 2026)
Iceland belongs to the European Economic Area but not the EU, so EU rules apply once they are incorporated into the EEA Agreement. EFTA lists Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 as an act under scrutiny, without a Joint Committee Decision. Reports say Iceland was granted a later deadline of December 2027 for a wallet, and that Digital Iceland has announced a national wallet for 2026 with Idemia as technology partner. Iceland also takes part in the EU large-scale pilots, including NOBID. Independent trackers still listed the project as announced, without a public sandbox, in September 2026. Our guide to the EU Digital Identity Wallet explains what to expect.
Use abroad
Rafræn skilríki are made for Icelandic services. Whether any foreign service accepts them depends on EU recognition and the receiving country; see our guide to using your national eID in another EU country. Compare the neighbouring Nordic systems on the pages for Norway and Denmark.
Practical tips
- Set up both the SIM and the app version, as Auðkenni recommends, so a network failure does not lock you out.
- Pick a PIN you can remember but that is not your birth date, and never share it.
- If you are new, settle residence and your kennitala first, then register the credentials.
- Report a lost phone or card at once so the credentials can be revoked.
- Remember that the credentials work online only: at an office or a bank branch you still need a valid identity document.
- If you act for a company or association, ask whether additional authorisations are needed; personal credentials do not replace a power of attorney.
Privacy in brief
Because the credentials unlock banking and health services, keep your PIN private, do not approve a request you did not start, and report a lost phone or card to Auðkenni so the credentials can be revoked.
Frequently asked questions
What is Rafræn skilríki?
Rafræn skilríki are electronic credentials issued by Auðkenni that let you identify yourself and sign online. They exist as a SIM card credential, a mobile app and a plastic card used with a card reader. They work online only and cannot be used as an in-person ID.
How do I get Rafræn skilríki?
For the app, you can register online if you hold a valid Icelandic passport or ID card. For the SIM card version you must visit a registration centre, and the card version also needs approved personal identification. In every case the credentials are issued only to the holder.
Can I use my Icelandic eID in other countries?
Do not assume so. Rafræn skilríki are built for Icelandic services. Cross-border use depends on EU recognition and on the foreign service connecting to the eIDAS network, so check the service you want to use.
Does Iceland have an EU wallet?
A national wallet is in preparation, with a launch announced for 2026 and a technology partner named in public listings. As an EEA state Iceland has a later EU deadline, if the regulation is incorporated, and independent trackers still listed the project as announced without a public sandbox in September 2026.