Legal Validity Now Granted to Digital ID Cards and Driving Licences

Under the new amendments outlined in Law 19-A/2024, which was published on February 7, 2024, digital documents now hold legal validity equal to their physical counterparts. These amendments took effect the following day, on February 8, 2024. 

Specifically, the change stipulates that documents, titles, or licences in digital format, along with their real-time presentation to third parties within the national territory via the government application id.gov.pt, are presumed to match the original documents and possess equal legal and evidential significance.

The governmental application, referred to in the preceding paragraph as id.gov.pt, functions as a digital wallet. It enables citizens to store, share, and access data from their identification documents via mobile phones.

This mobile application offers a digital availability of a wide range of documents issued by the Portuguese government across various fields. In healthcare, citizens can access the ADSE beneficiary card and blood donor card. In the realm of transportation, documents such as driver's licences and single automobile documents (DUAs) are available. These are just a few examples of the documents available in the digital wallet; there are many more.

To access this digital wallet, residents need to create a digital mobile key. This key serves as a means of authentication and digital signature certified by the Portuguese State. With it, CMD holders can access various public or private portals and sign digital documents with a single login. This Public Administration application enables ID cards to be stored and accessed at any time, displaying an authentic and certified image of the ID documents authenticated using the Digital Mobile Key.

The Portuguese government has taken a commendable step towards ensuring the safety and convenience of its residents by introducing an innovative alteration. This alteration has proven to be particularly beneficial in processes that typically involve bureaucracy and paperwork, such as scheduling AIMA appointments. With this new measure in place, residents can now expect a smoother and hassle-free experience when dealing with such administrative tasks.