How do you set up a Latvian eID and digital signature in 2026?

Finish residence status and personas kods first. From age 15, residents need one valid personal identity document (passport or eID). Apply at a PMLP territorial division with the documents your case lists, pay the state fee, give biometrics when asked, and collect the card. Keep PIN envelopes safe; without the codes the chip cannot authenticate or sign.

Residence-permit cards and EU registration certificates prove stay rights; the eID adds everyday digital certificates. Sequence the wider stack in Paperwork after moving and declare your address so municipal e-services know where you live.

latvija.lv accepts eID, secure electronic signature smart cards, and major Latvian online-banking authentication once a bank account exists. eParaksts tools add mobile signing for many forms. A local mobile number still matters for OTPs and recovery.

The separate foreigner’s eID (ārzemnieka eID) is for people who do not permanently stay in Latvia but need digital access for property, company, tax, or similar ties. It is not a travel document and does not create residence rights. Residents should pursue the ordinary personas apliecība path, not the non-resident product.