Digital student ID: Revolution for Austria's universities 2026

Digital student ID: Revolution for Austria's universities 2026

From the summer semester 2025, the student ID at Austrian universities will be digitized. On the occasion of this development, the ÖVP state secretary Alexander Pröll announced according to the Council of Ministers that the digital variant of the student ID via the "Evis" app will be accessible. Students can use the digital ID in parallel to the conventional plastic card, which is a modern and flexible solution.

For the use of the digital student ID, the students need either the ID Austria with full function or a European EIDAS notified electronic identity. The digital ID enables users to be activated and shown in several studies at various educational institutions with just a few clicks. The data of the digital ID card are secured safely, encrypted and only saved on the user's device.

the digital identity proof

In addition to the student ID, the digital identity defense system offers extensive options for identity check. If necessary, users can generate a QR code that can demonstrate identity to third parties. The process includes the creation of a QR code by the user and the scanning of this code by the testing person. A Bluetooth connection between the devices is made, whereby users have to ensure that Bluetooth and location services are activated.

The system enables targeted data transmission, in which only the most important information such as the first name, family name, date of birth and photo is transmitted. The validity of the digital proof of identity is twelve months, with users have the opportunity to update their data after this period via the app.

The context of digital identities

The expansion of digital identities is not only limited to Austria, but is also promoted in Europe, especially in Germany. In Germany there is a large number of projects that all aim at creating safe digital identities. These projects are in the context of the Eidas 2.0 regulation, which is intended to create a uniform legal framework for digital identity proofs. However, critics criticize that the complex structure and the different objectives of the ministries involved can lead to confusion. In this context, reference is also made to the consultation process, which is intended to advance the establishment of digital identities in Germany.

Overall, it can be seen that developments in Austria correlate with ongoing international efforts for digital identities. The progress in the area of ​​digital ID cards are an important step towards modern and safe identity verification, both in the university area and beyond.