MyGov.be Digital Signature on Smartphones Arrives in Autumn
Belgian citizens will soon be able to sign official documents directly from their smartphones, as the Chamber of Representatives approved a bill on Thursday, July 2, 2026, integrating a qualified electronic signature into the MyGov.be digital wallet. The feature, expected to launch this autumn, will carry the same legal weight as a handwritten signature on paper, marking a significant step forward in Belgium’s digital government strategy.
A Major Leap in Accessibility
Until now, qualified electronic signatures in Belgium required a physical electronic identity card (eID) and a card reader connected to a computer — a process that created barriers for many citizens. The new smartphone-based solution, integrated into MyGov.be, eliminates these requirements entirely.
According to RTBF, the feature will be available on both computers and smartphones, making digital signing accessible to a far wider audience. Currently, approximately 630,000 Belgians already use the MyGov.be application.
Minister of Digital Affairs and Public Action Vanessa Matz (Les Engagés) emphasized the transformative potential of the initiative:
“With the SPF Strategy & Support, we continue to improve MyGov.be to make it a true digital wallet. The integration of the digital signature marks an important step: it will allow everyone to carry out procedures and sign administrative or legal documents directly from their smartphone.”
Minister of the Interior Bernard Quintin added that the government has a duty to provide citizens with digital tools adapted to the 21st century, calling the decision “a concrete advance” in that direction.
How the New System Works
The digital signature feature is built on a “remote signing” model managed by SPF BOSA (the Federal Public Service Strategy & Support) through a new service called eSign.belgium.be. Instead of storing the signature certificate on the physical eID card, it is managed centrally in a secure environment. Users authenticate via their eID or the MyGov.be app, then confirm the signature.
La Libre reports that the signatures are qualified under EU regulations, meaning they are recognized at the highest level of legal validity across European borders.
EU Regulatory Context
Belgium’s move is partly driven by the updated EU eIDAS (Electronic Identification, Authentication and Trust Services) regulation. Key milestones include:
- May 21, 2026: eID signature certificates were updated to comply with new EU standards
- May 22, 2026: Older eID cards (issued before July 4, 2016) can no longer be used for qualified signatures under the old method
- May 22, 2027: Additional eID cards may have chips that no longer meet EU certification requirements, making the transition to remote signing essential
Broader Digital Government Vision
Minister Matz also outlined a broader ambition for MyGov.be, stating that the ultimate goal is for the digital wallet to eventually contain a digital identity card and driving license that could be used in the same way as their physical counterparts.
MyGov.be is the Belgian government’s single digital wallet application covering all federal public services. It allows citizens to access official documents in digital format, including their eBox (secure digital mailbox), certificates, and personal data. The app is available on iOS and Android and can be activated using the eID or itsme®.
Analysis and Implications
The integration of digital signatures into MyGov.be represents a democratization of electronic signatures in Belgium. The previous requirement for a physical card reader connected to a computer created a barrier for many citizens — particularly those without computers, the elderly, or those less comfortable with technology. Smartphone-based signing removes this barrier, potentially expanding access to digital government services to a much wider population.
From an administrative perspective, the shift promises significant benefits: reduced paperwork, time savings for citizens who can sign documents from anywhere without being physically present, cost savings for both citizens and government agencies, and environmental benefits from reduced paper usage.
However, the remote signing model also introduces new security considerations. While the government describes the central certificate management as taking place in a “secure environment,” the shift from a physical card to a smartphone-based system introduces different risk vectors. The security of the system will depend heavily on the security of users’ smartphones and the MyGov.be app itself.
What to Watch For
The feature is expected to launch sometime during autumn 2026, though no specific date has been announced. Key questions remain about pricing — whether the service will be free for all citizens — and how the new system will interact with itsme®, the existing Belgian digital identity app that already has over 5 million users. Fallback options for citizens whose smartphones are lost or damaged will also be an important detail to clarify as the launch approaches.