ID-card generations supported in different versions of the ID-software
The Estonian ID-card was first issued in 2002. During these years, the card’s visual security elements and design have changed, as has the chip firmware. The changes related to the chip are important, first and foremost, for software developers. For more information on the firmware specifications, consult the ID-card documentation.
It’s also important to be aware that all of the previous generations of the card are supported by the latest version of the ID-software. Older versions of the software may not support later cards.
Validity of digital documents:
- ID-cards issued from 2002 to 2006 were valid for 10 years and certificates had to be updated every three years. Since 2007, the ID-card has a validity of five years, as do the certificates.
- Since 2018, the validity of the digital ID and the e-resident card and their certificates are likewise, 5 years. As of May 1, 2025, digital ID cards are no longer issued.
- The residence permit card is valid for up to five years, and not past the expiration date of the residence permit or right of residence granted to the person.
ID-software support for different ID-card generations:
| When issuing was started? | Document type | ID-card chip application version | Which ID-software versions are supported? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02.2002 | ID-card | 1.0 | ver. 3.1 and later |
| 10.2010 | digital ID | 1.1 | Windows OP system ver. 3.2 and newer, all other OP systems ver. 3.3 and later |
| 01.2011 | ID-card, residence permit card | 3.0 | ver. 3.3 and later |
| 01.2012 | ID-card, residence permit card | 3.4 | ver. 3.5 and later |
| 10.2014* | ID-card, digital ID, e-Resident's digital ID, residence permit card | 3.5 | ver. 3.8 and later |
| 25.10.2017** | ID-card, digital ID, e-Resident's digital ID, residence permit card | 3.5.8 | ver 17.10 - 24.9 |
| 03.12.2018 | ID-card, digital ID, e-Resident's digital ID, residence permit card | IDEMIA Cosmo v8.1 | ver 18.12 and later |
| 01.08.2021 | ID-card, digital ID, e-Resident's digital ID, residence permit card | IDEMIA Cosmo v8.2 | ver 18.12 and later |
| 07.07.2025 | ID-card, e-Resident's digital ID, residence permit card | IDEMIA Cosmo X | ver 25.05 and later |
| 17.11.2025 | ID-card, e-Resident's digital ID, residence permit card | Thales MultiApp V5.1 | ver 25.10 |
During the lifetime of the ID-card, the card’s security elements, design and the chip firmware have all changed.