Online identification (known as "electronic proof of identity" in the legal context) refers to the process by which a user identifies themselves to another user or system via digital media using suitable hardware and software, so that the other party has reliable information about the person identifying themselves.

With AusweisIDent Online, you can identify your customers easily, quickly and legally securely. AusweisIDent Online provides electronic proof of identity in accordance with the German ID Card Act and has the highest level of security in accordance with the eIDAS Regulation. This means that AusweisIDent can be used as an identification procedure in all legal contexts without additional certification - for example, for services in the context of the eIDAS Regulation, the Telecommunications Act and the Money Laundering Act, where other identification procedures are often only used in a legally secure manner to a limited extent or with additional certification.

AusweisIDent Online offers advantages for you as a service provider as well as for your customers:

With AusweisIDent Online, customer identification is completed within minutes, without the need to go to the nearest post office or make a video call. This has several advantages for you as a service provider:

- You receive immediate feedback on the success of the identification and therefore the requested data required to use your service
- You ensure high data quality, as the data in the ID card matches that of the population registers
- You save on personnel costs compared to other identification procedures, as the identification process is 100% digital
- You can be sure that your customers are identified in a legally compliant manner, as AusweisIDent Online has the highest level of security
- You offer your customers a seamless and innovative customer experience

With AusweisIDent Online, you can offer your customers

1. a seamless customer journey that saves time compared to other identification methods
2. identification that is even possible from the sofa
3. a secure identification process that is certified by the BSI and saves data in accordance with the GDPR

When the AusweisIDent service is started, the AusweisApp is launched. This must be pre-installed on the user's smartphone or PC or integrated into your application. The AusweisApp is not part of the AusweisIDent service, but is a solution developed and certified on behalf of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community (BMI) for using the online ID function of the ID card or the electronic residence permit. The AusweisApp guides your customer through the identification process and all the necessary steps.

With full integration of the AusweisApp as a mobile SDK in your app, your customer is not redirected to the AusweisApp , but instead goes through all the necessary steps in the environment of your application.

In addition to AusweisIDent Online, Governikus also offers the option of connecting to the eID service as a service provider or identification service provider.

Service providers are defined as companies that offer their customers the use of the online ID card in connection with business matters. Identification service providers are companies that provide an individual identification service for a third party using the online ID function.

If you want to become a service provider or identification service provider within the meaning of the ID Card Act, you will need an authorization certificate. This makes the onboarding process more extensive.

AusweisIDent Online is of interest to you if you:

Offer a service for which you would like to identify your own customers or are legally obliged to do so, and if you would like to handle the identification process digitally. This is usually a good idea when starting a new business relationship with a customer, for example when registering the customer for your service.

For secure online identification with AusweisIDent Online, your customer needs

- NFC-enabled smartphone or card reader for the ID card

- ID card with activated online ID function and knowledge of the PIN, OR an electronic residence permit, OR a Union citizen card

- AusweisApp on the PC or smartphone (if this is not integrated into your app)

The identification of your customer must comply with the legal requirements set out in Section 18 of the German ID Card Act (PAuswG). The ID card holder must be at least 16 years old and measures must be taken to ensure data protection and data security by the reading service. In particular, the confidentiality and integrity of the data must be guaranteed.

The service provider (in this case AusweisIDent Online) must also have an authorization certificate and transmit this to the ID card holder before they enter their secret PIN. The authorization certificate restricts the data categories to be read.