Dombrava seeks to end mandatory eID cards in Latvia

Latvian Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava has proposed ending the requirement for citizens and non-citizens aged 15 and over to obtain an electronic identity card, LSM reports.

His proposals to amendments under consideration in the Saeima, Latvia’s parliament, would make either an identity card or a passport a required identity document, allowing people to choose which one to use. The proposals would remove provisions that currently make identity cards compulsory.

The Interior Ministry says electronic identification options have expanded since eID cards became mandatory. People also use the state-provided eParaksts mobile service and the private-sector Smart-ID solution, while the European Union plans to introduce a digital identity wallet. The ministry argues that an eID card is no longer the only way to access electronic services.

The proposals also cite complaints received by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs from people who must pay a state fee for an eID card when they use a passport for travel and eParaksts mobile for online authentication. Ministry figures show that in 2025 eParaksts mobile was used for 30 million electronic identifications, compared with 4.3 million using eID cards.

The ministry says ending the eID requirement could reduce administrative burdens and the risk of mass document replacement if technological changes make it necessary. It argues that people should still be required to hold a valid identity document, but should be able to choose its type.