If you use an electronic signature in Slovakia, check your documents. The Ministry of the Interior warns that some ID cards and residence permits for foreigners have certificates that are expiring. This concerns documents with a CardOS v5.4 chip, issued between June 21, 2021, and November 30, 2022.
What happened and who does it concern?
From September 28, 2026, certificates on this type of chip will stop working. This means that to use a qualified electronic signature (KEP) (qualified electronic signature (KEP) is a digital signature with the same legal power as a handwritten one), you will need to get a new document.
Important: This change concerns holders of ID cards and residence permits issued between June 2021 and November 2022 who actively use KEP.
What is the difference between KEP and other authorization methods?
KEP (qualified electronic signature (KEP)) is needed for documents that require a notarized signature on paper. Essentially, it is your digital equivalent of a handwritten signature.
Do not confuse it with the recognized authorization method (advanced electronic signature), introduced for older documents. It cannot be used to sign papers that require official certification. Unlike it, KEP is used also outside government online services (eGovernment).
What to do next?
If your document needs replacement and you want to continue using KEP, you must apply for its exchange.
For Slovak citizens: contact any document department of the Police Corps (Policajný zbor).
For foreigners: contact the relevant department of the foreigners' police (cudzinecká polícia), booking your visit in advance.
As a temporary solution, from August 27, 2026, these documents can have a certificate installed for the recognized authorization method (but not a full KEP). A new version of the eID client program is already available to download such a certificate.
