eID card

What it means

The eID card is the Slovak identity card with an electronic chip. Besides proving identity in the usual way, it is used to sign in to government portals such as Slovensko.sk or the Financial Administration and, once a certificate is loaded, to create a qualified electronic signature.

To use it, the holder needs the security personal code chosen when collecting the card, a card reader or a mobile app that supports the chip, and signing software. For signing, a qualified certificate with its own PIN is loaded onto the card.

A signature made with the eID card is, under the eIDAS regulation, equivalent to a handwritten signature throughout the EU. It lets people file with the commercial register or sign a contract or power of attorney without visiting an office or a notary.

How it works in practice

For company directors the eID card is practically essential. It gives access to the company’s electronic mailbox, is used to sign filings and register changes, and authorises tax returns on the eDane portal if the company files them itself.

If an accounting firm deals with the authorities for the company, the director usually does not need to use the card for every filing. The firm acts under a power of attorney with its own signature or a mandate certificate. The director still needs access, for instance to read decisions in the mailbox.

When a new director is appointed, we recommend checking straight away that they have a working eID card, know the security code and have a signing certificate loaded. Sorting it out on the day something urgent has to be filed is needlessly stressful.

What to watch out for

The most frequent problems are a forgotten security code, a PIN blocked after repeated wrong attempts and an expired certificate. Unblocking or a new certificate requires a visit to an office, so it is best to keep an eye on validity in advance.

Never hand the eID card or its codes to anyone else, not even the accountant. Whoever signs with someone else’s card acts in the owner’s name, and the owner bears responsibility. Representation is what a power of attorney or mandate certificate is for.