DigiD transcending borders: Frontier workers now able to apply for DigiD

DigiD is known as the quick and easy identification system for use of government websites. Sadly, in the past frontier workers seemed to be excluded from this service. Until now, that is. The government has recently granted frontier workers the possibility to apply for a DigiD. Expertise centre ITEM reports how this decision came about and what it means.

Secure use of websites from the government, educational institutes, healthcare institutions or pension funds. This is made possible by DigiD. Previously however, when frontier workers wished to use the service to submit their tax returns, for example, they encountered insuperable difficulties. This was the case for numerous frontier workers, on the grounds that DigiD was only available for Dutch nationals or residents of the Netherlands.

For years, expertise centre ITEM has been advocating to provide DigiD to frontier workers. This led ITEM to initiate a test case involving a Belgian frontier worker in order to obtain a DigiD in 2017. Although legal proceedings initiated by ITEM, seemed unsuccesful at first, the Council of State eventually ruled in favour of frontier workers.

Read the full news item here.