Activating the mobile phone signature ("Handy-Signatur")

The mobile phone signature ("Handy-Signatur") is your personal signature which you can use to identify yourself clearly on the internet. It allows you to sign documents and accounts legally. It is equivalent to a handwritten signature and is therefore your digital passport on the internet.

Apply for a mobile phone signature now – your legal electronic signature.

Caution

ID Austria will replace the mobile phone signature on 5 December 2023.

Information on the changeover from mobile phone signature to ID Austria

A summary of the benefits

  • Your digital passport on the internet;
  • A convenient legal signature for electronic documents;
  • Complete formalities online and use commercial electronic services;
  • Extremely secure and free to use.

Requirements

  • A mobile phone that must be able to receive SMS messages (it does not have to be a smartphone);
  • which has usually an Austrian or German SIM card (exceptions are possible if necessary);
  • which can be a pay-as-you-go phone.

Advice

The prerequisite for activating the mobile phone signature is to have an entry in the central civil register [Zentrales Melderegister] or an entry in the supplementary register for natural personsGerman text.

How to obtain your mobile phone signature

Registration authority

You can activate it in person at a registration authority or tax office anywhere in Austria.

Requirements:

  • An official photo ID card;
  • Second document proving your identity:
    • additional official photo ID or
    • e-card, ATM card, credit card, student ID, professional ID, Wiener Linien annual pass or ÖBB Klimaticket or
    • other comparably trustworthy documents
  • Time needed: a few minutes, although you must book an appointment

There is a list of registration authorities (→ A-Trust)German text.

Translated by the European Commission
Last update: 17 November 2023

Responsible for the content: Federal Ministry of Finance