Get A Handy Signature In Austria: The Easy Guide

In Austria, a Handy-Signatur is a secure signing protocol that allows you to access official documents and services like the Green Pass, which shows proof of vaccination for COVID-19. To activate your Handy-Signature, you must first register for a post.at account and then visit a post office to finalise the identification process. After that, you can activate your Handy-Signature online. Alternatively, you can register for an ID Austria account, which is a modern and secure way to identify yourself digitally. This can be done through the Digitales Amt (Digital Office) app and by visiting a government office.

Registering for a Handy-Signatur account

One recommended method is to register via post.at. First, register for a post.at account and get it activated. Then, visit a post office to finalise the identification process. After that, you can activate your Handy-Signatur online via post.at. Once activated, you will have easy access to your Green Pass and other official services like social insurance and finanzonline.

Another option is to register through FinanzOnline. However, some users have reported that this method can be time-consuming, as you have to wait to receive a letter with a PIN code to activate your Handy-Signatur.

If you are based in or near a large city, you can also activate your Handy-Signatur at an A1 shop. Additionally, if you are an international visitor, it may be possible to register at certain embassies and consulates.

As of November 2022, it is no longer possible to activate your Handy-Signatur via the postal service. Instead, ID Austria is now available as an alternative. ID Austria is a development of the mobile phone signature and citizen card. It allows you to prove your identity and access digital services and conduct business online. To register for an ID Austria account, you can switch online from your mobile phone signature or register in person at a government office.

Finalising the identification process

To finalise the identification process, you will need to visit a government office in person. This can be done at a Magistrat in Vienna, or at an Austrian embassy or consulate if you are abroad. It is recommended to make an appointment in advance due to current circumstances. When visiting the office, ensure you bring the official ID you used to pre-register, your smartphone, and, if necessary, a passport photograph.

During the appointment, you will be asked to show the TAN (Transaction Authentication Number) on your smartphone to the official assisting you. You will then be prompted to enter your signature password into the Digital Office app and sign the signature request.

After completing these steps, your Handy Signature registration will be finalised, and you will be able to access your Green Pass, social insurance information, and other official services.

Additionally, it is worth noting that ID Austria, a development of the mobile phone signature and citizen card, is now available as an alternative to the Handy Signature. ID Austria allows you to prove your identity digitally and access digital services in Austria.

Using Handy-Signatur for COVID-19 Green Pass

The Handy-Signatur is a secure signing protocol that allows Austrians to access official documents and officials. It is connected to one's mobile phone number and enables legal signatures on official documents without printing them out. The primary reason for getting a Handy-Signatur is to use the Green Pass, which is Austria's COVID-19 health pass.

To obtain the Handy-Signatur, one can register at FinanzOnline by selecting 'Bürgerkarte/Handy-Signatur aktivieren' from the menu. However, this option may not be possible for those without Austrian or German phone numbers. An alternative method is to register at post.at, get a post account activated, and then finalise the identification process at a post office. After this, the Handy-Signatur can be activated online via post.at.

Once the Handy-Signatur is activated, users can access the Green Pass and other official services. The Green Pass is similar to the EU-wide digital scheme and allows access to places like bars and restaurants for those who are tested, vaccinated, or recovered. The pass can be obtained by visiting www.gesundheit.gv.at once fully vaccinated, tested negative, or with evidence of recovery from COVID-19.

In Vienna, the Homecare app can be used instead of the Green Pass to show proof of testing, vaccination, or recovery. The app can be accessed with a 12-digit pin, and users can call up their vaccination certificate using a link from an SMS and their pin.

Integrating Handy-Signatur with other platforms

Understanding Handy-Signatur

Handy-Signatur is a secure signing protocol used in Austria to access official documents and services. It is especially important for accessing the Green Pass, which provides proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Due to its widespread use and importance, integrating Handy-Signatur with other platforms can be beneficial for organisations and individuals.

Integration Options

There are a few options for integrating Handy-Signatur with your website or platform. One option is to use the Handy-Signatur app, which is a mobile app with a simple user interface that enables users to issue Qualified Electronic Signatures. This option may be particularly useful if you have many users in Austria or German-speaking countries.

Another option is to integrate with existing platforms that already support Handy-Signatur, such as iManage, Nextcloud, and Sharepoint. This can be a simpler and more cost-effective approach, as these platforms have already done the complex work of integrating Handy-Signatur.

Technical Considerations

Integrating Handy-Signatur requires compliance with certain technical standards and regulations. For example, the A-Trust web pages have specific requirements for entering information, and local applications must use a local web browser or browser control to display the A-Trust page. Additionally, there is an API layer called the "Citizen Card Environment Security layer" that facilitates the integration process.

Cost Considerations

Integrating Handy-Signatur can be costly. Estimates range from 10,000 to 20,000 EUR for the project. However, using a platform like eID Easy can simplify the process and potentially reduce costs. They have already implemented the necessary integrations and purchased the required number of yearly qualified electronic signatures.

Final Thoughts

Using ID Austria as an alternative

The Handy-Signatur is a secure signing protocol for accessing official documents and officials in Austria. It is also used to access the Green Pass to show proof of vaccination for COVID-19.

ID Austria is the further development of the Handy-Signatur and Bürgerkarte (citizen card). It can be used as an alternative to the Handy-Signatur to prove your identity to digital applications and services. The functionality remains the same in many respects: you can continue to register with all services that offer registration with a cell phone signature and sign documents electronically with a qualified signature.

To migrate to ID Austria with full functionality, you need an officially registered Handy-Signatur, your cell phone number and the signature password, as well as a valid Austrian ID card or passport. You also need the latest version of the "Digitales Amt" app and a smartphone with an activated fingerprint function or facial/iris recognition.

There are two levels of ID Austria: Basic Function and Full Function. The basic function can be obtained at any time via an online process. The login data and the validity period of the cell phone signature must be transferred. It is important to note that the conversion to ID Austria must be completed before the validity of the Handy-Signatur expires, otherwise, a new registration is necessary.

The full function of ID Austria also opens up new application possibilities, such as the ID card function on the smartphone. Signatures using SMS-TAN are not supported in the full ID Austria function. For security reasons, an official identity verification is required for the registration of the ID Austria with full function.

Frequently asked questions