Starting 11 August 2025, Kazakhstan is introducing changes to the procedure for obtaining an Electronic Digital Signature (EDS). The Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry (MDDIAI) is transitioning the service to a fully online format. This measure aims to enhance the protection of personal data and safeguard citizens’ digital identities by eliminating the possibility of third parties obtaining an EDS.

Previously, EDS keys could be obtained either online or by visiting Public Service Centres (PSCs). The procedure has now been moved entirely online.

How to obtain an EDS online:

1. Visit the portal egov.kz or pki.gov.kz.

2. Submit an online application.

3. Complete biometric identification — the system will recognise your face through the camera.

If the identity verification is successful, the EDS key is issued online immediately, without the need for PSC staff involvement.

If the system is unable to verify identity — for instance, due to the absence of a photograph in the database or a technical error — the user may attempt the process again. The system allows up to five biometric verification attempts. Only after these attempts are exhausted is it possible to apply for an EDS at a PSC and undergo identity verification by a PSC operator, with the required set of documents.

It is important to note that applying a PSC operator without completing biometric verification is not possible. The operator checks the applicant’s Individual Identification Number (IIN) and, if there have not been five unsuccessful biometric attempts, will be unable to provide the service. Access to PSC submission is granted automatically only after all online attempts have been used.

For citizens without internet access or a computer, biometric verification can be completed at self-service zones within PSCs. If identity verification is successful on-site, the EDS keys are issued online without operator involvement.

Statistical data support the shift toward a predominantly remote format. Since the beginning of 2025, more than 14.9 million EDS keys have been issued in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Of these, 92.25% were issued through remote identification and only 7.75% through PSCs. These figures demonstrate the high demand for the online service and the steady trend toward the digitalisation of public services.

This innovation is aimed at enhancing information security. An EDS is legally equivalent to a handwritten signature and carries full legal force; therefore, access to EDS keys must be strictly limited to their owners. The use of biometric verification ensures reliable identity confirmation and prevents unauthorised issuance of EDS keys.