AusweisApp Bund

Rating: 3.2	Downloads: 5,000,000+
Category: Libraries & Demo	Offer by: Governikus GmbH & Co. KG

The AusweisApp Bund is Germany’s official mobile identity app, allowing users to securely prove their identity, sign documents electronically, and obtain transaction codes (TANs) on their smartphone for various official and private online services. It’s primarily designed for German citizens who hold a valid electronic identity card (eID) or identity card and require secure digital authentication for state services, banking, and other trusted online interactions.

This digital tool significantly simplifies and enhances the security of accessing government services, managing finances online, and performing other official procedures from your mobile device. The AusweisApp Bund provides a convenient, contactless alternative to physical documents, ensuring that sensitive actions are protected by strong identity verification using the user’s own identity document.

App Features

• Official Identity Verification: This core feature lets you confirm your identity electronically by scanning your physical identity card with the smartphone’s camera, entering your PIN and TAN password, and approving access requests. This benefit saves time and eliminates the need for physical presence at government offices for many identity checks.
• Digital Signatures: The app enables you to sign PDF documents and form fields in online services securely, binding the signature legally to the document using your identity data. This function streamlines processes like submitting forms online or signing contracts remotely, offering a secure and efficient digital alternative to handwritten signatures.
• Secure Transaction Codes (TANs): You can generate time-sensitive TANs (Transaction Authentication Numbers) directly on your phone using the card reader integrated into the identity card. This feature adds a crucial second factor for authorizing online banking transactions, changing passwords, or other sensitive actions, significantly boosting security without needing separate hardware.
• Simplified Access to Bund Services: The app integrates access to a wide range of services offered by federal authorities (Bund). Depending on the specific service, you might use just identity verification, digital signatures, or TAN generation provided by the AusweisApp Bund, making federal administration tasks more accessible and user-friendly via a single mobile application.
• User-Friendly Design & Data Protection: The interface is designed to guide users securely through the verification and signing process, minimizing errors. It prioritizes data protection by only transmitting necessary identity information securely encrypted and giving users clear control over their data, ensuring compliance with German data privacy laws (like the BDSG). This enhances trust and privacy for everyday digital interactions.
• Offline Functionality for Basic Tasks: For identity verification (using the card), the AusweisApp Bund primarily requires an initial online registration and updates, but the actual process can often be completed offline or with limited connectivity, making it usable even without constant mobile network access, provided the identity card is present and the necessary security keys are available.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Incredible Security — Leverages the secure elements in the physical ID card and advanced cryptographic methods for highly protected identity verification and signatures.
• High Convenience — Accesses official services anytime, anywhere directly from your smartphone, eliminating the need for frequent visits to physical offices.
• Time-Saving — Speeds up procedures like digital signatures and TAN generation compared to traditional methods, streamlining online interactions.
• Strong Data Protection — Built with Germany’s strict data privacy regulations in mind, prioritizing user data security and confidentiality throughout transactions.
• Single App for Multiple Uses — Consolidates identity verification, electronic signing, and TAN generation into one easy-to-use mobile application.

Cons:

• Requires Specific Hardware — You absolutely need a valid German electronic ID card or identity card, a compatible smartphone (usually NFC/SE required for verification), and specific SIM card keys (which need to be ordered and inserted).
• Initial Setup Can Be Complex — Obtaining the security keys and the initial registration process can be cumbersome for some users and requires careful attention to detail.
• Not Universally Accepted — Not all private services or websites support the AusweisApp Bund; it’s primarily focused on official (public and private sector) and banking use cases.
• Device Dependency — Access to your digital identity is tied to your smartphone; if it’s lost or damaged, you need a replacement device and card, plus reconfiguration.

Similar Apps

App Name	Highlights
EHerkenning (NL)	This Dutch app serves a similar purpose, allowing citizens to use their e-ID card for identification, signing, and secure access to public and private online services within the Netherlands.
Online Banking Apps	While not identity apps themselves, many German online banking services (like those from banks) integrate directly with the AusweisApp Bund to securely generate TANs for authorizing payments and transactions.
German Federal Tax Office App (Bundesanzeige, etc.)	These government apps often integrate the AusweisApp Bund’s identity verification process as a mandatory step for accessing secure parts of their services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What exactly can I do with the AusweisApp Bund?
A: You can use the AusweisApp Bund to securely prove your identity online (like logging into government portals), create electronic signatures for documents, and obtain Transaction Authentication Numbers (TANs) for authorizing financial transactions or other secure online actions.

Q: Do I need a specific type of smartphone and SIM card for the AusweisApp Bund?
A: Yes, you typically need a smartphone with Near Field Communication (NFC) and a Secure Element (SE) to read your electronic ID card. Additionally, you must obtain specific SIM card keys (from your mobile provider) that are required for the app’s security features; these keys cannot be obtained without an active mobile contract.

Q: What happens to my data when I use the AusweisApp Bund?
A: Your identity data remains on your secure identity card within the app. The AusweisApp Bund itself does not store your personal details. When you perform actions like logging in or signing, it securely transmits the necessary, one-off identity verification data directly to the service provider for authentication. Data protection is a key design principle.

Q: Is the AusweisApp Bund free to use?
A: The basic version of the AusweisApp Bund software is free. However, obtaining the mandatory security SIM card keys usually involves a standard mobile subscription or a specific key package from your mobile provider, which has associated costs.

Q: Can I use the AusweisApp Bund without an internet connection?
A: For identity verification using your ID card and generating TANs with the card, you typically need an initial network connection to retrieve necessary updates and security elements from the card’s issuer. However, the actual verification and signing process after setup can sometimes be performed without an ongoing network connection, though the card reader function requires the SIM key.

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