eID success creates demand for more government funding

More than half of the adult Norwegian population has acquired the eID called "MinID", and the number of users and the extent of on-loggings are still rising.
- MinID has developed into a formidable success; the use has doubled over the last year. This is why the government proposes an extra allocation of NOK 13 million, minister of government administration and reform, Ms Rigmor Aasrud, says.

A steadily growing number of citizens are making use of electronic communication with public authorities.

- MinID is so successful because the solutions are very user friendly. The citizens should have a digital first choice in their contact with public authorities, necessitating electronic ID. When everything may be done through the web, public institutions save money, and for the citizens things will be faster and easier, the reform minister says. 

By employing one’s personal identity number (equivalent to social security number in some countries), a personal password and a one-time number code received through SMS, several services become available for the users. These include delivering tax reports, changing family doctor, delivering report cards for welfare grants, applying for college and student loans and grants, getting access to pension information and a number of other public services.

The number of public institutions using MinID is steadily growing. The proposed extra appropriation of NOK 13 million in the revised national budget, is necessary in order to handle the increased influx from citizens and public agencies wanting to make use of this solution. 2 150 000 of the Norwegian population over the age of 15 are now using MinID.