Merz government plans new obligation – for 84 million citizens
Germany’s Merz-Regierung (Merz government) is planning a major digital reform that could impact all 84 million residents in the country.
The federal government under Bundeskanzler (Federal Chancellor) Friedrich Merz aims to significantly speed up the digital transformation of public administration. At the center of this plan is the Bürgerkonto (citizen account), a digital account that would allow citizens to access government services online through a single platform.
Unlike a bank account, the Bürgerkonto is designed as a secure digital identity for dealing with authorities. Citizens would use it to verify their identity, submit applications, and receive official documents digitally, reducing the need for in-person visits to government offices. Germany already has BundID, a central user account for digital public services, which is expected to serve as the foundation for the future system.
According to the coalition agreement between CDU, CSU, and SPD, every citizen is expected to receive a mandatory Bürgerkonto and digital identity. However, the legal details are still unclear. Current rules under the Onlinezugangsgesetz (OZG) – Online Access Act make digital user accounts voluntary, meaning a full legal obligation has not yet been established.
One major challenge is ensuring that people without smartphones, internet access, or sufficient digital knowledge are not excluded. The coalition agreement addresses this by promising local assistance for anyone who cannot or does not want to use digital services. This means traditional support channels will remain available.
At the same time, the government is also working on the EUDI-Wallet (European Digital Identity Wallet), a digital wallet that would allow citizens to store identification and official documents on their smartphones. The BundID system is expected to be integrated with this wallet in the future, potentially making the Bürgerkonto the main gateway for all digital interactions with German authorities. While the government has confirmed plans for mandatory digital identity, it remains unclear when the rule will take effect and what exceptions may apply.