You are given a sealed code envelope containing the PIN and PUK codes of the digital identity document (e.g. an ID-card), which you need to use the card electronically.
Upon receipt of a new document (ID-card, Digi-ID, residence permit card) and codes for it, this document can be used immediately and does not need to be activated separately. Use this guide to use the document electronically.
If necessary – for example, in case you have permanently forgotten your PIN and PUK codes – you can apply for a new code envelope from a Police and Border Guard Board service point or at the foreign representation of the Republic of Estonia. Applicable code envelope re-issuance fees can be found on the Police and Border Guard Board website.
Make sure you change the PIN and PUK codes as soon as possible! Select new codes that you can remember without having to write them down but are difficult for others to guess.
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Show Hide The Police and Border Guard Board issues a sealed code envelope to you with an ID-card (and digital ID, residence permit card, e-Resident’s digital ID and other digital personal identification methods). There are three codes in the code envelope: PIN1, PIN2 and PUK.
As PIN and PUK codes must be kept secret from others, you should change them as soon as possible. Read more about how easy it is to change an ID-card’s PIN and PUK codes.
Upon issuing a new ID-card or other digital identity cards (e.g. digital ID, residence permit card, e-Resident’s digital ID), a new code envelope is issued to you with the new card. Don’t forget that PIN and PUK codes are connected to a specific card, not you, and you cannot use old codes with the new card!
If you have forgotten or lost your PIN codes, you have two options:
- if you still have the PUK code, you can set new PIN codes with DigiDoc4
- If your PUK code has also been lost, you should visit a Police and Border Guard Board service point or a foreign representation of the Republic of Estonia bringing your identity document with you and apply for a new code envelope. The applicable fees for the re-issuance of the code envelope can be found on the Police and Border Guard Board website.
