If you have, or someone else has, entered the PIN code incorrectly three times in a row, it will be blocked for security reasons.
NB! For ID-cards issued after 17. November 2025, the PIN2 code must be changed in DigiDoc4 application before the first digital signature can be made.
Don't worry:
- If you still have a PUK code, you can quickly and conveniently unblock your PIN.
- If you've forgotten your PUK code and the PINs are locked, you can request a new code envelope with PIN and PUK codes from PPA service office.
- NB! PUK codes for the ID-cards issued from 17. November 2025 can be viewed from Police and Border Guard self-service, selecting service “View ID-card PUK”. It’s not possible to change PUK code for those ID-cards. You can request a PUK envelope containing your forgotten PUK code at the Police and Border Guard Board's service office. The PUK code envelope will only be sent to an address in Estonia and is subject to a state fee.
- The ID-card is valid as an identity document, for example as a travel document, even if its PIN codes are blocked. A locked PIN code only affects the electronic use of the card.
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Step 1: insert the ID-card into the card reader and open the DigiDoc4 application
The DigiDoc4 icon should be visible in the computer programs list. For users of the following operating systems, the DigiDoc4 application can be found as follows:
- A Windows user can also find it by following the path "Start → All Programs → ID card → DigiDoc4".
- A MacOS user can also find it by following the path "Finder → Go → Applications → DigiDoc4".
- An Ubuntu user can also find it by following the path "Applications menu (by clicking the nine dots at the bottom left of the screen) → DigiDoc4".
Step 2: open ‘My eID’ from the DigiDoc4 menu
Check that DigiDoc4 shows your personal data and open the option ‘My eID’ from the left menu. Here you can see which certificate’s PIN code is blocked.
Step 3: unblock
In order to unblock PIN codes, press the button ‘UNBLOCK’. A window with a PIN code unblocking option will be displayed on your screen, where you must enter a valid PUK code and then the chosen PIN code twice.
Unblocking PIN1 (person identification) and PIN2 (signing) works the same way, but you should remember that:
- PIN1 code must contain 4-12 digits;
- PIN2 code must contain 5-12 digits.
The new code must be different from the previous PIN code, include only numbers and not match (neither partially or fully) your personal identification code.
Fill in the columns and press the button ‘UNBLOCK’. If they PUK code was entered correctly and the new PIN codes complied with the requirements and matched each other, you can see the notice on your screen that the PIN code is unblocked.
What if the PUK code is locked?
If you entered the PUK code incorrectly three times in a row, this will be locked too. In order to continue using your ID-card electronically, you must apply a code envelope with new PIN and PUK codes from the Police and Border Guard Board or at the foreign representation of the Republic of Estonia.
NB! PUK codes for the ID-cards issued from 17. November 2025 can be viewed from Police and Border Guard self-service, selecting service “View ID-card PUK”. It’s not possible to change PUK code for those ID-cards. You can request a PUK envelope containing your forgotten PUK code at the Police and Border Guard Board's service office. The PUK code envelope will only be sent to an address in Estonia and is subject to a state fee. It is not possible to cancel the PUK code block on ID-cards issued from 17.11.2025, if that's the case, a new document must be requested. -
If a PIN code is entered incorrectly three times in a row, it is blocked for your own protection: without your PIN codes it is not possible to access your personal data, bank accounts or e-services, nor sign contracts, confirm transactions, etc.
It is true that PIN codes tend to be blocked at the most inconvenient times. This is usually because the card owner is in a hurry or distracted when entering a PIN code, e.g. you accidentally entered you bank account PIN code instead of your ID-card PIN code. It is totally understandable that due to the locked PIN codes you are unable to finish the activity you were doing before and this may cause you much inconvenience. You should, however, remember that locking PIN codes is necessary if your card is stolen or has fallen to the hands of a malicious person in another way. In order to avoid a situation where someone else poses a threat to your personal data by trying different PIN codes, after three wrong entries the PIN code is blocked and the perpetrator doesn’t have any other options for putting you at risk.
The right card owner was issued the PUK code with PIN codes, which enable you to unlock the blocked PINs. The thief cannot do this.
PUK codes for the ID-cards issued from 17. November 2025 can be viewed from Police and Border Guard self-service, selecting service “View ID-card PUK”. It’s not possible to change PUK code for those ID-cards. You can request a PUK envelope containing your forgotten PUK code at the Police and Border Guard Board's service centers. The PUK code envelope will only be sent to an address in Estonia and is subject to a state fee. If the PUK code is blocked, you must apply for a new document.
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Step 1: open the RIA DigiDoc application on your phone
Insert your ID-card in to the card reader and select ‘My eID’. Wait until your data has been retrieved by the RIA DigiDoc app and open ‘PIN codes and certificates’.
Step 2: select the PIN you are about to change
Select the PIN you want to change. If PIN1 and PIN2 codes are locked or you have forgotten them, you must change both of them separately.
Step 3: select the PIN code changing or unblocking option
If you remember your current PIN, click on ‘Change PIN1’ or ‘Change PIN2’. If your PIN codes have been blocked and you wish to create new ones using your PUK code, click on the ‘Forgot PIN1?’ or ‘Forgot PIN2?’ link below the button.
Step 4: create new PINs
If you remember your current PINs, you can change them using the ‘Change PIN’ button’; you need to enter both the current PIN and the new PIN. Once you have entered the new PIN, click on the ‘Change’ button.
If you do not remember your current PINs or if they are blocked, you need to enter your valid PUK code and then your new PIN. Once you have entered the new PIN, click on the ‘Unblock’ button.
Follow the instructions on the phone screen and everything will go smoothly.
NB! Upon selecting PIN codes, remember that:
- They must not include your personal identification code or parts thereof, they must only consist of numbers and differ from previous PINs.
- PIN1 must consist of 4-12 numbers.
- PIN2 must consist of 5-12 numbers.
- Choose PINs that are easy for you to remember, but difficult for others to guess.
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Step 1: open the RIA DigiDoc application on your phone
In the main menu, select the view "My eID". Next, you need to identify yourself either via "ID-card via NFC" or "ID card via USB".
ID-card via NFC
Enter the 6-digit CAN number of your ID card and press the "Identify" button. After successfully retrieving data from the ID card, you will be automatically redirected to the "My eID" view.
ID-card via a USB
Connect a supported ID card reader to the device and insert the ID card into the reader. After successfully retrieving data from the ID card, you will be automatically redirected to the "My eID" view.
Step 2: select the PIN you are about to change
From the "My eID" view, select "PIN`s and certificates". Choose the PIN code you want to change. If both PIN1 and PIN2 codes are locked or forgotten, you will need to change each of them separately.
Step 3: select the PIN code changing or unblocking option
If you remember your current PIN code, click the "Change PIN1" or "Change PIN2" button. If the PIN codes are locked (blocked) and you want to reset them using the PUK code, select "Forgot PIN1?" or "Forgot PIN2?"
Step 4: create new PINs
If you remember your current PIN codes, you can change them using the “Change PIN code” button: you will need to enter both the valid current PIN code and the new PIN code. After entering the new PIN code, click the “Continue” button and follow the on-screen instructions.
If you don’t remember your current PIN codes or they are blocked, you need to enter a valid PUK code and then a new chosen PIN code. After entering the new PIN code, click the “Unlock PIN1 or PIN2” button. Follow the instructions on the phone screen, and everything will go smoothly!
NB! When choosing PIN codes, keep in mind that:
- They must not contain your personal identification code or any part of it, must consist of numbers only, and must be different from your previous PIN codes.
- PIN1 must be 4 to 12 digits long.
- PIN2 must be 5 to 12 digits long.
- Choose PIN codes that are easy for you to remember or recall, but difficult for others to guess!
