Digitalization Impressions in Estonia

VHO - If someone asks how long the divorce filing process takes in your country, Estonians can quickly reply: "Less than 1 minute." According to the Estonian Government's Director of Information, Lukas Ilves, it actually takes only 45 seconds.

According to Ilves, the divorce application is the final step in Estonia's digitized public administration system. This means that the small Baltic nation bordering Russia has become the first country in the world to fully digitize its public administration procedures.

A conference on e- government in Estonia. Photo: GOVINSINDER

The level of online service usage in the country is impressive, with around 60% of all divorce cases initiated through the government's e-divorce platform since its launch in December 2024. According to Ilves, everyone praises the convenience, simplicity, and security of digital services in the private sector. So why are government services different?

Mr. Ilves is the author of a recent collaborative study with Germany titled “The End of Bureaucracy.” The study highlights differences in digitalization policies and what Germany, arguably Europe’s leading modernity, could learn from Estonia. According to the study, approximately 62% of Germans currently use digital services in administrative activities, while Estonia has a usage rate of over 90%.

For example, 90% of Estonians use their national electronic identity card (e-ID) to access government services, compared to less than 10% of Germans. The reason is simple: Estonian software is more user-friendly and provides access to both public and private sector services, including retail banking. Ilves' research indicates that widespread adoption of digital administrative services also saves taxpayers money. For instance, the per capita administrative cost of tax collection in Estonia is only one-sixth that of Germany.

Regarding residency registration, Estonian businessman of Russian origin Kirill Solovjov said he first used an electronic signature when he received his Estonian e-residence card in 2015. This card, issued by the Estonian government 11 years ago, allows global businesspeople remote access to Estonian administrative services. According to Solovjov, in Estonia, verification is easy simply by inserting the e-residence card. Another new service he likes is the digital prescription system. Solovjov explained that after a doctor prescribes medication, the prescription is automatically saved to the e-residence card and can be accessed from any pharmacy in Estonia, even from neighboring Finland.

To achieve its current success, since gaining independence in 1991, Estonia has brought the internet and computers to all classrooms and libraries through an educational program called "The Tiger Leap." In 2000, this nation of 1.4 million people took a major step in digitalization with the introduction of online tax filing and the legal recognition of electronic signatures, equivalent to handwritten signatures. By 2015, all major public services, including healthcare and social services, had been fully digitized.

According to KHANH MINH/Saigon Liberation Newspaper

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