Latvia's eID Card Changes Affect 346,000 Holders: What They Need to Know
Approximately 346,000 eID cardholders in Latvia will experience changes in the use of electronic signatures after December 9, 2026. The affected cards are equipped with the Cosmo 8.1 microchip, which will no longer support qualified electronic signatures due to certification requirements. The Latvian State Radio and Television Centre (LVRTC) is preparing a new system for remote qualified electronic signatures, which will be automatically available to affected cardholders without the need for a new eID card. The eID cards will remain valid for identification and travel purposes, and the changes will only impact the technology used for electronic signatures. 
