Kazakhstan introduces digital signature alternative

Kazakhstan is currently introducing an alternative to replace the digital signature. Now every citizen of the country will be able to sign documents via QR code on the eGov.kz and the ‘Judicial Cabinet’ platforms. To do this, it is necessary to log on to the mobile application. According to the Kazakh Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry, the new option will significantly facilitate the process of receiving public electronic services.

“The Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry is currently working on the implementation of an alternative signing method, namely, QR Code Signatures. It is aimed at facilitating the process of receiving and signing electronic services, as well as various kinds of electronic application forms. First, it is necessary to log on to the eGov.kz mobile app in case you are a natural person, whereas for legal entities there is a special eGov Mobile Business platform. The benefits of signing the documents by scanning the QR code are that citizens no longer need to get a digital signature as it was before, store it on some removable media, such as flash drives, or install a special app like NCALayer,” Akmaral Makeyeva, Head of E-Government external project management, said.

Moreover, the country plans to expand the scope and use of the QR Code Signatures. The relevant Ministry is currently working with Otbasy Bank and the Unified Accumulative Pension Fund. In the future, it is also planned to introduce it on other platforms where a digital signature is required.