Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Poland | Belgium |
|---|---|---|
| app Name | mObywatel 3.0 | MyGov.be |
| auth Method | mDowód | eID or itsme |
| launch Status | Pilot, v2.0 live | Live since May 2024 |
| active Users | 20M+ mObywatel users | 7M+ itsme users |
| leadership | Ministry of Digital Affairs | Belgian government + itsme partnership |
| heritage | mDowód proven tech since 2019 | eID card since 2003, itsme since 2017 |
Winner by Category
availability
🏆 Belgium (MyGov.be)
userBase
🏆 Poland (mObywatel 3.0)
firstMover
🏆 Belgium (MyGov.be)
documents
🏆 Poland (mObywatel 3.0)
Architecture and Technical Approach
Poland and Belgium present an interesting contrast between a purely government-led approach and a public-private partnership model, both achieving impressive citizen adoption. Poland's mObywatel is developed by Centralny Ośrodek Informatyki under the Ministry of Digital Affairs, with all infrastructure under government control. The app is document-centric, making the digital ID (mDowód) legally equivalent to the physical card for identity verification.
Belgium's MyGov.be wallet integrates with itsme, jointly developed by banks (BNP Paribas Fortis, KBC, ING, Belfius) and telecom operators (Proximus, Orange, Telenet). This public-private model gives the Belgian wallet dual utility across government and commercial services. The Belgian eID card, introduced in 2003, provides an additional hardware-backed authentication path alongside the itsme mobile app.
Poland keeps full government control over the identity stack; Belgium delegates authentication and user experience to a trusted private-sector consortium. Both approaches successfully drive adoption but through different governance mechanisms. The EUDI upgrade requires both to add verifiable credential capabilities while preserving their successful user experiences.
Security Models Compared
Poland's security model is government-centralized, with device-level protections, server-side verification against government databases, and QR/NFC-based in-person verification for the mDowód digital ID. All data flows through government-operated infrastructure, providing clear accountability and audit trails. The mObywatel 3.0 upgrade adds EU Trust Framework integration and enhanced cryptographic attestation.
Belgium's security combines government eID card PKI capabilities (since 2003) with itsme's private-sector security infrastructure including SIM-based security elements, biometric verification, and banking-grade fraud prevention. The dual-path model (eID card or itsme) provides security redundancy and user choice.
Both must meet eIDAS 2.0 Level of Assurance High. Belgium achieves this through its established eID card hardware; Poland is implementing additional hardware security measures as part of the v3.0 upgrade. Belgium's longer hardware eID history (since 2003) gives it a deeper security certification heritage.
User Experience and Adoption
Both countries are adoption success stories, but through different strategies. Poland achieved 20M+ users by solving the practical problem of carrying physical documents, making mDowód legally valid for police checks and everyday identification. Belgium achieved 7M+ users (60%+ of population) through private-sector integration that makes itsme useful for banking, insurance, telecom, and government in daily life.
Poland's document-first approach creates high daily engagement as citizens present their digital ID, driving license, and other documents regularly. Belgium's dual-use model (government + private sector) creates frequent touchpoints across diverse services. Both patterns successfully embed digital identity into citizens' daily routines.
Belgium's head start as a live EUDI Wallet since May 2024 provides operational maturity and real-world user feedback. Poland's active pilot benefits from the established mObywatel user base, allowing rapid testing with millions of existing users.
Cross-Border Interoperability
Cross-border interoperability between Poland and Belgium is important given the significant Polish community in Belgium, particularly in the Brussels area and Flemish regions. Polish workers in Belgium and Belgian businesses with Polish partners need smooth credential recognition. Under eIDAS 2.0, both wallets must accept credentials from the other country.
The standardized credential formats ensure that document-centric Polish credentials and public-private Belgian credentials are equally valid at the verification layer. Both countries participate in EU Large Scale Pilots, with Belgium's EU institutional hub status making it a critical testing ground for cross-border scenarios.
For the Polish diaspora in Belgium, EUDI Wallet interoperability will eliminate many bureaucratic friction points in employment, housing, healthcare, and government service access.
Which Should You Choose?
Use the wallet provided by your country of residence. Polish residents use mObywatel 3.0; Belgian residents use MyGov.be with itsme. Both provide full EU-wide interoperability under eIDAS 2.0.
Poland demonstrates the success of a government-led, document-centric approach with 20M+ users. Belgium demonstrates the success of a public-private partnership model with exceptional per-capita adoption. Both offer valuable lessons for other EU member states on how to drive mass citizen adoption of digital identity wallets.