Armenia says yes to ‘EsEm national identification platform

The Government of the Republic of Armenia is implementing a national identification gateway system, ‘EsEm’. According to sources within the digitalisation department of the Ministry of High Tech Industry, from 1 January 2024, access to online public service delivery systems in Armenia will be carried out exclusively through the EsEm national identification platform.  

“EsEm” loosely translates as “I am”. Allowing users to confirm ‘yes, that’s me’ when using digital services, the EsEm platform will be hosted under the domain name yesem.am or yesem.e-gov.am. 

Along with progress in information technology, new software solutions are developed and distributed with the aim of developing the digital environment, scaling up digital tools and solutions, digitalising services and increasing their usability. The implementation of such solutions contributes to the development of the digital economy and digital society, increasing the availability of electronic services and increasing their uptake by the population. 

The Republic of Armenia has started a process of biometric passport and electronic identification system (eID) reforms to ensure safe and reliable access to online services. 

The Information Systems Agency of Armenia (ISAA) has been set up to establish Armenia’s electronic identity concept and ensure it supports the country in many possible ways, including helping better protect the national infrastructure. 

The project to create the EsEm system will ensure that the national identification platform will necessarily be the entry point for the provision of state services. 

The EsEm national identification platform will provide access to strong digital identification technology solutions in Armenia, based on identification cards, mobile phones and smart devices, and built on the internationally accepted OpenID Connect identification protocol.

Further information 

Establishing an electronic identity system at the national level in Armenia will also considerably accelerate digital transformation of its financial system. This is expected to have a significant impact on the way Armenians experience financial services and products. The Central Bank of Armenia has worked with the government and private sector stakeholders to set the governance and technical requirements for the system.