Smart Card Certification

Chip cards that are used as a secure means of creating a qualified electronic signature (QESCD) differ from other solutions in that they are subject to certification by special laboratories.

This certification is always time-limited in view of the development of cryptographic algorithms and, in general, of PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) technology as such.

I.CA provides its clients with smart cards from the manufacturer Giesecke&Devrient, Starcos development series:

• Starcos 3.5 - certification valid until 31.12.2023
• Starcos 3.7 - certification valid until 31.12.2027

If you use the above smart cards, they can only be used to create a qualified electronic signature until or from the date indicated above.

It is the obligation of the trust service provider to issue a qualified certificate with a secure means designation only if the validity of the certification of the relevant means is longer than the expected validity of the certificate to be issued.

For this reason, I.CA has discontinued issuing qualified certificates for the Starcos 3.5 smart card on 31.12.2022. Instructions for issuing a subsequent certificate from the Starcos 3.5 smart card to the new Starcos 3.7 smart card can be found here...

Previously provided Starcos 3.0 smart cards whose certification was valid until 7.8.2021 can still be used but without the secure device designation. Therefore, they cannot be used to create a qualified electronic signature.