German Digital Day 2026: Federal Employment Agency of Germany boosts digital security through modern authentication methods

On 26 June 2026, the nationwide German Digital Day will take place under the theme “Digital security: Understanding. Placement. Trust.". The aim of the action day is to raise awareness amongst members of the public and organisations about how they handle their personal data. The Federal Employment Agency of Germany is using tomorrow’s occasion to highlight the importance of robust security architectures and to provide information on the protective measures it has put in place nationwide via its online portal.

25.06.2026 | Press release no.21

Focus on the protection of sensitive social data

To ensure that data protection and the protection of personal identity are treated as a top priority, the Federal Employment Agency of Germany requires multi-factor authentication (MFA) on its online portal. This mandatory requirement has applied to all private individuals and businesses in the registered section of the online portal since April last year. “The ongoing digitalisation of our services offers enormous opportunities, but it will only succeed if people are at the heart of the process and feel completely secure”, explains Stefan Latuski, CIO of the Federal Employment Agency of Germany. “Our aim is to instil a tangible sense of confidence in citizens when it comes to dealing with public authorities online. With mandatory two-factor authentication, we effectively protect sensitive personal data and enable our customers to use our digital services securely."
The Federal Employment Agency of Germany offers a range of MFA options that are technologically equivalent, in order to meet the diverse needs of its customers.

The pillars of digital authentication in detail

The Secure app of the Federal Employment Agency of Germany
The new Secure app has been available since April this year and complements the existing two-factor authentication methods by offering a convenient app-based login option with a push notification feature. When attempting to log in, users receive a push notification on their mobile device and confirm the process using the biometric authentication or device authentication set up on the device.

Passkey and TOTP (Time-based One-Time Password)

Since early 2025, users of the online portal have been able to set up a passkey to log in to their account. They are easy to use and offer a secure alternative to passwords. Passkeys are so-called digital keys which, unlike passwords, cannot be forgotten, are generated automatically and are less vulnerable to phishing attacks or data theft. When used in conjunction with a smartphone, passkeys can be set up in your profile’s account settings with just a few clicks, using a fingerprint or facial scan.
In addition to the passkey method, the Federal Employment Agency of Germany has been offering the option since March 2025 to secure access to the account with a second factor, known as TOTP. In addition to the password, you will be asked to enter a current code generated by an authenticator app. As a result, it also offers significantly greater protection than a conventional password. When choosing an authenticator app, users should only use apps they can trust.

BundID: mandatory use for amending personal details and bank account details 

Since July 2024, it has also been possible to log in to the online portal and authenticate your identity using BundID. BundID provides a particularly secure way to access the digital administrative services offered by the Federal Employment Agency of Germany and the Family Benefits Office. Private individuals who wish to change their address or bank account details in their online account from April 2025 onwards will only be able to do so if they log in using BundID. At the Family Benefits Office, which pays out child benefit, for example, the use of the BundID with an ELSTER certificate in combination with the Federal Employment Agency of Germany account has already been made compulsory.

My business account

From June 2025, the portal of the Federal Employment Agency of Germany will offer “My Business Account” (MeinUK), a login method specifically for businesses. Login is carried out using an ELSTER business certificate – without the need for any additional MFA setup (Secure app of the Federal Employment Agency of Germany, TOTP or passkey), as the certificate meets the requirements for strong two-factor authentication.

Wichtig:These established procedures clearly demonstrate how this year’s theme of German Digital Day is firmly embedded in the digital services of the Federal Employment Agency of Germany. You can find detailed information and explanatory videos on this topic at: 

Passkey: https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/en/passkey
TOTP-Verfahren: https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/en/two-factor-authentication
Secure-App:  https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/en/ba-secure-app
The "BundID": https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/en/bundid
My business account:  https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/mein-unternehmenskonto (available in German only)
Secure and convenient login to the portal (available in German only)