The digital projects changing the relationship between Public Administration and people

The digital transformation of the Portuguese public administration system is a long-term commitment that has been consolidating in recent years. Between 2025 and 2026, this commitment materialised into concrete results, including shared platforms in production, increased interoperability, and technological leadership across the public administration sector as a whole.

This cycle responds to the vision set out in the Portugal Digital Strategy (EDN): to build public services that are simpler, more accessible, and centred on the needs of citizens and businesses, while simultaneously reinforcing the state's internal efficiency.

Central to this evolution is the establishment of the Agency for Technological Reform of the State (ARTE), which is responsible for the strategic coordination of the public administration's digital transformation and has succeeded the former Agency for Administrative Modernisation.

A new model of technological governance

The creation of ARTE, formalised by Decree-Law No 96/2025, introduced a new model of technological governance for the public sector. Among the new responsibilities assigned to the agency are interoperability between bodies, management of shared platforms, the strategic use of data, cybersecurity, and the definition of a common technological architecture.

The same legislation established the role of Chief Technology Officer for Public Administration — the State CTO — for the first time, thereby reinforcing cross-cutting technical leadership throughout Public Administration.

This new approach represents a structural shift, moving away from solutions developed in isolation by individual bodies towards a common technological vision oriented towards simplification, the reuse of components, and greater integration between public services. A key principle of this transformation is the European 'once only' concept: citizens and businesses should not have to provide the state with information that is already held by other public bodies.

Digital services already in use

gov.pt: a single digital access point

The gov.pt application has become one of the main digital channels for accessing public services. Developed under ARTE's coordination, it builds on the path set by earlier solutions such as ID.gov and Autenticação.gov.

The application currently enables the viewing and use of official documents with legal validity, including civil identification, vehicle documentation, and professional certificates issued by public bodies and professional associations.

The strategic objective is to create an integrated, secure, and simple experience, turning the mobile phone into a privileged channel for interaction between citizens and the State.

Virtual Citizen Shop: integrated digital public service

Another of the structural projects is the Virtual Citizen Shop, designed to bring together, in a single digital environment, hundreds of public services currently spread across different platforms. This model integrates features such as:

• Single authentication via Citizens' Card or Digital Mobile Key;

• Real-time tracking of requests and processes;

• Asynchronous service;

• Video assistance for services requiring human validation.

The platform contributes to a closer, simpler, and more efficient relationship between citizens and Public Administration, complementing existing in-person and digital channels.

Business Digital Wallet

Launched in January 2026, the Business Digital Wallet represents an extension of this transformation to the business world. The solution enables legal representatives to view and present, in a single secure digital environment, essential information about their activity, including:

• Official certificates;

• Tax records;

• Corporate data;

• Administrative authorisations.

The project is aligned with the European framework for business digital identity set out in the eIDAS 2.0 regulation, reinforcing Portugal's position in the adoption of innovative digital solutions for businesses.

More accessible and inclusive public services

The technological modernisation of Public Administration also includes a strong focus on digital usability and accessibility. The Usability and Accessibility Seal programme, developed by ARTE in partnership with the National Institute for Rehabilitation, promotes the continuous improvement of public websites and applications through a three-level certification system: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. This initiative reinforces the commitment to more inclusive digital services, ensuring a more accessible experience for all users.

A common architecture for all Public Administration

Behind these projects lies a shared technological infrastructure. Since 2024, Public Administration has been developing digital services in accordance with Mosaico, a common model that establishes technical and functional principles across the whole of Public Administration.

This architecture sets standards in areas such as:

• Authentication and digital identity;

• Design and user experience;

• Interoperability between bodies;

• Payments, notifications, and digital communications;

• Reuse of common technological components.

In practice, this model makes it possible to accelerate the creation of new digital public services, reduce duplication of investment, and ensure a more consistent experience for citizens and businesses.

In 2026, this evolution also began to incorporate European interoperability mechanisms, including a connection to the Once-Only Technical System (OOTS), facilitating the secure exchange of information between public administrations of different EU Member States.

Portugal's digital transformation of the State thus affirms itself as a continuous process of public innovation, oriented towards services that are closer, simpler, and prepared to meet the challenges of the future.