This study sheds light on how digital competencies are thought of by governments around the world, and how they are developed. The study finds that digital competencies are best understood via three distinct yet interconnected dimensions: the individual, the organization and the (societal) environment.Digital competencies can feel sprawling and mundane at the same time. As technology keeps evolving at a high pace, it is hard to pin down what competencies should be developed. With the present study we believe we can contribute a structured way to consider digital competencies in administrative agencies in Japan as well as globally.