Skip to content

eIDAS

eIDAS and the European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet) together form the European framework for secure, cross-border digital identification. These developments affect citizens, businesses, and payments.

What is eIDAS and why is it important?

eIDAS stands for electronic IDentification, Authentication and trust Services. This European regulation from 2014 regulates the cross-border recognition of national digital identification means (such as DigiD) and trust services (such as digital signatures). The aim is to support a secure European digital internal market in which citizens and businesses can do business online across national borders.

In 2024, eIDAS 2.0 was adopted, with the most important innovation being the introduction of the EUDI Wallet: an app that allows citizens to identify themselves and share personal data, such as a driver’s license or IBAN, via their smartphone.

European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet)

The EUDI Wallet is an important foundation for Europe’s digital future. The wallet has three main functions:

  1. Logging in and authenticating to services;
  2. Digitally signing documents;
  3. Storing digital certificates and diplomas.

The EUDI Wallet will be an additional tool for identification and authentication for both public and private services throughout the EU. Each member state must make a national EUDI Wallet available to citizens free of charge, for voluntary use, by December 24, 2026 at the latest.

The European Commission expects that by 2030, approximately 80% of Europeans will be using the wallet. The wallets are based on uniform standards, specifications, and procedures laid down in implementing acts (IAs) and the Architecture and Reference Framework (ARF).

This ensures interoperability and cross-border use.

Examples of applications:

  • Logging in to government services or healthcare institutions
  • Digitally signing documents
  • Securely sharing bank account numbers or age verification

Private service providers, including banks and payment service providers, will be required to accept the EUDI Wallet as a means of identification. Read more about the impact of the EUDI Wallet on payments.

The Dutch government provides additional information about eIDAS 2.0(opens in new window) (in Dutch) and the EUDI Wallet(opens in new window) (in Dutch). In March 2025, the Financial Markets Authority (AFM) also published a report on the impact of the wallet on the financial sector(opens in new window) (in Dutch).

European initiatives (Large Scale Pilots)

In 2023, the European Union launched four large pilot programs to test the EUDI Wallet before its official introduction in the member states. These pilots collect feedback on the requirements, contribute to the development of the Common Toolbox, and support secure implementation.

More than 350 organizations—including governments, regulators, and companies from 26 EU member states, Norway, Iceland, and Ukraine—are participating. The projects are co-funded by the European Commission and supervised by the eIDAS Expert Group.

The four original pilots:

  • POTENTIAL – Innovation in sectors such as government, banking, telecommunications, mobile driving licenses, e-signatures, and healthcare.
  • EU Digital Identity Wallet Consortium (EWC) – Focused on payments and financial services. This project investigates how the EUDI Wallet can be used for payments, financial transactions, and compliance with PSD2, PSD3, and anti-money laundering (AML) rules.
  • NOBID Consortium – Tested the use of the EUDI Wallet for authorizing payments in Nordic and Baltic countries.
  • Digital Credentials for Europe (DC4EU) – Focused on issuing educational diplomas and social security documents, integrated into the EUDI Wallet.

New pilots (2025–2027):

  • WE BUILD consortium (Wallet Ecosystem for Business and Payments Use Cases on Identification, Legal Representation and Data Sharing)
  • This project will start in September 2025 and run for 24 months. It will be led by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Chamber of Commerce, and Bolagsverket in Sweden. The Dutch Payments Association is participating as lead consumer payments and will focus specifically on scenarios within the consumer payments component.
  • APTITUDE consortium – Led by France and building on the work of the NOBID consortium.

Role of the Dutch Payments Association

The Dutch Payments Association is actively involved in the application of eIDAS and the EUDI Wallet within the payments sector. Our role includes:

  • Participation in European working groups in which functional and technical requirements are coordinated;
  • Consulting with banks and payment service providers on practical applications, such as paying with the EUDI Wallet;
  • Explaining and clarifying legal obligations for Dutch parties, including banks and payment institutions.

Facts and figures

  • 500million EU citizens eligible for an EUDI Wallet
    EU citizens eligible for an EUDI Wallet
  • 23states Contributing with pilot projects
    Contributing with pilot projects
  • 2million Users in the EU participating in pilot projects
    Users in the EU participating in pilot projects

The EUDI Wallet will not only be used for identification, but also for digital payments and displaying documents such as diplomas or driver’s licenses. This development touches on broader themes such as the digital euro, digital signatures, and privacy legislation.

The Dutch Payments Association is closely monitoring these developments, including within the WE BUILD Consortium and in European working groups on standardization and regulation. In the long term, the EUDI Wallet may be integrated into banking apps or payment services, which will present new opportunities and challenges for the sector.