EUDI wallet 2026 guide for businesses and service providers
What the EUDI wallet is and why the EU is introducing it
The European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI wallet) is a mobile identity wallet that lets citizens, residents, and businesses prove who they are and share verified attributes across the EU. It is defined in Regulation (EU) 2024/1183, which updates the eIDAS framework to create a common European Digital Identity.
Every Member State must provide at least one EUDI wallet and recognise those issued by other Member States. The aim is to give people and organisations a secure, privacy-respecting way to identify themselves and sign or seal documents when accessing public and private services online and offline.
The goals of the European Digital Identity Framework
- Strengthen Europe’s digital sovereignty by reducing dependence on non-EU identity providers.
- Make cross-border access to public and private services simpler and more secure.
- Support the EU’s Digital Decade target that 80% of citizens use a digital ID by 2030.
- Enable user-controlled identity with strong privacy, consent, and data minimisation.
How the EUDI wallet differs from current eID solutions
Existing eID schemes are often national, fragmented, and hard to reuse across borders. The EUDI wallet introduces:
- A common legal and technical framework across all Member States.
- Support for verifiable credentials instead of static, one-off checks.
- Built-in selective disclosure, so users prove only what is needed, not everything about themselves.
- Mandatory acceptance in defined high-impact use cases, including by large online platforms.
Who will use the wallet (citizens, businesses, authorities)
- Citizens and residents: to log in to services, sign contracts, prove age or qualifications, and travel.
- Businesses: to onboard customers, sign B2B contracts, and verify counterparties across borders.
- Public authorities: to provide digital public services and recognise digital identities issued in other Member States.
The 2026 rollout timeline – what happens when
Key milestones and deadlines under eIDAS 2.0
- 20 May 2024 – European Digital Identity Framework enters into force.
- 4 December 2024 – first implementing acts for the wallet are published, entering into force about 20 days later.
- By late December 2026 – each Member State must make at least one EUDI wallet available.
- By late December 2027 – specified private-sector relying parties and very large online platforms must accept the wallet when users choose it.
Obligations for service providers starting in 2026
From the moment national wallets go live, banks, telecoms, utilities, transport providers, and large online platforms will need to support wallet-based identification and authentication. For many of them, this becomes a legal obligation one year after wallets are made available, especially where strong customer authentication is required.
Countries already piloting the wallet
Since 2023, several large-scale pilots under the Digital Europe Programme have tested EUDI wallet use cases, including travel, education, payments, social security, and digital driving licences.
How the EUDI wallet works in practice
Issuing credentials
Trusted issuers such as governments, universities, banks, and regulators create and sign verifiable credentials and load them into the user’s wallet. Examples include identity data, licences, diplomas, proof of residence, and authorisations for acting on behalf of a company.
Storing and managing identity attributes
The wallet securely stores identity attributes on the user’s device, or linked secure elements, and gives them full control over what is shared. Data is signed and verifiable so that relying parties can trust its origin and integrity without calling a central database each time.
Authentication and verification workflow
- The user chooses the EUDI wallet to log in or prove an attribute.
- The service (relying party) sends a request describing the data or credential it needs.
- The wallet asks for user consent and presents the required credential, signed by the issuer.
- The service verifies the cryptographic proof and grants access or completes the transaction.
Consent, selective disclosure, and data minimisation
Instead of exposing full identity records, the wallet supports selective disclosure. For example, a user can prove they are over 18 without sharing their full date of birth or address. This aligns with GDPR principles and reduces the risk of over-collection of data.
Core use cases expected to go live in 2026
Opening bank accounts and financial onboarding
Banks and fintechs can use the EUDI wallet to perform high-assurance KYC checks quickly. Verified identity and attribute data from the wallet can streamline onboarding, lower fraud risk, and support AML and PSD2 / PSD3 requirements.
Accessing public services across borders
Citizens will be able to access public e-services in any Member State using the same wallet, whether they are applying for benefits, filing tax forms, or registering for healthcare. This builds on the original cross-border goals of eIDAS and reduces fragmentation.
Signing documents and proving authorisations
The wallet supports qualified electronic signatures and seals, making it possible to sign contracts and submit formal applications with full legal effect. Authorisation credentials allow users to sign on behalf of a company or organisation.
Travel, mobility, and digital driving licences
Use cases include digital travel credentials, digital driving licences, and identity checks at borders. The wallet can hold travel-related documents that simplify verification while preserving privacy.
Age and attribute verification for online services
Online platforms can request proof of age or specific attributes (for example, professional status) without collecting full identity data, which helps reduce risk and align with future online safety rules.
What is new in eIDAS 2.0 compared to the old framework
Mandatory acceptance by large online platforms
Under eIDAS 2.0, very large online platforms and other specified services must accept the EUDI wallet as a means of strong authentication when users choose it. This is a major shift from the voluntary model under the original eIDAS regulation.
Stronger security and interoperability requirements
The updated framework sets stricter rules for wallet certification, cryptographic security, and interoperability between national implementations. Implementing acts define technical specifications, interfaces, and assurance levels that every wallet must meet.
Liability rules for issuers and relying parties
eIDAS 2.0 clarifies responsibilities and liability for wallet providers, credential issuers, and relying parties. Businesses that rely on wallet credentials will be expected to follow agreed verification procedures and keep evidence of how identity checks were performed.
Technical foundations of the EUDI wallet
Verifiable credentials and W3C standards
The wallet uses verifiable credentials based on W3C standards. These are digitally signed data structures that can be verified without contacting the issuer, as long as the verifier trusts the signing keys and trust framework.
Digital signatures and qualified trust services
Qualified trust service providers issue certificates used for signatures, seals, and timestamping. The EUDI wallet integrates with these trust services so that signatures created from the wallet can meet the legal standard of a handwritten signature, where required.
Interaction between wallet, issuer, and verifier
The architecture follows a three-party model: issuers create and sign credentials, users store them in the wallet, and verifiers check them. Trust lists and governance frameworks define who is allowed to issue which credentials.
Security, cryptography, and trusted execution environments
Wallets must meet high security requirements, including secure storage, strong authentication, and protection against tampering. Some implementations will use trusted execution environments or secure elements to protect keys and sensitive operations.
Business impact – what companies need to prepare for
Onboarding changes for regulated industries
Banks, telecoms, insurers, and other regulated sectors will be able to rely on wallet-based credentials for KYC, AML, and risk checks. This will reduce manual document handling but requires investment in integration and process changes.
Integration requirements for relying parties
Relying parties must implement interfaces to request, receive, and verify wallet credentials. This means supporting relevant protocols, updating access management systems, and aligning data models with credential schemas.
API, credential request, and verification workflows
Typical workflows will involve API calls to trigger credential requests, handle callbacks from the wallet, and map verified attributes into existing customer or user databases. Integration patterns will vary by sector but will follow the same core principles.
Changes to customer journeys and UX
Customer journeys will need to be re-designed around “use wallet to log in” and “approve request in wallet” moments. Done well, this can cut friction and raise trust. Done poorly, it can confuse users and damage adoption.
EUDI wallet for enterprises – the missing B2B layer
Why businesses need their own wallet (legal-entity identity)
Most public discussion focuses on wallets for individuals, but companies also need a standard way to prove their legal identity online. That includes registrations, licences, and who is authorised to act on behalf of the organisation.
Link to the European Business Wallet (EUBW)
This is where the European Business Wallet (EUBW) comes in. EUBW is a digital identity wallet for businesses that allows them to identify themselves online, exchange verifiable information, and manage documentation securely across the EU. It is a natural B2B counterpart to the EUDI wallet and underpins trusted business interactions.
Partisia explains how EUBW links business identity to the Digital Product Passport and other credentials in its article on how EUBW connects business identity with the Digital Product Passport .
Verifiable business credentials and authorisation roles
With EUBW, companies can hold credentials such as registry extracts, licences, ESG disclosures, and authorisation roles. These can be combined with EUDI wallets used by staff to prove both “who I am” and “who I represent” in one flow.
Guide to the European Business Wallet (EUBW)
The Europe Commission is already taking the necessary steps to realise this strong potential and has made it one of its highest priorities to ensure such business wallets at a European level. In fact, they both made it a flagship action as part of EU’s competitive compass from January 2025 and part of the EU Commission's work program. The motivation for this may be related to the reported 2 trillion euro loss in annual global economic value from lost productivity and revenue opportunities.
What's inside?
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A Technical Solution
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Practical use cases for a Business Wallet
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The European Business Wallet (EUBW)
and more...
Connecting EUDI with major EU initiatives
Digital Product Passport (DPP) and ESPR compliance
Under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), many products will need a Digital Product Passport (DPP) that carries lifecycle, sustainability, and origin data. The EUDI wallet and EUBW provide the identity layer that ties product data back to verified business and issuer credentials.
Partisia describes this chain in more detail in its content on EUBW and DPP, including real-world examples such as the coffee supply-chain use case.
Supply-chain traceability and circular-economy reporting
When EUDI, EUBW, and DPP work together, every actor in the supply chain can authenticate themselves and contribute signed data to a product’s passport. This supports circular-economy goals and upcoming reporting requirements. Explore Partisia solutions in supply chain.
AML, KYC, and cross-border identity verification
For financial institutions, the EUDI wallet is a new high-assurance source for identity and attribute data. Combined with privacy-preserving analytics, it can power better AML monitoring and customer due diligence across borders. Read more on fraud detection and solutions in anti-money laundering.
Risks, challenges, and unresolved questions
Adoption barriers
Adoption will depend on user experience, trust, and clear communication. If wallets are hard to use or poorly integrated, citizens and businesses may fall back to legacy methods.
Interoperability gaps between Member States
While eIDAS 2.0 sets a common standard, national differences in infrastructure and implementation pace can create uneven experiences and technical gaps.
Security, fraud, and wallet recovery issues
Questions remain around wallet recovery, device loss, and future attack vectors. Wallet providers will need robust processes for revocation, re-issuance, and fraud response without undermining privacy.
How to prepare now for the 2026 rollout
Technology stack requirements
Organisations should review their identity and access management stack, API gateways, consent flows, and logging to ensure they can integrate wallet-based authentication and attribute verification.
Steps for relying parties
- Identify which services will need to accept the EUDI wallet.
- Plan technical integration for credential requests and verification.
- Update risk and compliance frameworks to rely on verified credentials.
Steps for service providers
- Map the user journeys where EUDI login can replace or complement existing methods.
- Design clear consent and information screens for wallet interactions.
- Coordinate with national authorities and wallet providers on timelines.
Steps for enterprise identity teams
- Align EUDI support with CIAM and workforce identity strategies.
- Prepare for enterprise wallets such as EUBW for legal-entity identity.
- Define how verifiable credentials will be issued, managed, and revoked.
Where Partisia fits into the EUDI ecosystem
Privacy-preserving verification with MPC
Partisia provides privacy-preserving data collaboration based on Multi-Party Computation (MPC) and Confidential Computing. This allows institutions to verify and use identity attributes from EUDI wallets without centralising or exposing raw personal data.
Support for EUBW and enterprise wallet ecosystems
Partisia’s technology supports the European Business Wallet concept by enabling secure issuance and verification of business credentials, including those linked to DPP, ESG reporting, and regulatory filings.
Secure credential issuance and compliance handling
Issuers and regulators can use Partisia to check, aggregate, and analyse credential data in encrypted form, which helps them meet GDPR, DORA, and sector-specific rules while using EUDI as a trust anchor.
Expert quote from Partisia
“The EUDI wallet is more than another app. It is the missing trust layer for Europe’s digital economy. The real breakthrough comes when you combine it with privacy-preserving computation, so organisations can rely on high-assurance credentials without ever losing control of their data.”
– Mark Medum Bundgaard, Chief Product Officer, Partisia
Relevant Partisia resources
- How EUBW connects business identity with the Digital Product Passport
- Decentralized identities solution and reasons to implement
- Confidential Computing and secure data collaboration solution
Summary – what the EUDI wallet means for Europe’s digital future
By 2026, the EUDI wallet will sit at the centre of Europe’s digital identity landscape. It will change how people log in, sign, and prove who they are, and how businesses onboard customers, comply with regulations, and run cross-border services. Organisations that prepare now, and that combine the wallet with privacy-preserving technologies such as those provided by Partisia, will be best placed to turn compliance into an advantage rather than a constraint.
