eIDAS 2.0: the European Digital Identity Wallet

Short answer: Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 (eIDAS 2.0) requires each Member State to make available at least one free European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet) within 24 months of the entry into force of the implementing acts (Art. 5a). The first implementing act entered into force on 24 December 2024, placing the wallet availability deadline at around December 2026. Regulated sectors and very large online platforms must accept the wallet within 36 months of that same date — around December 2027 (Art. 5f(2)).

Legal basis and entry into force

Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 was adopted on 11 April 2024, published in the Official Journal on 30 April 2024, and entered into force on 20 May 2024. It amends the original eIDAS Regulation (EU) 910/2014 by inserting a new chapter on the European Digital Identity Wallet.

The Commission was required to adopt technical implementing acts by 21 November 2024 (Art. 5a(23)). Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2979 was published on 4 December 2024 and entered into force on 24 December 2024; this is the anchor point for all deadline calculations.

Member State obligation to provide wallets (Art. 5a)

Each Member State must make at least one EUDI Wallet available — to citizens, residents and businesses upon request — within 24 months of the date of entry into force of the implementing acts referred to in Art. 5a(23) and Art. 5c(6). The wallet must be free of charge for natural persons. This anchors the outer deadline at around December 2026.

Mandatory acceptance by regulated sectors and platforms (Art. 5f)

Private service providers that are required by Union or national law to apply strong user authentication — in the sectors of transport, energy, banking and financial services, social security, health, drinking water, postal services, digital infrastructure, education or telecommunications — must accept the EUDI Wallet upon a user's voluntary request no later than 36 months after the entry into force of the implementing acts (Art. 5f(2)), i.e. around December 2027. Micro and small enterprises are exempt. Very large online platforms designated under the Digital Services Act and gatekeepers under the Digital Markets Act must also accept the wallet for user authentication.

Supervision

Member States designate national supervisory bodies (Art. 46b) responsible for overseeing EUDI Wallet providers through both ex ante and ex post supervision. These bodies cooperate with competent authorities under the NIS2 Directive and may require providers to take specific corrective action.

What the wallet holds

The EUDI Wallet enables citizens to store, manage and selectively share personal identification data, driving licences, diplomas and other attributes digitally. Use is voluntary and free for citizens; the system is designed to be cross-border interoperable across the EU.