Imagine carrying your ID card, driver's license, health insurance card, university degrees, prescriptions, plane tickets, and even your hotel room keys all on your phone, in a single app. Everything in one official wallet, valid in any European Union country and under your control. That, in essence, is what the new [system/platform] will bring. European Digital Identity and its EUDI Portfolio.
The EU has been preparing for this change of model for years. It's not just about digitizing ID cards, but about building a secure, interoperable, and privacy-respecting digital identity ecosystemthat works the same in Spain, France or Germany and that you can use with the Administration as well as with banks, companies, universities or shops.
What is the new European Digital Identity and the EUDI Wallet?
The new European Digital Identity is a common infrastructure for electronic identification and trust services that all Member States must adopt, based on the original eIDAS Regulation and its major update, known as eIDAS 2 or eIDAS2The goal is for any citizen, resident, or company to be able to prove who they are and what attributes they have (age, qualifications, professional registration, etc.) digitally and with legal validity throughout the EU.
The practical heart of all this will be the call European Digital Identity Wallet or EUDI WalletThis is an official mobile application, issued or supervised by each Member State, which will act as a "digital wallet" where you will store your verifiable documents and credentials: from your identity document to a medical certificate or a university diploma.
This wallet doesn't just copy your physical documents. It's designed so you can store, manage and present digital credentials selectively and securely. You can prove you are over 18 without revealing your date of birth, prove you have a degree without disclosing other information, or verify your professional registration without sending paper certificates.
According to the regulations, Member States must offer at least one version of this portfolio before the end of 2026The app will be free, recognized in all EU countries, and its use will be voluntaryHowever, if you choose to use it, no one can discriminate against you or force you to use more cumbersome channels.
The role of eIDAS 2 and the new European digital identity framework
For all of this to work, the European Union has thoroughly updated its electronic identification regulations with the Regulation (EU) 2024/1183, known as eIDAS 2, which amends the former Regulation 910/2014. This new version entered into force in May 2024 and establishes the European digital identity framework on which the EUDI Portfolio is built.
eIDAS 2 explicitly introduces the concept of European Digital Identity (EUDI)That is, a common digital identity recognized in all Member States. It also expands the trusted services (electronic signatures, seals, certifications, etc.) and incorporates new obligations to guarantee security, interoperability and data protection.
Among the most important changes, the regulation establishes that electronic means of identification issued by a Member State must be compulsory acceptance in the rest of the EU when used to access services that require strong identification, both in the public and private sectors.
eIDAS 2 also strengthens the requirements regarding cybersecurity and authenticationpromoting the use of advanced encryption, multi-factor authentication and, in many cases, biometric technologies (fingerprint, facial recognition, liveness detection) to reduce fraud and identity theft.
To ensure compatibility between all countries' portfolios, the European Commission has defined a Architecture and Reference Framework (ARF)A set of technical specifications and best practices that Member States must follow. This ARF, currently version 1.4.1, will be updated and serves as the basis for the implementing regulations which detail technical requirements, security measures and interoperability standards.
How the EUDI Wallet will work on your mobile device
The EUDI Wallet user experience will be similar to other wallets you're already familiar with (like bank card or airline ticket wallets), but with much stronger legal guarantees and strict public control. As soon as you install the app, you'll have to choose a PIN or use biometrics to unlock wallet and protect its contents.
The first step will be the so-called The initial registration process where you prove your real identity. This is where documents like your national identity card, passport, or national electronic identification systems come into play. In practice, you will be able to, for example, bring your mobile phone close to your ID card using NFC or scan a QR code issued by the administration to transfer your identification data to the wallet.
Once your identity is verified, you can start adding verifiable digital credentials issued by public authorities or authorized private entities: driver's license, health card, academic degrees, professional certificates, licenses, medical prescriptions, etc. Each of these credentials will have issuance, validation and revocation mechanisms, and will be digitally signed by the issuer.
These credentials do not require a permanent internet connection to be used: they are stored encrypted on your device, and when you present them to a service (a website, an app, a physical window), the other party can Verify its authenticity instantly verifying the signature and validity of the certificate.
Thanks to the "attribute declarations" model, you can share only the strictly necessary data. For example, if a website only needs to know if you are of legal age, the wallet can generate a cryptographic proof that confirms "over 18" without revealing your date of birth or your document number.
What you can do from your mobile phone with the new European Digital Identity
The list of practical uses for the EUDI Portfolio is quite long and will continue to grow over time, but there are already a number of priority and very specific use cases that the European Commission wants to enable from the outset.
In the area of ​​public services, you will be able to access administrations in any EU country Using your wallet as an access key. This includes everything from applying for a passport or renewing your driver's license to filing your tax return, checking Social Security information, or carrying out registration and residency certificate procedures.
In the financial sector, the portfolio will allow open bank accounts in other countries without having to repeat the same information a thousand times or send physical copies of your documents; you can even do it for some procedures request the digital certificate with your mobile phoneThe bank will be able to automatically verify your identity, age, or residence using the credentials stored in the app.
It will also be a key tool for Register SIM cards securelyWhen you buy a new SIM or an eSIM, you can identify yourself to the operator directly from your wallet, reducing the risk of fraud and speeding up the registration process without having to send photos of your ID through insecure channels.
Another prime example is the mobile driving licenseYou can store your digital driver's license and show it to traffic officers and car rental companies, all from your mobile phone and with the same validity as the physical document.
The EUDI Portfolio will also serve to to sign contracts, registrations or consents with full legal validityWithout printing papers or traveling. From your mobile phone, you can electronically sign rental agreements, university registrations, medical authorizations, or employment agreements, using qualified electronic signatures linked to your digital identity.
In the healthcare field, you will be able to receive and share electronic prescriptions You can use it at pharmacies in any EU country, access your vaccination record, or prove your entitlement to certain social security benefits. Similarly, you can carry your [unclear - possibly "health insurance" or "health insurance"] in your wallet. European sanitary card in digital format.
For travel, the EUDI Portfolio will facilitate the use of digital travel documents, such as electronic passports or visas, which will help to expedite passage through security controls, borders and customs, and to manage boarding at airports more easily.
In addition, it will be possible to save plane, train or bus tickets...as well as tickets for events, museums, or shows, integrating them into the same wallet where your identity resides. In this way, your mobile phone truly becomes a "digital one-stop shop" for your daily life.
Another very important area is the professional one. Thanks to the portfolio, you will be able to to prove your qualifications and professional credentials When you apply for a job, enroll in training, or register with a professional association in another country, employers can instantly verify the authenticity of your degree, the university it comes from, and whether you are qualified to practice.
Digital credentials, professional associations and the DC4EU project
The EUDI Portfolio will be based on the concept of digital credentials or electronic attribute declarationsThese credentials are small digital "cards", signed by trusted entities, that collect specific information about you: your identity, your professional registration, your participation in training, your professional history, etc.
In the professional sphere, the EU has identified as authentic sources to professional associations and public law corporations recognized by the Member States. In Spain, for example, professional associations are the only entities authorized to certify with public faith that a person is a member of the association, qualified to practice, and that they comply with the required continuing education.
In this context the project was born DC4EU (Digital Credentials for Europe)A large-scale European pilot project coordinated by Spain, involving more than 90 entities from 25 countries, aims to test, under real-world conditions, the use of interoperable digital credentials in key areas such as... education and social security, as well as in the professional collegiate sphere.
Within DC4EU, several types of credentials have been defined and tested: professional registration certificates, certificates of training activities, certificates of continuing professional development, and certificates of accredited healthcare training. All of them have been designed to be instantly verifiable from any EU country through the EUDI Portfolio.
This has a direct impact on the professional mobilityA professional registered in Spain will be able to present their digital credentials to an employer in another European country, who can verify their validity instantly. This strengthens legal certainty, combats fake qualifications, and makes it more difficult to impersonate a professional and practice without authorization.
Security, privacy and GDPR compliance
One of the pillars of the European Digital Identity is data protection. The European Commission has stressed that the portfolios They cannot be used to track users nor to create improper profiles. The relationship with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is complete and explicit.
The eIDAS 2 regulation requires that the portfolio offer Users have complete control over their personal dataThis includes the ability to decide what information is shared in each transaction, use pseudonyms where possible, apply selective disclosure policies, and consult a record of all transactions made with the wallet.
The app must have a control panel or dashboard From there, you can see which service providers you've connected with, what data has been exchanged, request the deletion of your data from those providers (in line with the GDPR's right to erasure), and notify the data protection authority if you detect a suspicious data request. To protect yourself, consult a Complete security guide for online procedures.
In addition, the data associated with the portfolio must be logically separated from any other information that the wallet provider maintains, thus preventing cross-use or unauthorized combinations. The wallet also cannot inform credential issuers about your specific use of those credentials with third parties.
All data processing relies on mechanisms of strong encryption, multi-factor authentication, and, in many cases, biometricsData is processed, as far as possible, locally on the user's device, reducing exposure on central servers and minimizing the attack surface; furthermore, it learns to detect malware on your Android.
Service providers acting as end-user parties (the entities that accept the wallet to identify you) must perform data protection impact assessments when the use may entail a high risk to the rights of individuals, and consult the data protection authorities where appropriate.
Impact on businesses, digital services, and identity verification
The implementation of the European Digital Identity not only affects citizens, but also requires Companies and administrations to adaptAny digital service that requires robust identification of its users (banks, insurance companies, notaries, real estate agencies, hospitals, universities, e-commerce businesses, etc.) will have to update its systems to accept the EUDI Wallet as a method of identification and signature.
For many organizations, this will mean reviewing their processes digital onboarding, contract signing, consent management and regulatory complianceThe advantage is that, in return, they will obtain a more reliable identity verification, less susceptible to fraud and aligned with European standards.
In the field of identity verification, eIDAS 2 promotes solutions that combine Electronic identification and biometrics to offer stronger customer authentication. Compared to passwords, SMS, or PINs, authentication based on something "you are" (facial features, fingerprint, behavior) reduces the risk of credential theft and improves the user experience.
Commercial solutions already exist that are designed to integrate into this new framework, such as platforms that allow verify documents and biometric features on the device itselfreturning encrypted approval or rejection responses. These technologies help comply with eIDAS 2, GDPR, ISO 27001, and the National Security Framework, and facilitate the connection of companies and public administrations to the new EUDI ecosystem.
In operational terms, the adoption of the EUDI Portfolio will enable organizations reduce administrative costsautomating many verification processes and expanding its cross-border reach, by being able to accept clients and users from other countries with the same security as if they were from their own.
Calendar, pilot projects and horizon towards 2030
The roadmap is clear: Member States must have ready, at least, one Fully functional EUDI portfolio before the end of 2026However, the actual rollout has already begun through several pilot projects funded by the European Commission.
Among them are POTENTIAL, a consortium coordinated by Germany and France that tests use cases such as access to public services, opening bank accounts, registering SIM cards, mobile driving licenses, electronic signatures and electronic prescriptions; and NOBID, led by Norway, focused on wallet payments in Nordic and Baltic countries, as well as Italy and Germany.
Another important consortium is EWC (European Digital Identity Wallet Consortium), led by Sweden and Finland, which explores how to integrate the wallet into travel, credential management, and payments contexts. And, as already mentioned, DC4EU, coordinated by Spain, which focuses on educational, professional and social security credentials.
In parallel, many countries—including Spain—are already developing and testing their own implementations of the portfolio in pilot environments. There is even a Demo app available on GitHub so that developers and technicians can experiment with the model and anticipate what the real experience will be like.
Brussels' ambition goes beyond 2026: the Commission has set itself the goal that, by 2030, at least the 80% of EU citizens have a reliable digital identity that they can use comfortably in their daily lives. This fits into the strategy to boost the European digital economy and strengthen its global competitiveness.
There will be challenges, from the digital divide and initial distrust from some users to the need to refine the technical details of the Architecture and Reference Framework to ensure strict compliance with GDPR principles. But, if everything goes as planned, in just a few years Your mobile phone will truly become your one-stop shop for paperwork, travel, work, and services across Europewith a digital identity that is much more secure, manageable and recognized than the fragmented solutions we use today.
