Legislation on European Digital Identity Wallets enters into force in October

Legislation on European Digital Identity Wallets enters into force in October

European Digital Identity Wallets are applications for your mobile phone that you can use to identify yourself electronically, sign documents electronically and present digital certificates. Wallet applications will be free of charge, and using them will be voluntary. They are expected to become available in 2027.

The national legislation required to allow the use of European Digital Identity Wallets will enter into force on 1 October 2026. The new legislation supplements the EU's amended eIDAS Regulation, which governs cross-border electronic identification, trust services for electronic transactions and European digital identities.

It will be possible to use wallets both with online and in-person services everywhere in the EU. Digital wallet users will be able to decide how their personal information is used, and that use will be more transparent. For example, users will be able to decide what information they want to keep in their wallet and who they want to share that information with. Only the user will be able to monitor the use of their wallet. It will be possible to incorporate a wide variety of digital certificates into wallets, such as mobile driving licences or customer loyalty cards.

"Digital wallets will make using services in the EU even easier. Wallets will also be more secure, as they will give people better control of their personal information," said Minister of Local and Regional Government Anna-Kaisa Ikonen.

Digital identification solution to be included in wallet applications

Under the eIDAS Regulation, every EU Member State must offer a digital wallet to its citizens. In Finland, a wallet will be provided at least by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. Private sector companies will also be able to offer wallets as long as they meet the requirements set for wallet providers. The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom will supervise the provision of digital wallets and electronic trust services. Traficom will also establish a register for services that accept digital wallets.

Finland will also offer a digital identification solution, which will be the first digital certificate available for digital wallets in Finland. It will be granted based on a valid passport or identification card. The digital identification solution will make everyday services easier to use by providing a practical and reliable method for proving your identity.

The wallet and digital identification solution are expected to become available in 2027. The agencies responsible for them will announce their launch at a later date.

An updated description of the national ecosystem for European Digital Identity Wallets will be published at the same time as the new legislation enters into force. The description outlines the roles, responsibilities and service packages that are developing around digital wallets.

Security and data protection key priorities for digital wallets

Digital wallets will contain many types of personal information, which means that they have to be very secure. Digital wallets will be required to use new technologies to improve the protection of personal information. For example, you will be able to choose what information to display. This means that you will be able to only show certain pieces of information, such as that you are over 18, without sharing other information, like your name or exact age.

The EU is working on common legislation on European Business Wallets for companies, organisations and public administration. Business wallets are intended to make it easier for companies and authorities to exchange information.

Improved security for national strong identification

Amendments to the national act governing strong identification will enter into force at the same time as the legislation on digital wallets and the digital identification solution. All national legislation supplementing the eIDAS Regulation will be in the new act, which would only apply to national strong identification. The act has also been amended to improve the security of national strong identification. The provisions on the obligation of providers of electronic means of identification to ensure that the passport, identification card or digital identification solution used for initial identification is valid and on the obligation to inform the provider of the identification means that it was used for the initial identification of a person will enter into force later, on 1 January 2027.

Inquiries:
Laura Kolinen, Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 295 530 403, laura.kolinen(at)gov.fi
Riikka Noponen, Project Manager, tel. +358 295 530 508, riikka.noponen (at)gov.fi
Katja Väänänen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Head of Unit, tel. +358 295 530 245, katja.vaananen(at)gov.fi
Nea Nordman, Senior Officer, tel. +358 295 342 317, nea.nordman(at)gov.fi