The most important facts in brief

• The EUDI Wallet (European Digital Identity Wallet) is a digital “ID card container” for all EU citizens that will be introduced from 2026 (with the revised eIDAS Regulation).
  
• It enables the secure, data protection-compliant storage and use of proof of identity (driver’s license, certificates, health data) and attributes in digital processes.
  
• For companies, the wallet becomes the central key for the Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) and for legally valid, cross-border onboarding of customers and employees.
  
• New EU standard for KYC and onboarding: The EUDI wallet creates a uniform Europe-wide identity basis for KYC and AML-relevant processes for the first time.

• The EUDI wallet is a centerpiece of Europe’s digital sovereignty and offers a reliable alternative to non-European identity solutions that are subject to the US CLOUD Act.
  
• sproof develops solutions such as sproof Ident a sovereign identity infrastructure that is prepared for seamless connection to the EUDI wallet .

The strategic importance of the European Digital Identity Wallet

The European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet for short) is much more than a digital copy of the ID card; it is a strategic course set by the European Union for the digital age. Its introduction – driven by the revision of the eIDAS Regulation (eIDAS 2.0) – will fundamentally change the way businesses and citizens interact in the EU.

Put simply, the EUDI Wallet is a mobile app that is made available to all EU citizens and acts as a secure digital vault. In this vault, they can store, manage and selectively share all their personal identity documents and attribute proofs (e.g. age, professional qualifications, authorizations).

For companies, this results in a new era of digital identity verification and signature processes – more efficient, more secure and above all: eIDAS-compliant.

The core functions: Why the EUDI Wallet is becoming indispensable

The added value of the EUDI wallet lies in the combination of maximum security and maximum user-friendliness. It solves the dilemma of many digital processes by enabling two central functions that are essential for companies:

1. legally valid and fast identity verification (e.g. for KYC)

Many identification processes are currently complex and cost-intensive, especially when high levels of trust or regulatory requirements such as KYC (Know Your Customer) have to be met. The EUDI wallet can radically simplify these processes:

• Regulatory recognized identity verification through verified digital proofs
• Verification in seconds: users can identify themselves via the wallet with just one click.
• Cross-border acceptance: The EUDI Wallet will be bindingly accepted within the EU member states once it comes into force.

2. legally binding authentication & signature (QES)

The QES is the only digital signature form that can fulfill the legal written form requirement and is therefore equivalent to a handwritten signature. The EUDI wallet will offer a particularly simple way of securely triggering a QES – because the necessary identity verification is already stored within the wallet infrastructure. This reduces media disruptions, strengthens compliance and speeds up contract processes considerably.

Digital sovereignty: the EUDI wallet as a shield against the US CLOUD Act

The introduction of the EUDI wallet is a clear statement by the EU in favor of digital sovereignty.

At a time when data is stored and processed internationally, there is a permanent risk for European companies, which is primarily due to the US CLOUD Act . This enables US authorities to access data that is stored by US cloud providers – including in Europe.

The EUDI wallet is a purely European solution whose underlying infrastructure and identity services meet the highest European data protection and security standards. It offers companies the strategic certainty that sensitive contract and customer data remains in the EU and is not exposed to access by third countries.

Read more: How the US CLOUD Act jeopardizes the data security of European companies and why you need to act →

Application examples for the EUDI wallet in a corporate context

• Banks: Opening a bank account with QES through wallet identification.
• HR departments: Digital signing of employment contracts or fixed-term contracts with QES.
• Insurance: Legally compliant digital application and claims processes; simple proof of identity for policies and benefits
• Telecommunications: Immediate identity verification for SIM registration or contract conclusion
• E-commerce & online platforms: Age verification for regulated products
• Healthcare: Secure proof of health data and authorizations
• Educational institutions & further education: Issuance & verification of certificates and proof of study
• Logistics & access management: digital authorization and identity checks for drivers or external personnel

Act now: Ready for the EUDI wallet with sproof Ident

The EUDI wallet is becoming the new European standard for digital identity. Companies that act today create a strategic advantage. With sproof Ident, you already have an eIDAS-compliant verification service at your disposal that will harmonize directly with the EUDI Wallet in the future. This means

• faster KYC and onboarding processes,
• legally binding digital signatures without detours,
• full digital sovereignty within the EU legal framework.
• The integration of the EUDI wallet into a platform such as sproof enables companies to make QES as simple as a basic signature for their customers. This removes the last hurdle to fully digital, legally compliant end-to-end processes.
  
  This is what sproof Ident offers →

FAQs on the topic

1. When is the EUDI wallet coming? Implementation will begin gradually following the adoption of the revised eIDAS Regulation (eIDAS 2.0). Full availability and mandatory acceptance in the member states is expected by the end of 2026.
   
2. Does the EUDI Wallet replace my current eID? No, the EUDI Wallet will not replace the existing national eID systems, but will complement them and simplify their use. It acts as a universal interface for EU-wide recognition.
   
3. Is the use of the EUDI Wallet mandatory? For citizens, use is voluntary. For certain regulated services in companies that have high security or authentication requirements, acceptance of the wallet by service providers will be mandatory from around 2027.
   
4. How secure is the EUDI wallet? The wallet is based on high security and data protection standards (“security by design”, “privacy by design”), contains certified components and allows users to control exactly what data is shared.