The German government is laying the legal groundwork for the introduction of a digital wallet. With the so-called EUDI-Wallet, "citizens will be able to identify themselves digitally across Europe and use credentials in the future, for example, during government appointments, opening a bank account, or secure login to online services," explained Federal Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger (CDU) on Wednesday. "Its use is voluntary and meets high standards for security and data protection."
EUDI stands for European Digital Identity. An EU regulation requires the 27 member states to create the possibility of a digital wallet, the EUDI-Wallet, by the end of the year. The federal government has now passed the Digital Identity Act to accomplish this. It creates the cross-border identity credential required by European law and provides additional usage possibilities for authorities, businesses, and consumers.
"The EUDI-Wallet will function as a central interface through which citizens can identify themselves to authorities and private companies," the Digital Ministry explained. "In addition to the digital identification function, decisions and other documents from federal authorities will also be able to be loaded into the wallet in the future." Eventually, the system could also be used for age verification in online networks.
According to a survey by the digital association Bitkom, there is significant interest in the digital wallet among citizens. Many want to carry their identification card, driver's license, and similar documents digitally in the future. The ability to digitally sign contracts and forms is also appealing. However, many people still lack the technical prerequisites: the activated online function of their personal identification card and the associated PIN.
Companies also want to use the EUDI-Wallet. They expect a reliable way to verify the identity of their customers and secure login for online services. Additionally, companies could receive digital credentials such as professional qualifications from applicants or issue employee identification cards or training certificates themselves.
The Digital Identity Act must still be passed by Parliament. According to the Digital Ministry, the technical infrastructure for implementation is being developed in parallel. Pilot projects are already underway, the digital wallet is scheduled to be available to everyone starting in January 2027.
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