EUDI Wallet Timeline

Key dates and deadlines for the EU Digital Identity Wallet rollout, from the eIDAS 2.0 proposal through the December 2026 deadline and beyond.

June 2021Completed

European Commission Proposes eIDAS 2.0

The Commission publishes its proposal to revise the eIDAS regulation, introducing the concept of a European Digital Identity Wallet for all EU citizens.

February 2023Completed

Large Scale Pilots Begin

Four EU-funded pilot consortia launch: POTENTIAL (led by France/Germany, 148 participants), EWC (EU Digital Identity Wallet Consortium), NOBID (Nordic-Baltic, payments focus), and DC4EU (education and social security). Total EU funding: €46 million.

February 29, 2024Completed

European Parliament Approves eIDAS 2.0

The European Parliament votes overwhelmingly in favor of the revised eIDAS regulation with 335 votes in favor, establishing the legal framework for EUDI Wallets.

April 11, 2024Completed

Council of the EU Adopts eIDAS 2.0

The Council formally adopts Regulation (EU) 2024/1183, completing the legislative process. The regulation enters into force 20 days after publication.

May 2024Completed

Belgium Launches MyGov.be Wallet

Belgium launches the MyGov.be digital wallet, making it one of the first EU countries with a live wallet. Citizens can store identity data, vaccination records, and certificates using eID or itsme authentication.

May 20, 2024Completed

eIDAS 2.0 Enters Into Force

The revised eIDAS regulation (EU) 2024/1183 is published in the Official Journal and enters into force. The clock starts: member states have 24 months to provide wallets.

October 23, 2024Completed

Italy Launches IT-Wallet

Italy becomes the first EU country to launch a full digital identity wallet through the IO app. Offers digital driving licences, health insurance cards (Tessera Sanitaria), and the European Disability Card. Over 6 million credentials issued within months.

November 2024Completed

Architecture Reference Framework (ARF) 1.5 Published

The Architecture and Reference Framework version 1.5.0 is released, defining the technical standards all EUDI Wallets must follow including protocols for OpenID4VCI/VP, credential formats (SD-JWT VC, mDoc/mdoc), and security requirements.

December 24, 2024Completed

First Implementing Acts Enter Into Force

The first batch of implementing acts under eIDAS 2.0 enters into force. This date is critical: it starts the 24-month countdown for member state wallets (deadline: December 24, 2026) and the 36-month countdown for relying party mandates (deadline: late December 2027).

Q1 2025Completed

Second Wave Implementing Acts

Additional implementing acts adopted covering wallet certification, Trust Service Provider requirements, and interoperability protocols. The European Commission also opens public consultations on remaining technical specifications.

March 2025Completed

WE BUILD & APTITUDE Consortia Launch

New generation of EU-funded consortia: WE BUILD (led by the Netherlands, open-source wallet infrastructure) and APTITUDE (cross-border interoperability testing). These build on lessons from the first four pilots.

Q3-Q4 2025Completed

Country Pilot Programs Expand

Multiple countries launch or scale public pilots. Germany tests the SPRIND-developed wallet via AusweisApp, France scales France Identité to 5 million users, and the Netherlands develops the open-source NL-wallet. Croatia's Certilia reaches 350,000+ users.

Q1-Q2 2026Current

Pre-Launch Testing & Certification

Member states conduct final interoperability testing, security audits, and certification processes. Cross-border wallet recognition testing intensifies. The European Commission reviews compliance readiness across all 27 member states.

Spring 2026Upcoming

Denmark Launches AltID

Denmark targets a spring 2026 launch for AltID, its EUDI wallet developed by Nine with Signicat for identity verification. One of the earliest full EUDI-compliant wallets.

H2 2026Upcoming

Country Launches Accelerate

Member states begin launching their certified EUDI Wallets to the public. Countries with mature digital identity infrastructure (Estonia, Poland, Austria, Hungary) among the first wave.

December 24, 2026Upcoming

EUDI Wallet Deadline

All 27 EU member states must provide at least one EUDI Wallet to their citizens. This is the binding deadline — exactly 24 months after the first implementing acts entered into force on December 24, 2024. All government services must accept the wallet for identification.

Late December 2027Upcoming

Relying Party Mandate Takes Effect

All private-sector relying parties — banks, Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs with 45M+ EU users), and telecom providers — must accept the EUDI Wallet. This is 36 months after the first implementing acts entered into force on December 24, 2024. Banks must accept the wallet for KYC, account opening, and other regulated financial activities.

2028-2030Upcoming

Full Ecosystem Adoption

The EUDI Wallet ecosystem matures as adoption expands. Private sector use cases grow across travel (digital boarding passes), healthcare (ePrescriptions), education (diploma verification), and employment (professional qualifications). Full cross-border interoperability reaches all 27 member states plus EEA countries.

What Happens If a Country Misses the Deadline?

The December 2026 deadline is a legal obligation under EU law. If a member state fails to provide an EUDI Wallet by the deadline, the European Commission can initiate infringement proceedings. However, the regulation does not specify penalties for late implementation, and some flexibility is expected for countries facing technical challenges.

Historically, EU member states often miss implementation deadlines by months or even years. The Commission typically works with late-implementing countries rather than immediately pursuing legal action. Citizens in countries that miss the deadline can still use wallets from other member states that launch on time, as cross-border recognition is guaranteed by the regulation.