🇭🇷EUDI Wallet Croatia: What We Know So Far

What We Know About Croatia's EUDI Wallet

Croatia, with a population of 4 million, is preparing to implement the European Digital Identity Wallet as required by the eIDAS 2.0 regulation. While specific details about Croatia's EUDI Wallet implementation have not been officially announced, several facts are clear based on EU law and Croatia's existing digital infrastructure.

Legal Requirement (🟢 Verified)

Under the eIDAS 2.0 regulation (EU) 2024/1183, which entered into force in May 2024, all 27 EU member states must provide a European Digital Identity Wallet to their citizens by December 31, 2026. This is a binding legal requirement, not optional. Croatia must comply with this deadline.

Existing Authentication System (🟢 Verified)

Croatia currently operates eOsobna, a national digital authentication system that enables citizens to access government services electronically. eOsobna provides secure login for tax filing, social security, healthcare, and other public services. The EUDI Wallet will likely build upon or integrate with this existing eOsobna infrastructure, using years of established digital identity experience.

Regulatory Deadline (🟡 Confirmed by Regulation)

The December 31, 2026 deadline is set by EU law. Croatia must provide a wallet that meets the technical specifications defined in the Architecture and Reference Framework (ARF) version 2.7.3, which standardizes functionality across all EU member states.

What Is Not Yet Known

We believe in being honest about what information is not yet available. The following details have not been officially announced by Croatia authorities:

Official Wallet Name (⚠️ Not Yet Announced)

Croatia has not announced the official name for its EUDI Wallet. While "Certilia" is a logical name, this is speculation, not official confirmation. The wallet may integrate directly into the existing eOsobna system or be branded separately.

Exact Launch Date (⚠️ Not Yet Announced)

Beyond the December 2026 regulatory deadline, Croatia has not provided a specific launch date, pilot schedule, or rollout timeline. Some countries announce phased launches (pilot first, then gradual rollout), while others plan immediate availability—Croatia's approach remains unclear.

Setup Process (⚠️ Not Yet Announced)

The activation process—how Croatia citizens will set up their digital wallet—has not been disclosed. It will likely require existing government-issued credentials (ID card, passport, or eOsobna account), but the specific steps are unknown.

Expected Functionality Based on EU Standards

Even without Croatia-specific announcements, we know what functionality Croatia's EUDI Wallet must provide, because all EU member states must comply with the same technical specifications (ARF 2.7.3):

Core Features (🟢 Verified from ARF Specifications)

• Identity Verification: Store and present digital identity for government services, banking, and age verification
• Banking KYC: From January 1, 2027, all banks and financial institutions must accept EUDI Wallet for customer identification (mandatory)
• Government Services: Access tax filing, healthcare, social security, business permits, and other public services
• Age Verification: Prove age for restricted purchases without revealing full birth date
• Cross-Border Recognition: Croatia digital credentials recognized in all 27 EU member states
• Qualified Signatures: Sign legally binding documents digitally with the same legal force as handwritten signatures

What Should Croatia Citizens Do Now?

While waiting for official announcements, Croatia citizens can take the following steps:

1. Ensure you have a valid Croatia ID card or passport — these will likely be required to activate the digital wallet
2. Familiarize yourself with eOsobna — Croatia's existing digital authentication system may be integrated with the EUDI Wallet
3. Monitor official sources — Check www.gov.hr for government announcements
4. Don't worry about missing the deadline — The wallet is optional; you can continue using physical documents

Croatia's e-Građani Portal and Digital Government Foundation

Croatia launched its e-Građani (e-Citizens) portal in 2014, creating a unified gateway for citizens to access government services online. As of 2026, the portal connects over 90 public services from more than 60 government agencies, making it one of the most complete e-government platforms in Southeast Europe. Citizens use e-Građani for everything from downloading birth certificates and checking pension records to filing tax returns through ePorezna and accessing health insurance data via HZZO (Croatian Health Insurance Fund).

The significance of e-Građani for the EUDI Wallet cannot be overstated. The portal already implements federated identity management through NIAS (National Identification and Authentication System), which supports multiple authentication methods including eOsobna cards, mobile certificates, and username-password combinations with one-time codes. This multi-method authentication architecture closely mirrors what the EUDI Wallet aims to achieve at the European level.

eOsobna and Croatia's Chip-Based ID Infrastructure

Croatia introduced the eOsobna (electronic personal ID card) in 2015, making it one of the earlier EU member states to deploy chip-based national identity cards with cryptographic capabilities. The eOsobna card contains a contact chip storing the holder's biometric data (fingerprints and facial image) along with cryptographic keys that enable both identification and qualified electronic signatures.

The eOsobna ecosystem is managed in partnership with FINA (Financijska agencija), Croatia's Financial Agency, which acts as the national trust service provider. FINA issues the qualified certificates embedded in eOsobna cards and operates the public key infrastructure (PKI) that validates these certificates. This means Croatia already has a functioning chain of trust from the physical ID card through to digital signature verification -- a critical component that the EUDI Wallet framework requires.

For EUDI Wallet implementation, Croatia's existing eOsobna infrastructure provides a significant head start. The secure element technology in eOsobna cards can potentially be used for wallet provisioning, while FINA's role as a qualified trust service provider (QTSP) positions it to issue the verifiable credentials that the EUDI Wallet will carry. Citizens who already hold an eOsobna card may find that the transition to the EUDI Wallet is relatively straightforward compared to countries that lack chip-based ID infrastructure.

NIAS: Croatia's National Authentication Hub

The National Identification and Authentication System (NIAS) is the backbone of Croatia's digital identity architecture. Operated by the Central State Office for the Development of Digital Society, NIAS provides a single sign-on (SSO) mechanism that connects citizens to all government services. Rather than requiring separate credentials for each agency, NIAS allows users to authenticate once and access services across ministries and institutions.

NIAS supports four authentication levels, ranging from basic (username and password) to high (eOsobna card with PIN). Under eIDAS, these levels correspond to the assurance levels "low," "substantial," and "high." The EUDI Wallet must operate at the "high" assurance level, which means it will integrate with NIAS at its most secure tier. Citizens already using eOsobna-based authentication through NIAS are effectively using the same security standard that the EUDI Wallet will require.

Impact of Euro and Schengen Entry on Digital Readiness

Croatia's simultaneous adoption of the euro and entry into the Schengen area on January 1, 2023, triggered the most significant modernization of the country's financial and identity infrastructure in a decade. Banks across Croatia upgraded their core systems to handle euro-denominated transactions, implementing new interfaces with the European Central Bank's TARGET2 payment system and the SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) standards.

This infrastructure renewal has direct implications for the EUDI Wallet. From January 1, 2027, all banks and financial institutions in the EU must accept the EUDI Wallet for customer identification under the updated Anti-Money Laundering regulation. Croatian banks that recently upgraded their systems for euro compliance are better positioned to integrate EUDI Wallet verification than they would have been with legacy infrastructure. The Schengen entry also means Croatian identity documents are now subject to the same interoperability standards as other Schengen states, aligning Croatia's identity framework with the cross-border recognition requirements of the EUDI Wallet.

Reassurance: All EU Countries Must Comply

If you're concerned about whether Croatia will deliver an EUDI Wallet, remember this: the December 2026 deadline applies equally to all 27 EU member states. Croatia is legally obligated to provide a wallet, just like every other country. The lack of public announcements does not indicate Croatia won't comply—many countries are developing wallets without extensive public communication until closer to launch.