🇨🇿EUDI Wallet Czech Republic: What We Know So Far

What We Know About Czech Republic's EUDI Wallet

Czech Republic, with a population of 11 million, is preparing to implement the European Digital Identity Wallet as required by the eIDAS 2.0 regulation. While specific details about Czech Republic's EUDI Wallet implementation have not been officially announced, several facts are clear based on EU law and Czech Republic'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. Czech Republic must comply with this deadline.

Existing Authentication System (🟢 Verified)

Czech Republic currently operates eObčanka, a national digital authentication system that enables citizens to access government services electronically. eObčanka 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 eObčanka infrastructure, using years of established digital identity experience.

Regulatory Deadline (🟡 Confirmed by Regulation)

The December 31, 2026 deadline is set by EU law. Czech Republic 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 Czech Republic authorities:

Official Wallet Name (⚠️ Not Yet Announced)

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

Exact Launch Date (⚠️ Not Yet Announced)

Beyond the December 2026 regulatory deadline, Czech Republic 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—Czech Republic's approach remains unclear.

Setup Process (⚠️ Not Yet Announced)

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

Expected Functionality Based on EU Standards

Even without Czech Republic-specific announcements, we know what functionality Czech Republic'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: Czech Republic 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 Czech Republic Citizens Do Now?

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

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

eObčanka: Czech Electronic ID Cards Since 2012

The Czech Republic began issuing electronic citizen ID cards (eObčanka) in 2012, making it one of the earlier EU adopters of chip-based national identity documents. The eObčanka contains an embedded contactless chip with cryptographic certificates that enable electronic identification and the creation of qualified electronic signatures. Citizens can use the card with a compatible reader to log into government portals, sign official documents, and authenticate with participating private services.

However, the eObčanka faced a significant adoption challenge: many citizens never activated the electronic functions on their card. The activation requires visiting a municipal office, setting a security PIN, and obtaining a card reader—steps that many people skipped when they only needed the card as a physical ID document. This gap between card issuance and electronic activation is a lesson that the Czech Republic will need to address with the EUDI Wallet, ensuring that the activation process is simple enough to drive widespread adoption, not just possession.

Bank Identity (Bankovní Identita): The 2021 Turning Point

In January 2021, the Czech Republic launched Bank Identity (BankID), a system that transformed the digital identity space virtually overnight. Bank Identity allows citizens to verify their identity for government and commercial services using their existing online banking login credentials. Because over 90% of Czech adults already use online banking, this immediately made digital identity accessible to millions without requiring any new hardware, card readers, or registration steps.

Bank Identity is operated by the Bankovní identita consortium, with participation from seven major Czech banks: Česká spořitelna, ČSOB, Komerční banka, Raiffeisenbank, Moneta Money Bank, Fio banka, and Air Bank. Within its first year, over 4 million citizens used the service, and by 2025, adoption exceeded 6 million users. The system authenticates through the banks' existing security infrastructure (which already meets stringent financial regulations) and provides identity attributes verified against government records during the bank account opening process.

Bank Identity's rapid success demonstrates that the Czech public is receptive to digital identity solutions when they are convenient and used from existing trusted relationships. The EUDI Wallet can build on this momentum, and Bank Identity may serve as one of the identity proofing methods for wallet onboarding—citizens could use their bank-verified identity to activate their EUDI Wallet without needing a separate in-person verification visit.

Czech POINT: A Nationwide Assisted Service Network

Czech POINT (Český Podací Ověřovací Informační Národní Terminál) is a network of over 7,000 assisted service locations spread across the Czech Republic—at municipal offices (obecní úřady), post offices (Česká pošta branches), chambers of commerce, and notary offices. Czech POINT was established in 2007 to bring government services closer to citizens, particularly those who may not be comfortable with fully online processes.

At Czech POINT locations, citizens can obtain verified extracts from government registers (criminal record, commercial register, insolvency register, land registry), convert documents between paper and electronic formats with legal validity, manage data box access, and verify electronic signatures. The network handles millions of transactions annually. For the EUDI Wallet rollout, Czech POINT locations could serve as critical onboarding hubs—providing in-person identity verification, assisted wallet activation, and troubleshooting for citizens who need hands-on support. This physical infrastructure ensures that the EUDI Wallet is accessible even to those with limited digital literacy.

DIA: The New Digital Government Authority

The Digital and Information Agency (DIA, Digitální a informační agentura) was established in April 2023 as the Czech Republic's central coordinating body for digital government. DIA absorbed digital identity responsibilities previously scattered across the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Regional Development, and other agencies. By consolidating these functions under a single agency, the Czech government aimed to accelerate digital transformation and provide clearer accountability for eGovernment projects.

DIA manages the Portál občana (Citizen Portal at portál.gov.cz), the Identita občana (Citizen Identity) framework that unifies eObčanka and Bank Identity under a single identity umbrella, and the overall strategic roadmap for Czech digital government services. DIA is also responsible for the National Identity Authority (NIA), the trust framework that validates identity providers and ensures they meet required assurance levels. For the EUDI Wallet, DIA's role is critical: the agency will need to coordinate between Bank Identity providers, the eObčanka infrastructure, the Czech POINT network, and EU-level technical working groups to deliver a wallet that meets both Czech domestic needs and EU interoperability requirements.

Datové Schránky: The Digital Mailbox System

Datové schránky (data boxes) are a uniquely Czech innovation in digital government communication. Launched in 2009, data boxes provide legally binding electronic delivery of official documents between citizens, businesses, and government authorities. A message sent via data box has the same legal standing as a registered letter with return receipt. Since 2023, data boxes are automatically created for every citizen who activates eObčanka or uses Bank Identity for the first time.

Over 2 million data boxes are active in the Czech Republic, handling hundreds of millions of messages annually from courts, tax authorities, the Social Security Administration, and other government bodies. While data boxes handle document delivery (not identity verification), the EUDI Wallet could complement them by providing stronger authentication for accessing data box contents and by storing official documents received via data box as verifiable credentials. For Czech citizens, the combination of data boxes and the EUDI Wallet would create a complete digital government interaction framework—identity verification through the wallet and official communication through data boxes.

Reassurance: All EU Countries Must Comply

If you're concerned about whether the Czech Republic will deliver an EUDI Wallet, remember this: the December 2026 deadline applies equally to all 27 EU member states. The Czech Republic is legally obligated to provide a wallet, just like every other country. With the success of Bank Identity (6 million+ users), an established Czech POINT physical network, and the newly focused DIA agency, the Czech Republic has demonstrated both citizen appetite for digital identity and the institutional capacity to deliver it at scale.