🇫🇮EUDI Wallet Finland: What We Know So Far

What We Know About Finland's EUDI Wallet

Finland, with a population of 6 million, is preparing to implement the European Digital Identity Wallet as required by the eIDAS 2.0 regulation. While specific details about Finland's EUDI Wallet implementation have not been officially announced, several facts are clear based on EU law and Finland'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. Finland must comply with this deadline.

Existing Authentication System (🟢 Verified)

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

Regulatory Deadline (🟡 Confirmed by Regulation)

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

Official Wallet Name (⚠️ Not Yet Announced)

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

Exact Launch Date (⚠️ Not Yet Announced)

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

Setup Process (⚠️ Not Yet Announced)

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

Expected Functionality Based on EU Standards

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

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

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

Suomi.fi: One of Europe's Most Advanced E-Government Platforms

Finland's Suomi.fi platform is widely regarded as one of the most complete e-government systems in the European Union. Unlike many countries where digital services are scattered across different ministry websites, Suomi.fi consolidates access to virtually all public services under a single portal. Citizens can handle tax filings, social security applications, business registrations, building permits, healthcare authorizations, and hundreds of other government procedures through one authenticated session.

Suomi.fi offers several distinct services: Suomi.fi e-Identification (the authentication gateway), Suomi.fi e-Authorizations (power of attorney and mandate management), Suomi.fi Messages (secure communication with government agencies), and Suomi.fi Maps (location-based public services). The platform handles over 100 million authentication transactions annually for Finland's 5.6 million residents. This mature infrastructure provides a strong foundation for integrating the EUDI Wallet — rather than building from scratch, Finland can connect the wallet to an already functioning, trusted digital services ecosystem.

Finland's Unique Authentication System: Bank-Based Identity

Finland has a distinctive approach to digital identity that sets it apart from most EU countries: bank authentication (verkkopankkitunnukset) is the dominant method for online identification, used for approximately 85% of all electronic identification transactions. Finnish citizens routinely use their online banking credentials from OP, Nordea, Danske Bank, Handelsbanken, and other banks to log into government services, healthcare portals, insurance companies, and telecom providers.

This bank-centric model emerged organically because Finnish banks introduced online banking early (in the late 1990s) and government agencies found it efficient to use existing bank authentication infrastructure rather than building separate systems. The model works well domestically but has a key limitation: Finnish bank credentials are not recognized outside Finland. The EUDI Wallet addresses this gap by providing credentials that are valid across all 27 EU member states. The transition question for Finland is how to integrate a bank-accustomed population into a government-issued wallet system without disrupting the familiar bank authentication workflow.

DVV: The Agency Driving Finland's Digital Identity

The Digital and Population Data Services Agency (Digi- ja väestötietovirasto, abbreviated DVV) is the Finnish government authority responsible for population registration, digital identity services, and trust services. DVV was formed in 2020 through a merger of the Population Register Centre and local register offices, consolidating Finland's identity management under one roof.

DVV manages several critical components of Finland's digital identity infrastructure: the population information system (containing records on all Finnish residents), the Suomi.fi authentication service, electronic ID card issuance, and Finland's national certificate authority for qualified electronic signatures. For the EUDI Wallet, DVV is the natural lead authority — it already handles the technical and administrative aspects of digital identity that the wallet will build upon. DVV also represents Finland in EU-level technical working groups defining the wallet's Architecture and Reference Framework (ARF).

The Strong Authentication Act and Legal Framework

Finland's Act on Strong Electronic Identification and Trust Services (Laki vahvasta sähköisestä tunnistamisesta ja sähköisistä luottamuspalveluista, 617/2009) is a key piece of legislation governing digital identity in Finland. The act defines what constitutes "strong authentication" in the Finnish legal context, establishes requirements for identification service providers (including banks), and sets rules for trust services such as qualified electronic signatures.

Under this act, Traficom (the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency) supervises electronic identification providers and trust service providers. Banks offering authentication services must meet specific security requirements and are subject to regulatory oversight. When the EUDI Wallet arrives, Finland will likely need to amend this act to accommodate the new EU-wide wallet framework. Key questions include how the wallet provider certification process interacts with existing Finnish provider requirements, and whether the wallet qualifies as "strong authentication" under Finnish law from day one.

Finland's Digital Compass 2030 and Future Vision

Finland's digital ambitions extend beyond the EUDI Wallet. The country's Digital Compass 2030 strategy, aligned with the EU's broader Digital Decade targets, sets goals for digital skills, digital infrastructure, digital transformation of businesses, and digitalization of public services. Finland aims for 80% of citizens to use digital public services regularly and for all key public services to be available online by 2030.

The EUDI Wallet fits directly into this vision as an enabler. With verifiable digital credentials stored in a wallet, Finland can further reduce paper-based processes and enable new cross-border digital services. Finnish universities could issue digital diplomas directly into the wallet, Kela could provide verifiable health insurance cards for travel, and professional certifications (such as nursing licenses or engineering qualifications) could be stored and verified across EU borders. Finland's existing high digital literacy rate — over 88% of Finns use the internet regularly — means citizen adoption of the wallet is less of a barrier than in some other EU member states.

Reassurance: Finland's Digital Track Record Speaks for Itself

If you're concerned about whether Finland will deliver an EUDI Wallet, consider Finland's track record: the country operates one of Europe's most sophisticated e-government platforms (Suomi.fi), has near-universal digital identity adoption through bank authentication, and maintains a dedicated government agency (DVV) focused exclusively on digital identity and population services. Finland consistently ranks in the top five of the EU's Digital Economy and Society Index. The December 2026 deadline applies equally to all 27 EU member states, and Finland's challenge is not whether it can build a wallet but how to add value beyond what its domestic systems already provide.