EU Digital Identity Wallet

The EU Digital Identity Wallet is a comprehensive digital identity framework that enables European citizens and businesses to securely share identity data across the European Union. The project implements Self-Sovereign Identity principles by giving users full control over their personal data and what they choose to share.

The wallet's technical implementation is based on several key standards and protocols including W3C Verifiable Credentials, OpenID4VP, ISO/IEC 18013-5:2021, and SD-JWT for selective disclosure of attributes. The system uses a Wallet Secure Cryptographic Device (WSCD) and Wallet Secure Cryptographic Application (WSCA) architecture to protect cryptographic secrets and ensure secure key management. Core features include:

• Support for Person Identification Data (PID) and various types of electronic attestations
• Qualified Electronic Signatures capabilities
• Cross-border identity verification and matching
• Integration with national eIDAS frameworks
• Rigorous security certification requirements

The project has seen significant adoption and development through four major pilot programs launched in 2023, involving over 250 public and private organizations across 25 EU member states. These pilots are testing real-world use cases including government services, banking, telecommunications, and travel credentials. The European Commission is developing a reference implementation that will be made available as open-source software, with full deployment expected by 2026 when member states must offer at least one compliant wallet solution to their citizens.