The Finnish Government has laid down the regulatory framework for European Digital Identity Wallets, introducing supplemental national legislation that enters into force on 1 October 2026.
The new national act aligns domestic law with the EU’s amended eIDAS Regulation, the overarching EU directive governing cross-border electronic identification, trust services, and digital credentials. Designed as smartphone apps, digital wallets will allow citizens and businesses across all EU Member States to securely identify themselves, sign documents, and store digital certificates.
While the supporting legislation takes effect in late 2026, the digital wallets and Finland’s new digital identification solution are expected to become officially available to the public in 2027.
“Digital wallets will make using services in the EU even easier. Wallets will also be more secure, as they will give people better control of their personal information|” said Anna-Kaisa Ikonen, Minister of Local and Regional Government
European Digital Identity Wallets are designed around user privacy and cross-border usability and adoption is entirely voluntary for citizens. Basic wallet applications will be provided at no cost.
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Selective Disclosure
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Universal EU acceptance
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Multi-certificate support
Under the eIDAS mandate, every EU country must make a digital wallet option available to its public. Finland is opening the market to both public and certified private providers. The digital identification solution issued via valid passport or ID card verification will serve as the key digital credential inside Finnish wallets. An updated description detailing the complete national ecosystem, service packages, and technical parameters will be published alongside the October legislation.
Alongside wallet legislation, Finland is updating its national act on strong electronic identification. All domestic rules supplementing the eIDAS framework are consolidated into a single act dedicated specifically to national strong e-ID.
Moreover, strict requirements will obligate identity providers to verify passport or ID card validity against primary registers.
