eIDAS 2.0 in a nutshell – what you need to know

VThe original EU eIDAS regulation (electronic Identification, Authentication and Trust Services), which came into force in 2014, laid the foundation for electronic signatures, seals and timestamps. It also enabled secure electronic interactions across EU borders.

In the coming years, digital identity and trust services will take a major leap forward with an updated regulation — often referred to as eIDAS 2.0 — and the introduction of new requirements for trust services and the European Digital Identity Wallet.

What does this all mean, why does it matter and what should organisations keep in mind?
Here’s a clear overview.

A brief history of digital identification in Europe

Before eIDAS, EU countries relied on very different identification systems that did not work together. Cross-border digital services were slow and inconvenient, often requiring users to create separate accounts for each system.

When eIDAS entered into force, it introduced shared rules that made it possible, for example, for Finnish banking credentials to be used in many European digital services.

Ten years later, in 2024, it was time to update the legal framework for digital identification in the EU.

What is eIDAS 2.0?

The aim of eIDAS 2.0 is to ensure the availability of reliable and secure digital identity solutions across the EU.
The regulation introduces a new, EU-wide identification tool: the European Digital Identity Wallet, or simply the digital identity wallet.

In addition to the wallet, eIDAS 2.0 also covers electronic trust services, which will further support the use of cross-border electronic signatures.
E-signatures can be used for signing contracts, verifying official documents or securing electronic communication.

The digital identity wallet

”DiThe term “digital identity wallet” may sound simple — and that’s because it is.

The wallet is a mobile application that makes identification and personal data management easier and more secure than ever. It is provided by each EU member state, and using it will be completely voluntary.

With the digital identity wallet, individuals can:

• log into digital services anywhere in the EU without intermediaries
• manage and share personal information securely — e.g. prove their age without revealing their personal identity number
• sign documents electronically, making cross-border contract processes much faster

In practice, the wallet becomes a secure form of portable digital identity, always available on your device.

It is important to note that while the wallet helps private individuals identify themselves, it does not replace tools designed for broader contract management and workflow features — something that dedicated solutions like Visma Sign are built to support.

How is the wallet different from banking credentials or mobile certificates?

Today in the Nordics, people typically authenticate with online banking credentials.

The digital identity wallet differs in several ways:

1. EU-wide

Banking credentials and mobile certificates are national solutions. The wallet is an EU-wide standard, usable across member states.

2. User control

The wallet gives users full control over what information they share. You can confirm that you are over 18 without disclosing your ID number, and use of the wallet is voluntary. Member states are required to provide it — but you decide how and whether to use it.

3. More versatile

The wallet is not only an identification tool. It can also store a driving licence, diplomas and other verified personal data.

Visma Sign remains fully compliant with the new regulation

The updated regulation introduces aligned standards across the EU, ensuring that electronic identification and trust services work seamlessly across borders.
It also strengthens the legal status of electronic signatures within the EU.

All EU member states must offer the digital identity wallet to their citizens by December 2026.

Visma Sign follows the framework of eIDAS 2.0 and will continue to be fully compliant with the regulation. The service is continuously developed to support secure e-signing as well as robust document and contract management — both now and in the future.

Terhi Tella is Senior Growth Marketing Specialist at Visma Sign. She’s inspired by content and communication that create real value, and always strives to see things from the customer’s perspective.