Malta plans to launch its European Union Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet by December 2026, aligning with the implementation deadline established under eIDAS 2.0, the revised EU regulation governing electronic identification and trust services across member states.
The eIDAS 2.0 regulation entered into force on 20 May 2024 and requires all EU member states to provide at least one certified EUDI Wallet to citizens and businesses by 24 December 2026. The framework aims to address the fragmented user experience under the original eIDAS regulation while strengthening cybersecurity requirements and giving users greater control over their personal data.
Member states face tight timeline constraints to meet the deadline. Each country must establish and notify certification schemes by early 2026, which then require evaluation by the European Digital Identity Cooperation Group and Conformity Assessment Bodies before the wallets can become operational.
The EUDI Wallet enables users to store government-verified credentials including identity documents, professional qualifications, and educational certificates, with the ability to selectively share them with trusted services. The framework supports cross-border digital transactions across member states with government-assured identity proof.
From December 2027, financial institutions including banks, payment service providers, and electronic money institutions that require strong online authentication must accept all recognized EUDI Wallets. The EU aims for 80% of European citizens to have a functional digital identity wallet by 2030.
Malta’s implementation reflects the broader challenge facing all 27 member states: translating bloc-wide interoperability requirements into functional national digital identity infrastructure within a compressed timeframe.
Sources
- Gataca, “eIDAS 2.0 Timeline,” https://gataca.io/resources/blog/eIDAS2-timeline
- Intesi Group, “EUDI Wallets: Signicat,” https://www.intesigroup.com/en/news/eudi-wallets-signicat
- Yousign, “eIDAS 2.0 Digital Identity Wallet Compliance Requirements,” https://yousign.com/blog/eidas-2-0-digital-identity-wallet-compliance-requirements
- Stibbe, “eIDAS 2.0: Key Implications for Financial Institutions in the Dutch Market,” https://www.stibbe.com/publications-and-insights/eidas-20-key-implications-for-financial-institutions-in-the-dutch-market