Bulgaria to implement digital wallet for electronic ID by 2026

Bulgaria is working toward the implementation of a digital wallet, with the first phase expected to be completed by the end of 2026. According to Minister of Innovation and Digital Transformation Ivan Vasilev, the primary function of the wallet will be electronic identification rather than a payment method. It is intended to allow citizens to verify their identity with state institutions to access services such as tax declarations, social security information, healthcare, and driver's license renewals.

A more comprehensive expansion is planned for early 2027, which will include a mobile application and a unified portal. This system aims to consolidate various state services into a single access point, reducing the need for multiple passwords and different identification mechanisms.

To address security concerns, the project will follow European architecture based on public code developed by the European Commission. Officials stated that the system is designed to avoid a central database of all documents; instead, data will be encrypted and stored locally on the user's device within a protected hardware module. This decentralized approach is intended to prevent large-scale data breaches by ensuring users control what specific information they share during verification.