EU to roll out European Digital Identity Wallet for driver’s licences and IDs by 2027

The European Union will introduce a pan‑EU digital wallet that stores official documents on a smartphone, including driver’s licences, identity cards, health cards, and other certificates. Under the eIDAS 2.0 regulation, every member state must provide at least one secure digital wallet to all citizens, residents and businesses by the end of 2026, with voluntary use beginning in 2027. Physical documents will remain valid, but users can optionally download certified digital versions.

A pilot test of the “European Digital Wallet” is taking place in Benidorm, Spain, to evaluate check‑in processes for hotels and other tourism services. Spain already offers a digital driving licence through the DGT app since 2022 and a digital DNI since 2025, though currently only Spanish nationals can store these documents. The EU‑wide wallet will enable cross‑border verification, allowing documents issued in one member state to be accepted in another.

The rollout aims to provide a secure, private, and interoperable means of identification across the 27 EU countries, reducing paperwork and streamlining services for travelers and residents alike.