Italy makes IT Wallet mandatory for public administration

A decree published in the Official Gazette (decree of 19 March 2026, released 3 August) establishes the IT Wallet as a compulsory digital platform for all Italian public administrations. PagoPA S.p.A., the state‑owned payment operator that also runs the IO app, will provide the required infrastructure, while the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato will issue electronic public‑interest attestations using data from the national population registry.

Public bodies must register as “authentic sources” by 3 August 2027 and can begin issuing electronic attestations from 3 February 2028. The attestations will have the same legal effect as a digital signature or SPID authentication, eliminating many traditional paper checks. Citizens are not forced to adopt the wallet; they may continue using paper documents, while a free basic service is offered to all and optional paid services are available for private companies.