Skip to content
Contact us
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

What is the difference between EU identity and EU wallet?

 

What is the difference between eIDAS eID and the eIDAS Wallet?

eIDAS eID is a government-issued electronic identification system used to verify identity online, while the eIDAS Wallet is a digital application that stores and manages eIDAS eIDs and other digital identities. The eIDAS Wallet depends on an existing eIDAS eID - users must obtain one from a trusted issuer before using the Wallet.

Under the EU eIDAS regulation, two distinct frameworks govern digital identity: eIDAS eID - a state-issued electronic identification scheme - and qualified certificates, which underpin Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) and are governed by global ETSI standards. ZealiD operates within the qualified certificates framework as a Qualified Trust Service Provider (QTSP) listed on the EU Trusted List. The practical difference matters: eIDAS eID establishes who a person is for public service access, while qualified certificates establish legally accountable signer identity for documents and transactions.

 

 

How is an eIDAS eID obtained?

To acquire an eIDAS eID, users must complete the following steps:

  1. Provide identification documents to a public authority or trusted third party.
  2. Go through the required verification process.
  3. Receive the eIDAS eID, typically in the form of a chip-equipped identity card or passport.
  4. Activate and install the eIDAS eID on a smartphone for online authentication.

 

 

What is the eIDAS Wallet?

In contrast, the eIDAS Wallet is a digital wallet that enables users to store and manage their digital identities, including their eIDAS eIDs, in one place. The eIDAS Wallet relies on underlying eID schemes, such as eIDAS eID, to provide users with a means of identification for securely accessing and using online services across the EU.

 

 

Does the eIDAS Wallet replace the need for an eIDAS eID?

The eIDAS Wallet does not address identity proofing, issuance, or credential maintenance. Users must first obtain a valid eID from a certified issuer before the Wallet can function. This is a structural dependency: the Wallet is a management and presentation layer, not an identity authority. Organisations planning to rely on eIDAS Wallet-based identification for onboarding or signing workflows should account for this gap in their compliance design.

 

 

How do eIDAS eID and the eIDAS Wallet relate to each other?

eIDAS eID and the eIDAS Wallet serve distinct functions within the eIDAS framework: eIDAS eID is a state-issued electronic identification credential, while the eIDAS Wallet is a management and presentation layer that depends on an underlying eID scheme. Neither replaces qualified certificates for legally binding signatures. For documents and transactions where signer identity must withstand legal challenge, a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) issued by a QTSP under eIDAS Article 3(20) - not an eID or Wallet alone - is the required standard.