The EU Digital Wallet (EUDI Wallet) and Electronic Signatures

The EU Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet) will, in the coming years, change the way Europeans authenticate themselves and sign documents. This article explains what the EUDI Wallet means in practice, how it will affect electronic signatures for small businesses, and what you should prepare for now.

What is the EUDI Wallet?

The EUDI Wallet is an EU-wide smartphone application where citizens, residents, and businesses can store:

an official electronic identity
various digital certificates and credentials (e.g., driver's license, degree certificate, company authorisations)
the ability to sign documents electronically and authenticate to services both online and in person

The background is the eIDAS 2.0 Regulation (EU) 2024/1183, which came into force in May 2024 and obliges each EU country to offer at least one official EUDI wallet to its citizens, residents, and businesses by the end of 2026. In Finland, the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) is building the national wallet.

Where are we now – Europe and Finland

Several large-scale pilot projects are underway in the EU (e.g., POTENTIAL, EWC, DC4EU), testing the wallet in everyday situations:

opening a bank account
logging into government services
displaying a digital driver's license
digital travel documents

Hundreds of companies and public authorities from almost all EU countries are participating in these pilots. In Finland, the DVV is building the national wallet, which is scheduled to be released by the end of 2026, with features expanded in stages. Currently, strong authentication is still handled through Suomi.fi e-Identification (bank credentials, Mobile ID), and these systems are being connected to the future wallet.

How will the EUDI Wallet affect electronic signatures?

The EUDI Wallet brings electronic signatures into the pocket of every EU citizen. Until now, a qualified electronic signature (QES level) has practically required a separate certificate and a related device. With the wallet, every EU citizen can have access to a qualified signature certificate directly on their phone.

From a small business perspective, this practically means:

customer identification becomes easier—one unified method across the EU
contracts can be signed directly from the customer's phone
cross-border business becomes easier as authentication works the same way in different countries
fewer country-specific identification methods are needed

A small business owner does not need to build this technology themselves but should choose an electronic signature service that will eventually integrate with the EUDI wallet—just as current services integrate with bank authentication.

What does a small business concretely get?

1. One authentication method for the entire EU

A customer or employee can authenticate in the same way anywhere in the EU, regardless of the service or company location. Fewer country-specific login solutions and fewer custom authentication setups.

2. Electronic signatures directly from the wallet

A document signed with the EUDI wallet will function according to eIDAS rules, and its legal effect can be equivalent to current strong electronic signatures. This simplifies sales, employment, and international contracts.

3. Certificates and credentials in one place

The wallet can also store professional licenses, degree certificates, and rights to act on behalf of a company. This facilitates recruitment, checking subcontractors, and ensuring that the right person is authorised to sign on behalf of the company.

4. Fewer usernames and passwords

The wallet can be used both online and in person. The user controls their own data, and the service receives only what it needs. This reduces security risks related to passwords.

5. A unified digital customer journey

When authentication, signature, and certificates are in the same wallet, the entire customer journey can be handled digitally: authentication → signature → data directly to the system → invoicing.

Preparation checklist for a small business

Adopt an electronic signature service that supports strong authentication (e.g., EpicSign).
Follow your software provider's announcements regarding EUDI support.
Ensure that your document archiving is in electronic form.
Check that your company has Suomi.fi e-Identification set up.
Investigate if you have intra-EU customers for whom the EUDI could simplify collaboration.

GDPR perspective: personal data and the wallet

The wallet follows the principle of data minimisation—the recipient only gets the information that is necessary.
The user controls their own data and decides what to share.
Service providers are not allowed to track the user's activity across different services.
Data retention periods comply with GDPR requirements.

Example: a design agency and international clients

A small design agency in Helsinki works with both Finnish and German clients. Currently, authentication methods are different: bank credentials in Finland, an eID card in Germany. With the EUDI Wallet, clients from both countries can authenticate and sign a contract in the same way, directly from their phones. Time is saved, especially at the beginning of the contract process, as separate country-specific instructions are not needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the EUDI Wallet be available in Finland?

EU countries must offer the wallet by the end of 2026. In Finland, the DVV is building the implementation in stages.

Will the EUDI Wallet replace authentication with bank credentials?

Not necessarily right away. In the long term, the EUDI Wallet may offer an alternative or complement current methods, but Suomi.fi e-Identification will remain in use.

Does a small business need to do anything now?

No technical changes are needed yet. Good preparation involves adopting electronic signatures and following developments.

How is the EUDI Wallet related to the eIDAS regulation?

The EUDI Wallet is part of the eIDAS 2.0 reform (Regulation (EU) 2024/1183). It makes qualified electronic signatures accessible to ordinary citizens.

Does the EUDI Wallet work across EU borders?

Yes. The EUDI Wallet is designed to work in the same way in all EU countries.

Summary

The EU Digital Wallet is a major change, but for a small business, it ultimately means simple benefits: a single, EU-wide way to identify customers, electronic signatures directly from the customer's phone, less manual document checking, and easier growth within the EU. The technology and legislation will be implemented in stages, but the direction is clear: digital identity and signatures will be in your pocket, not in folders.

Sources

This article is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.