What is eIDAS 2.0?

The original eIDAS Regulation from 2014 set up mutual recognition of national eID schemes but left adoption to each country, and uptake stayed low. eIDAS 2.0 changed the mechanism. Rather than recognising whatever each country happened to build, it mandates a common wallet, says what it must hold, and attaches deadlines for issuing and accepting it.

It was adopted on 11 April 2024 and entered into force that May. The clock that matters runs from the implementing acts rather than the regulation. Five of them were published on 4 December 2024 and took effect on 24 December 2024, which puts the deadline for every member state to offer at least one wallet at 24 December 2026 and the private-sector acceptance deadline at 24 December 2027.

Acceptance is staged across Article 5f. Public sector bodies that already require electronic identification have to accept wallets, with no user-request condition attached. Private relying parties get 36 months, and what puts you in scope is being required by law or by contract to use strong user authentication, not the sector you sit in. The regulation lists transport, energy, banking, financial services, social security, health, drinking water, postal services, digital infrastructure, education and telecommunications as examples, and exempts microenterprises and small enterprises. Very large online platforms designated under the Digital Services Act are covered separately. Both private-sector duties bite only where the user asks to use a wallet.