Finland is set to introduce a Digital Identity Wallet by December 2026, providing citizens with a secure smartphone application for digital identification, electronic signatures, and credential management. The initiative extends Finland’s existing digital identity infrastructure and follows the country’s Ministry of Finance’s EUDI project framework, launched earlier to prepare for this implementation. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency will develop and maintain this platform, which will support both public and private sector digital certificates.
The implementation includes a new electronic identification (eID) system, to be issued by the National Police Board in collaboration with the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. The official eID will carry the same legal weight as traditional identification documents, though it will not function as a travel document. The system enables selective disclosure of personal information, allowing users to verify specific attributes, such as age verification, without revealing additional personal details – a privacy-enhancing feature that has become increasingly important in digital ID solutions, as demonstrated by similar implementations in North Dakota’s Mobile ID program.
The wallet will incorporate various certificates from both government organizations and private entities, maintaining a comprehensive digital credential system. The respective authorities currently responsible for physical documents will continue to manage their digital counterparts within the new platform. The approach follows successful models implemented across the European Union, where cross-border trials have demonstrated the viability of integrated digital identity systems.
Traficom, Finland’s transport authority, intends to integrate mobile driving licenses into the wallet system following the initial launch. The integration depends on the adoption of the EU Driving Licence Directive and corresponding national legislation, for which Traficom is actively preparing. The addition of mobile driving licenses reflects a broader global trend, with numerous jurisdictions already implementing similar solutions to enhance convenience and security.
The Digital and Population Data Services Agency indicates that the wallet’s capabilities will expand incrementally after its launch, allowing for systematic integration of additional digital identity services. The initiative forms part of Finland’s compliance with eIDAS 2.0, an EU regulation requiring member states to implement digital identity wallets by 2026 to facilitate cross-border digital services within the European Union. The development comes as the EU continues to advance its digital identity framework, with various member states and private sector partners, including Lufthansa and Amadeus, preparing to test the system for air travel applications in 2025.
Sources: Digital and Population Data Services Agency / STT Info, Edison Group, Passenger Terminal Today
