EUDI-Wallet in Germany: What Documents Can Be Used via a Smartphone

In early 2027, Germany plans to launch the EUDI-Wallet, a government-backed digital wallet. It will allow users to verify their identity and use digital documents via a smartphone not only in Germany but also in other EU countries

Germany is preparing to launch its own European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI-Wallet)—a digital wallet that will be one of the key elements of the EU’s new electronic identification system. The German Federal Ministry for Digitalization reports that the rollout of the service is scheduled to begin in early 2027.

Using a smartphone, users will be able to verify their identity, present digital credentials, and access public and private services. The system is being developed in accordance with common EU standards, so digital identification should also work when using services in other EU countries.

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Germany to Launch EUDI-Wallet in Early 2027

Germany plans to launch the EUDI-Wallet, a government-backed digital wallet, in January 2027. It will be part of the pan-European European Digital Identity system, which aims to standardize digital identity verification and the use of electronic documents across EU countries.

Through the app, users will be able to verify their identity using a smartphone and provide the necessary digital data to government agencies and private companies. Importantly, the system is being developed according to uniform EU standards, so the German EUDI-Wallet should be compatible with services in other member states.

The rollout will take place in phases. In the first phase, the main focus will be on digital identification and the secure verification of personal data, and the list of available documents and features will be expanded in the future.

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What documents can be stored in the EUDI-Wallet?

The EUDI-Wallet is designed to be more than just a digital copy of a passport. It will allow users to store and share various verified data and documents, with users deciding for themselves exactly what information to provide to a specific service. For example, to verify age, it will not be necessary to disclose one’s name, address, or full date of birth.

Among the documents and features supported by the EUDI system are:

- Digital ID and personal identification data

- Mobile driver’s license

- Diplomas and other educational documents

- Medical prescriptions and certain medical data

- Transportation and travel documents

- Banking and other verified data

- Creation and use of an electronic signature

However, not all features will necessarily be available in the German wallet simultaneously on launch day. The EUDI-Wallet will be populated with digital IDs and other verifications gradually as government agencies and private services come online.

It is also important to note that a qualified electronic signature created via the EUDI-Wallet will have the same legal validity as a handwritten signature in all EU countries. For individuals, its use for non-professional purposes via the wallet will be free of charge.

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Where can the EUDI-Wallet be used?

The EUDI-Wallet is not being created solely for interactions with government agencies. It is also planned for use with private services where users currently need to upload documents separately, undergo identification, or personally verify their information.

Key use cases include:

- Opening a bank account online

- Verifying identity when receiving government services

- Enrolling in university or verifying diplomas

- Using digital documents while traveling

- Storing boarding passes and other travel documents

- Verifying age without sharing unnecessary personal data

- Electronically signing documents

- Authorizing individual payments

One of the system’s key features is cross-border use. A digital wallet issued in Germany must operate according to common EU technical standards. This means that a user will be able to verify their identity or submit the required digital document to a service in another EU country without having to obtain a separate local digital ID.

At the same time, users will control exactly what data they share. For example, a service that only needs to verify that a person is at least 18 years old will not necessarily receive their full date of birth or other personal information.

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Will the EUDI-Wallet replace traditional documents?

The transition to the EUDI-Wallet does not mean that German residents will have to give up their traditional documents. Use of the government digital wallet will be voluntary and free of charge, and traditional methods of accessing services and verifying identity will continue to function.

In other words, a smartphone will serve as an additional means of identity verification, not a mandatory replacement for physical documents. Users will be able to decide for themselves when to use the EUDI-Wallet and when to present a traditional ID.

For Germany, the 2027 launch will be just the first step. The wallet’s features and the number of available digital verifications are planned to be gradually expanded. At the same time, private companies are being integrated into the ecosystem: as of 2026, more than 150 companies were already developing use cases for the EUDI-Wallet within the German test system, including for bank identification, signing mobile contracts, and age verification.

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