Digital identity is transforming real-world processes across the European Union.

Practical Use Cases of EU Digital Identity

The European Union’s rollout of digital identity under the eIDAS 2.0 framework is rapidly changing how citizens and businesses interact with public and private services. By offering secure, cross-border identification and authentication, the EU Digital Identity Wallet unlocks new efficiencies and opportunities—here’s how it is making an impact across sectors.

Healthcare: Seamless Patient Mobility

Imagine a patient from Germany traveling to France who needs urgent medical care. With a digital identity wallet, they can share verified health insurance details and electronic prescriptions with French healthcare providers instantly—no need for language translation or cumbersome paperwork. According to the European Commission, pilot projects are already demonstrating this kind of cross-border care, aiming to reduce administrative burden and accelerate treatment.

Banking: Simplifying Customer Onboarding

EU banks must comply with strict anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) requirements. Traditionally, onboarding a new client requires multiple documents and in-person visits. Now, with the EU Digital Identity Wallet, individuals can prove their identity securely and remotely to open a bank account, apply for credit, or engage in other financial activities. This streamlines onboarding while complying with legal obligations, as outlined in Directive (EU) 2015/849.

Travel and Mobility: Smarter Ticketing and Licences

Digital identity also enhances travel. For example, EU citizens may soon use their digital wallets to verify their age or retrieve a digital driving licence when renting a car across Member States. Such solutions help travellers avoid carrying physical ID documents, with pilots supported by the European Commission under the European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI).

Education: Recognising Qualifications Across Borders

For students and professionals, the EU Digital Identity can make it easier to have diplomas and professional qualifications recognised in another EU country. Digital credentials, issued and attested by educational institutions, can be securely shared via the wallet with employers or universities abroad, reducing delays and boosting cross-border mobility, as highlighted by the Europass and EURES initiatives.

Public Services: Streamlining Government Interactions

From filing taxes to registering a vehicle or applying for social benefits, EU citizens will benefit from simplified access to government portals. The Once-Only Principle—promoted by the European Commission—means that citizens and businesses only have to supply information to public administrations once, which will then be reused with the individual’s consent.

Summary

The EU Digital Identity Wallet is more than a technology initiative—it is a tool for real change, making services more accessible, portable, and secure throughout Europe. As adoption grows, it will power new use cases and support the Digital Single Market’s vision of seamless cross-border interactions.