eIDAS 2.0 establishes a common framework for digital identity in the EU. By the end of 2026, Member States must offer an EU Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet) to citizens. The wallet will hold government-verified credentials, including proof of identity and proof of age (e.g. "over 18"). Private-sector obligations to accept or use the wallet follow on a later timeline (e.g. end of 2027 in some interpretations).
The Commission's blueprint as a bridge to the Wallet
The Commission’s age verification blueprint (2025) is explicitly designed as a bridge until the wallet is widespread. It allows users to prove they are over 18 without disclosing birth date or other identifiers, using one-time proofs to avoid tracking. When the wallet is live, age verification can be integrated into it so that users prove age once in the wallet and then present a credential to platforms, with no repeated ID uploads and minimal data sharing.
How to prepare your platform for the eIDAS 2.0 era
Roadmaps in the EU point to interoperable, privacy-preserving age assurance. Solutions that follow the blueprint (minimal disclosure, no unnecessary storage, support for standards like Verifiable Credentials) line up with both current DSA expectations and the eIDAS 2.0 era. If you operate in the EU, track wallet rollout in your main markets and check that your age verification provider can move to wallet-based flows when they are available.
Frequently asked questions
Member States must offer the EUDI Wallet to citizens by the end of 2026. Obligations for private services to accept the wallet follow on a later timeline, often cited as end of 2027.
Yes. The wallet supports selective disclosure and zero-knowledge-style proofs, so a user can present an "over 18" attribute without sharing their name, date of birth, or document number.
No. The Commission's blueprint is explicitly designed as a bridge until the wallet is widespread. Both approaches follow the same principles (minimal disclosure, no unnecessary storage) and are expected to be interoperable.
Integrate now. DSA and national rules already require effective age assurance. Choose a provider whose model (signed outcome, no stored IDs or faces) aligns with the blueprint so that you can plug in wallet-based flows later with minimal change.
