The EUDI Wallet ecosystem.

Users are at the center of the EUDI Wallet ecosystem. They receive digital documents from issuing authorities, store them securely in their wallet and use them as required with authorities, companies or other services. All processes are initiated by the users themselves. They decide in each individual case whether and what information they pass on. Only the required data is transmitted, not the entire document. The wallet serves as a personal tool for everyday digital life: It makes it possible to identify oneself, present documents or confirm certain information – directly from one’s own hand and without unnecessary intermediate steps.

Issuers are organizations that issue verified digital identities and documents, such as government-validated identity data or legally recognized attributes.

PID issuer: The PID issuer issues the state-recognized digital identity document, which contains a person's basic identity data, such as name, date of birth and nationality. This identity document forms the digital basis for many use cases in the EUDI Wallet. In Germany, Bundesdruckerei GmbH is taking on this role in the ecosystem.

Document issuer: Document issuers are organizations that issue digital documents concerning certain properties or authorizations. These can be, for example, authorities, educational institutions, chambers or other authorized bodies. They confirm verified information – such as a driver’s license, an educational qualification or a professional qualification – and make these available as digital documents. These include Qualified Electronic Attestations of Attributes (QEAAs) in accordance with eIDAS and other Electronic Attestations of Attributes (EAAs).

The EUDI Wallet ecosystem enables alternative wallet providers in addition to the state EUDI Wallet. Companies can develop and operate their own wallet solutions. The principle of free choice applies: Users decide for themselves which wallet they want to use. However, the prerequisite is that all providers meet the same technical standards and legal requirements. This keeps the system open to competition and innovation – and at the same time secure, interoperable and reliable.

Relying parties are organizations that request and verify digital documents from the EUDI wallet for specific services, for example, when opening an account or using an online service. If an organization offers a digital service, such as opening an account, it can request the necessary documents from a user via the wallet. Prior registration in a national registry is a prerequisite, where the organization must disclose what data it needs for which specific purpose. Relying parties may only request the data that they have registered for the specified use case.

The orchestrator coordinates the ecosystem, implements regulatory and technical requirements, operates the ecosystem management portal and ensures stable operations. It also ensures interoperability between the actors involved and supports the continuous further development of the system. It also plays a central role in monitoring security and compliance requirements, as well as the quality assurance of the services offered. Thanks to clear governance structures, the orchestrator ensures transparency and efficient coordination processes throughout the entire ecosystem.

Trust services are legally regulated digital services that legally secure electronic documents and processes. They ensure that the originator of a document is clearly identifiable and that it has not been altered. These services include, for example, electronic signatures, seals or time stamps. One example is the qualified electronic signature (QES), which is legally equivalent to a handwritten signature.