eIDAS 2.0 and the EU Digital Identity Wallet explained

Your phone may soon hold an official EU digital ID, and it will be able to make the strongest kind of e-signature EU law recognises. That is the idea behind eIDAS 2.0, the update to the EU's rules on digital identity and trust services. Here is where things stand in early October 2026 and what it means for the agreements you sign.

This is general information, not legal advice.

What eIDAS is

eIDAS is the EU regulation on electronic identification and trust services, such as e-signatures, e-seals and time stamps. The update, Regulation (EU) 2024/1183, entered into force in May 2024 and set up the European Digital Identity Framework (European Commission).

The headline change is the EU Digital Identity Wallet: an app that lets people prove who they are, keep official documents and sign documents from their phone.

Where things stand in October 2026

• The regulation requires each EU country to provide wallets to citizens by the end of 2026, and each country will offer at least one (European Commission).
• Wallets can be issued by public authorities or by recognised private organisations, built to common specifications.
• The Commission has adopted a long list of implementing acts, the technical rules under the regulation. They include reference formats for advanced e-signatures and standards for remote qualified signature devices (EU Digital Identity Wallet site).
• In January 2026, the Commission's wallet site said wallets are set to launch at the end of 2026 (EU Digital Identity Wallet site). Timing differs by country, so check your government's announcements.

Using a wallet will be optional. It will be available to EU citizens, residents and businesses that want one (fact page).

What the wallet is meant to do

According to the Commission, the wallet will let you:

• Identify yourself online and in person
• Store and share documents such as a driving licence or a diploma
• Share only the details a service needs, rather than your whole ID
• Sign and seal documents electronically

Service providers that are legally required to identify their customers will have to accept the wallet for authentication.

What changes for e-signatures

eIDAS has always had three levels of electronic signature, each building on the one below (EC eSignature FAQ):

That structure stays. So does the core rule: a signature can't be denied legal effect or refused as evidence just because it is electronic or not qualified, and a qualified signature has the same legal effect as a handwritten one in every EU country.

What eIDAS 2.0 changes is access to the top level:

• Wallet users will be able to create qualified e-signatures free of charge for non-professional use (European Commission).
• Trust services now cover managing remote signature creation devices, where the signing key is held by a trusted provider instead of a card in your hand.
• New trust services join the list, such as electronic ledgers and qualified electronic archiving.

What it means for small businesses

Electronic signatures are recognised for most agreements in many countries, under laws such as the ESIGN Act and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA) in the US and eIDAS in the EU. Some documents still need a particular type of signature, so check the rules before you sign anything important.

A few practical points:

• Match the method to the risk. A routine agreement with a client is different from a document where the law asks for a specific signature level.
• The free part covers non-professional use. The Commission doesn't promise free qualified signatures for signing on behalf of a business.
• Expect more customers to prove details through a wallet, especially with services that already have to check identity.
• Keep good records. Whatever level you use, a clear audit trail of who signed, when and what makes it easier to show what was agreed.

Where Pagestro fits

Pagestro Contracts lets you start from a template or upload your own PDF or Word file, add fields and send it for signature. Signers don't need an account. Every request includes an audit trail: Pagestro records a fingerprint of the document when you send it, logs each signer's first view, signature or decline in a chain where later edits to the trail can be detected, and adds a completion certificate to the signed PDF.

In eIDAS terms, these are simple electronic signatures. Pagestro does not issue advanced or qualified signatures and is not connected to the EU Digital Identity Wallet. If a document needs a qualified signature, use a qualified trust service provider; these providers are listed in each country's trusted list.

To sign a PDF yourself without sending it to anyone, Sign PDF places your signature on the page in your browser, so the file stays on your device. The free plan includes a few signature requests a month. Paid plans add more, and Pro and Business also add signing order and automatic reminders (see pricing).

For the basics, read electronic signatures explained or our comparison with DocuSign.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need the EU Digital Identity Wallet to sign contracts?

No. Using the wallet is optional. It adds a new way to sign; it doesn't replace other electronic signatures, which eIDAS still recognises.

When will the wallet be available in my country?

The regulation requires every EU country to offer at least one wallet by the end of 2026. Exact launch dates vary, so check your government's announcements.

Will qualified e-signatures be free?

According to the Commission, wallet users will be able to create qualified e-signatures for free for non-professional use.

Does Pagestro support qualified electronic signatures?

No. Pagestro offers simple electronic signatures with an audit trail. For a qualified signature, use a qualified trust service provider.