A national electronic identification system established by a Member State, defining how electronic identities are issued, managed, and used for authentication.
An eID Scheme is a system for electronic identification established by a Member State under which electronic identification means are issued to natural or legal persons. Under the original eIDAS regulation, eID schemes formed the backbone of cross-border electronic identification: Member States could voluntarily notify their national schemes to the European Commission, after which other Member States were obliged to recognise and accept the notified eID means for cross-border access to public services. However, the voluntary nature of notification and the complexity of the interoperability framework limited adoption.
By 2023, fewer than 20 Member States had notified schemes, and cross-border usage remained low. eIDAS 2.0 retains the eID scheme notification mechanism but fundamentally changes the landscape by introducing the European Digital Identity Wallet as a mandatory, standardised alternative.
Each Member State must now provide at least one EUDIW, which operates at a high Level of Assurance and serves as a de facto universal eID means. Existing notified eID schemes continue to be valid, but the wallet is expected to become the primary channel for cross-border identification. For Member States, this means updating their national identity infrastructure to support wallet issuance and PID provision while maintaining their existing eID schemes during the transition period.
For organisations that currently rely on notified eID schemes through the eIDAS node network, the transition to wallet-based identification requires planning for new protocols (OpenID4VC instead of SAML-based eIDAS nodes), new credential formats, and new user experience flows. Understanding both the legacy eID scheme framework and the new wallet-based approach is essential for a smooth transition.
Related Terms
Electronic Identification (eID)
The process of using electronic means to verify a person's identity, forming the foundation of the eIDAS regulation and the basis for cross-border digital identity in the EU.
Digital IdentityNotified eID Scheme
An eID scheme that a Member State has formally notified to the European Commission, triggering mandatory cross-border recognition by other Member States for public service access.
GovernanceLevel of Assurance (LoA)
A measure of confidence in the identity verification process, classified as low, substantial, or high under eIDAS, determining the trust level of an electronic identification means.
Core RegulationEuropean Digital Identity Wallet (EUDIW)
A mobile application that every EU Member State must provide to citizens and residents, enabling them to store and present digital identity credentials and attestations across borders.
Digital Identity