Driver's licenses, health, banks. Norway is betting on a single digital wallet

The study "Mapping the Potential Benefits in the Usage Phase of Digital Identity Wallets" was prepared in 2025. The authors are Capgemini Invent and Menon Economics. The analysis focuses exclusively on the usage phase of digital identity wallets. It takes into account European conditions, international experiences, and the Norwegian eID infrastructure. The report refers to the implementation of the eIDAS 2.0 regulation and plans to launch the wallet in Norway by 2030.

The eIDAS 2.0 regulation obliges EU member states to provide a digital identity wallet. The solution is intended to enable secure login, storage and selective sharing of data, as well as a qualified electronic signature. The wallet is to operate cross-border within the EU and the European Economic Area.

In Norway, the foundation is a well-developed eID infrastructure. BankID remains the most commonly used solution. MinID, Buypass, and Commfides are also in use. The report indicates that the new wallet is meant to complement the current ecosystem, not replace it.

Work in Norway is at an early stage. A conceptual analysis of implementation models is underway. The country is also participating in European pilots. A so-called national test sandbox, run by the Norwegian Digitalisation Agency, is already operational. Experiences so far focus on interoperability and data protection.

The European Union has invested around €90 million in the development of identity wallets. More than 550 public and private entities are participating in the pilots. Among the areas being tested are travel, payments, education, health, and banking.

Projects such as the European Wallet Consortium (EWC), the Nordic-Baltic eID Consortium (NOBID), and Digital Credentials for Europe (DC4EU) have provided data on the usability of these solutions. Users pointed to easier handling and fewer errors. At the same time, barriers related to trust and user experience emerged.

The pilots also highlighted the importance of standardization. Without common formats, data remains difficult to process automatically. The need for clear roles for institutions issuing digital credentials was also noted.

The Norwegian report identifies a total of 54 potential use cases. Twelve of them were analyzed in detail. They were divided into two groups: digitization of physical documents and digital credentials streamlining processes.

The first group includes, among others, driver's licenses and registration certificates, the European Health Insurance Card, HSE cards, and residence documents. The second group includes, for example, confirmation of student status, 'know your customer' procedures in banks, and financial documents.

The total potential benefit for the analyzed cases was estimated at NOK 921 to 949 million in present value. The greatest effects concern the reduction of administrative and document production costs. Some benefits are non-monetary and relate to user convenience and data security.

The report's authors emphasize the need for gradual introduction of the wallet. It is crucial to start with frequently used services. This is intended to increase adoption of the application among citizens.

Early piloting and involvement of the private sector are also important. The report points to the necessity of stable business models. Without them, the ecosystem will not develop.

The document also draws attention to the relationship between the citizen's wallet and the business wallet. Many future services will require acting on behalf of organizations. Clear rules in this area are intended to reduce complexity and risk.