{"id":22955,"date":"2026-05-21T15:03:51","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T13:03:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/?p=22955"},"modified":"2026-05-21T15:05:49","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T13:05:49","slug":"eidas-2-electronic-signature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/eidas-2-electronic-signature\/","title":{"rendered":"eIDAS 2.0: What the New European Regulation Means for Electronic Signatures"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"22955\" class=\"elementor elementor-22955 elementor-22953\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b709280 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b709280\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-70c8ab1\" data-id=\"70c8ab1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e460d24 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e460d24\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><br \/><\/p><p><style>\n  #ai-header { background: linear-gradient(135deg, #667eea 0%, #764ba2 100%); color: white; padding: 50px 40px; border-radius: 10px; margin-bottom: 35px; text-align: center; }<br \/>\n  #ai-header h1 { font-size: 1.9em; font-weight: 700; margin: 0 0 15px 0; color: white; line-height: 1.3; }<br \/>\n  #ai-header .lead-paragraph { font-size: 1.05em; opacity: 0.92; max-width: 750px; margin: 0 auto; line-height: 1.65; color: white; }<br \/>\n  .content-section { margin-bottom: 10px; }<br \/>\n  .content-section h2 { color: #667eea; border-bottom: 2px solid #667eea; padding-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 45px; font-size: 1.45em; }<br \/>\n  .content-section h3 { color: #4a4a6a; margin-top: 28px; font-size: 1.15em; }<br \/>\n  .content-section p { line-height: 1.75; color: #333; }<br \/>\n  .callout-box { background: #f0f4ff; border-left: 4px solid #667eea; padding: 18px 22px; border-radius: 6px; margin: 25px 0; }<br \/>\n  .callout-box h4 { color: #667eea; margin: 0 0 8px 0; font-size: 1em; }<br \/>\n  .success-box { background: #f0faf3; border-left: 4px solid #28a745; padding: 18px 22px; 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}<br \/>\n  .cta-section { background: linear-gradient(135deg, #667eea 0%, #764ba2 100%); color: white; padding: 45px 40px; text-align: center; border-radius: 10px; margin-top: 45px; }<br \/>\n  .cta-section h3 { color: white; margin-top: 0; font-size: 1.5em; border-bottom: none; }<br \/>\n  .cta-section p { opacity: 0.92; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 1.05em; color: white; }<br \/>\n  .cta-button { display: inline-block; background: white; color: #667eea; font-weight: 700; padding: 14px 34px; border-radius: 30px; text-decoration: none; font-size: 1.05em; }<br \/>\n  .cta-button:hover { color: #764ba2; }<br \/>\n  .timeline { position: relative; padding: 10px 0; margin: 30px 0; }<br \/>\n  .timeline::before { content: ''; position: absolute; left: 22px; top: 0; bottom: 0; width: 3px; background: linear-gradient(to bottom, #667eea, #764ba2); border-radius: 2px; }<br \/>\n  .timeline-item { display: flex; gap: 22px; margin-bottom: 28px; align-items: flex-start; }<br \/>\n  .timeline-dot { width: 44px; height: 44px; border-radius: 50%; color: white; font-weight: 700; font-size: 0.78em; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; flex-shrink: 0; text-align: center; line-height: 1.2; z-index: 1; }<br \/>\n  .timeline-dot.done { background: #28a745; }<br \/>\n  .timeline-dot.active { background: #f0a500; }<br \/>\n  .timeline-dot.future { background: #9c27b0; }<br \/>\n  .timeline-content { background: #f8f9fa; border-radius: 8px; padding: 14px 18px; flex: 1; border: 1px solid #e0e0e0; }<br \/>\n  .timeline-content strong { color: #333; display: block; margin-bottom: 4px; }<br \/>\n  .timeline-content span { font-size: 0.92em; color: #555; line-height: 1.6; }<br \/>\n  .compare-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 20px; margin: 25px 0; }<br \/>\n  @media (max-width: 680px) { .compare-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; } }<br \/>\n  .compare-card { border-radius: 10px; padding: 22px 24px; }<br \/>\n  .compare-card.eidas1 { background: #f5f5f5; border: 1px solid #ddd; }<br \/>\n  .compare-card.eidas2 { background: #f0f4ff; border: 2px solid #667eea; }<br \/>\n  .compare-card h4 { margin: 0 0 12px 0; font-size: 1em; }<br \/>\n  .compare-card.eidas1 h4 { color: #555; }<br \/>\n  .compare-card.eidas2 h4 { color: #667eea; }<br \/>\n  .compare-card ul { margin: 0; padding-left: 18px; }<br \/>\n  .compare-card ul li { font-size: 0.92em; line-height: 1.7; color: #444; }<br \/>\n<\/style><\/p><div class=\"container\"><header id=\"ai-header\"><h1><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">eIDAS 2.0: What the New European Regulation Changes for Electronic Signatures<\/span><\/h1><p class=\"lead-paragraph\">In force since 20 May 2024, the eIDAS 2.0 regulation redefines digital identity in Europe. EUDI Wallet, new trust services, deployment timeline: here is what you need to know.<\/p><\/header><div class=\"content-section\"><h2>eIDAS 2.0: why a revision was needed<\/h2><p>The original eIDAS regulation, adopted in 2014, laid the foundations for qualified electronic signatures in Europe. It established the three signature levels (SES, AES, QES), created the framework for qualified trust service providers (QTSPs) and established the principle of mutual recognition of qualified signatures between member states.<\/p><p>Ten years on, this framework was showing its limits. Cross-border digital identity adoption remained fragmented, national electronic identification systems were poorly interoperable, and the private sector was largely excluded. Digital usage had evolved profoundly \u2014 widespread smartphones, online services, remote working \u2014 without the regulatory framework keeping pace.<\/p><div class=\"callout-box\"><h4>\ud83d\udccb eIDAS 2.0 in brief<\/h4><p>Adopted on 26 March 2024, published in the EU Official Journal on 30 April 2024 as <strong>Regulation (EU) 2024\/1183<\/strong>, entering into force on <strong>20 May 2024<\/strong>. It amends and expands the 2014 eIDAS regulation without fully repealing it. Operational implementation follows a progressive timeline through 2026\u20132027.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"content-section\"><h2>The three major innovations of eIDAS 2.0<\/h2><h3>1. The European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet)<\/h3><p>This is the headline innovation of eIDAS 2.0. Every EU member state must make available to its citizens, residents and businesses at least one <strong>digital identity wallet<\/strong> \u2014 the EUDI Wallet (European Digital Identity Wallet) \u2014 by the end of December 2026.<\/p><p>In practice, the EUDI Wallet is a mobile application enabling users to store and present certified digital credentials: identity document, diplomas, professional qualifications, driving licence, health data\u2026 all under the user&#8217;s exclusive control, who decides precisely which information to share and with whom.<\/p><div class=\"use-case-box\"><h4>\ud83d\udd10 What the EUDI Wallet changes for electronic signatures<\/h4><p>The wallet can carry a <strong>qualified certificate<\/strong> enabling a qualified electronic signature (QES) to be issued directly from the smartphone, without any physical device (smart card, USB token). State-verified identity is instantly presentable, making QES more accessible and seamless than ever.<\/p><\/div><h3>2. New qualified trust services<\/h3><p>eIDAS 2.0 expands the list of trust services recognised at European level. Alongside existing services (qualified signature, electronic seal, timestamp, registered electronic delivery, website authentication), notable additions include:<\/p><ul><li><strong>Qualified electronic archiving<\/strong>: long-term preservation of signed documents with guaranteed integrity and readability.<\/li><li><strong>Qualified electronic attestations of attributes<\/strong> (QEAA): digital certificates attesting to a person&#8217;s characteristics or rights (age, professional status, qualification), directly presentable from the EUDI Wallet.<\/li><li><strong>Qualified electronic ledger<\/strong>: anchoring of data in a tamper-proof register (blockchain-type technology recognised within the European framework).<\/li><\/ul><h3>3. Extension to the private sector and enhanced interoperability<\/h3><p>eIDAS 1.0 was primarily aimed at public administrations. eIDAS 2.0 imposes a mandatory obligation to accept the wallet and new digital credentials on a broader scope: very large online platforms (as defined by the Digital Services Act), services subject to AML regulations (banks, insurers, accountancy firms) and designated public services.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"content-section\"><h2>eIDAS 1.0 vs eIDAS 2.0: what changes<\/h2><div class=\"compare-grid\"><div class=\"compare-card eidas1\"><h4>\u2699\ufe0f eIDAS 1.0 (2014)<\/h4><ul><li>Framework primarily for the public sector<\/li><li>Limited cross-border interoperability in practice<\/li><li>No identity solution on the end-user side<\/li><li>QES via physical token or smart card<\/li><li>No recognised attribute attestation<\/li><li>No qualified electronic archiving<\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"compare-card eidas2\"><h4>\ud83d\ude80 eIDAS 2.0 (2024)<\/h4><ul><li>Mandatory extension to the private sector<\/li><li>EUDI Wallet interoperable across the EU<\/li><li>Certified digital identity accessible to all<\/li><li>QES via smartphone (certified software QSCD)<\/li><li>Qualified attribute attestations (QEAA)<\/li><li>Qualified electronic archiving recognised<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><div class=\"callout-box\"><h4>\ud83d\udca1 What does not change<\/h4><p>The three signature levels (SES, AES, QES) defined by eIDAS 1.0 are <strong>maintained unchanged<\/strong> in eIDAS 2.0. The legal hierarchy remains the same: QES is still the only level equivalent to a handwritten signature. eIDAS 2.0 strengthens and expands the framework \u2014 it does not overturn it.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"content-section\"><h2>Deployment timeline: key dates<\/h2><p>The implementation of eIDAS 2.0 follows a progressive timeline, driven by implementing acts published by the European Commission. Here are the major milestones.<\/p><div class=\"timeline\"><div class=\"timeline-item\"><div class=\"timeline-dot done\">May<br \/>2024<\/div><div class=\"timeline-content\"><strong>Regulation (EU) 2024\/1183 enters into force<\/strong>eIDAS 2.0 has been formally in force since 20 May 2024. The legal framework exists; operational obligations follow progressively.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"timeline-item\"><div class=\"timeline-dot done\">Nov.<br \/>2024<\/div><div class=\"timeline-content\"><strong>Publication of implementing acts for EUDI Wallet and QEAA<\/strong>Technical specifications for the digital identity wallet and qualified electronic attribute attestations are published. Member states and developers can launch implementation work.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"timeline-item\"><div class=\"timeline-dot done\">May<br \/>2025<\/div><div class=\"timeline-content\"><strong>Publication of implementing acts for trust services<\/strong>Technical specifications for new qualified trust services (archiving, electronic ledger, etc.) are published.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"timeline-item\"><div class=\"timeline-dot active\">End<br \/>2026<\/div><div class=\"timeline-content\"><strong>Every member state must deploy its EUDI Wallet \u2726 Main deadline<\/strong>Legal obligation for all 27 member states to provide at least one compliant digital identity wallet to their citizens, residents and businesses by December 2026.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"timeline-item\"><div class=\"timeline-dot future\">End<br \/>2027<\/div><div class=\"timeline-content\"><strong>Mandatory acceptance by relevant private actors<\/strong>Large online platforms, AML-regulated actors and designated public services must be able to accept the wallet as a means of identification.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"timeline-item\"><div class=\"timeline-dot future\">2030<\/div><div class=\"timeline-content\"><strong>Mass adoption ambition<\/strong>The European Commission&#8217;s stated goal is for 80% of EU citizens to use a digital identity solution by 2030.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"content-section\"><h2>What eIDAS 2.0 concretely changes for qualified signatures<\/h2><h3>A more accessible QES, without physical hardware<\/h3><p>Under eIDAS 1.0, qualified signatures often required a physical device: smart card (such as the former Belgian .beID), USB token or card reader. eIDAS 2.0 enshrines <strong>remote QES via smartphone<\/strong> as the standard, through the EUDI Wallet carrying a certified software QSCD.<\/p><p>Solutions such as <strong>itsme\u00ae<\/strong> and <strong>Evrotrust<\/strong>, already available on e-Signature.eu, are precisely this model: qualified signature from the smartphone, no additional hardware, with strong authentication guaranteed by an accredited QTSP. These are solutions natively compatible with the spirit of eIDAS 2.0.<\/p><h3>Enhanced pan-European interoperability<\/h3><p>Under eIDAS 1.0, mutual recognition of qualified signatures was legally established but technically difficult to implement across member states. The EUDI Wallet changes this: state-verified identity is directly presentable in any EU country, without asking the user to re-register or prove their identity again.<\/p><p>In practice, a Belgian citizen using their EUDI Wallet will be able to sign a contract with a Spanish, French or German company with the same legal value as a handwritten signature \u2014 without administrative friction.<\/p><h3>Qualified electronic archiving: a complementary building block<\/h3><p>eIDAS 2.0 introduces the <strong>qualified electronic archiving<\/strong> service, guaranteeing long-term preservation of signed documents while maintaining their evidential value. For companies signing contracts, HR documents or regulatory records, this opens the way to a complete evidence file: qualified signature + audit trail + certified archiving.<\/p><div class=\"success-box\"><h4>\u2705 What this means for e-Signature.eu users<\/h4><p>The qualified signature methods available on e-Signature.eu \u2014 <strong>itsme\u00ae<\/strong> (32 countries) and <strong>Evrotrust<\/strong> (62 countries) \u2014 are compliant with the eIDAS QES framework and natively aligned with eIDAS 2.0 principles: strong authentication, certified software QSCD, QTSP accredited on the EU Trusted List. You benefit today from a qualified signature that anticipates tomorrow&#8217;s standards.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"content-section\"><h2>eIDAS 2.0 and businesses: what to anticipate<\/h2><div class=\"use-case-box\"><h4>\ud83c\udfe2 You are an SME or a freelancer<\/h4><p>As a signature service user, eIDAS 2.0 creates no immediate obligation for you. You will, however, progressively benefit from more accessible QES via the wallet, better cross-border interoperability and enhanced evidential value for your signed documents. Continuing to use compliant QES methods (itsme\u00ae, Evrotrust) puts you on the right track.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"use-case-box\"><h4>\ud83d\udd17 You integrate signatures via API<\/h4><p>If you integrate electronic signatures into your workflows via the e-Signature.eu API, the transition to eIDAS 2.0 does not affect your current integration. Available QES methods remain compliant. In time, integrating the EUDI Wallet as an authentication method will be a development to factor into your technical roadmap \u2014 but without immediate urgency.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"use-case-box\"><h4>\ud83c\udfe6 You are a large platform or a regulated actor (bank, insurer, accountancy firm)<\/h4><p>The end-2027 deadline applies directly to you: you will need to be able to accept the EUDI Wallet as a means of identification. Start auditing your identification workflows and identifying your qualified trust service providers. Choosing a QTSP accredited on the EU Trusted List \u2014 such as those underpinning e-Signature.eu \u2014 is the right foundation.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"warning-box\"><h4>\u26a0\ufe0f Watch out for the transition period<\/h4><p>Between 2024 and 2027, current systems (itsme\u00ae, national electronic identity cards, physical tokens) will coexist with new eIDAS 2.0 devices. Both channels must be maintained in parallel during this period \u2014 users without a wallet must still be able to sign. Do not remove your current methods before the wallet is widely deployed.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"content-section\"><h2>Frequently asked questions about eIDAS 2.0<\/h2><h3>Do existing qualified signatures remain valid?<\/h3><p>Yes, without restriction. eIDAS 2.0 does not call into question signatures already issued. QES produced via itsme\u00ae or Evrotrust retain their full legal value. The revised regulation expands the framework; it does not modify the value of existing signatures.<\/p><h3>Does the EUDI Wallet replace itsme\u00ae or Evrotrust?<\/h3><p>No \u2014 at least not in the immediate term. The EUDI Wallet is a new complementary device, which will eventually enable QES to be issued via state-certified digital identity. itsme\u00ae and Evrotrust remain fully valid QTSP-backed solutions and are themselves likely to evolve to integrate EUDI Wallet compatibility in their roadmap.<\/p><h3>Does eIDAS 2.0 apply outside the EU?<\/h3><p>Not directly. eIDAS 2.0 is a European regulation that applies to EU member states. Outside the EU, the legal value of an electronic signature depends on the local law of the country concerned. This is why solutions such as <strong>Veriff<\/strong> (AES, 198 countries) remain relevant for international exchanges with partners outside the eIDAS zone.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"content-section\"><h2>Key takeaways<\/h2><ul class=\"key-points\"><li><strong>eIDAS 2.0<\/strong> is Regulation (EU) 2024\/1183, in force since 20 May 2024. It revises and expands eIDAS 1.0 without fully replacing it.<\/li><li><strong>The EUDI Wallet<\/strong> is the central innovation: every member state must deploy it by end-2026. It enables storing and presenting state-certified digital identity across the EU.<\/li><li><strong>The three signature levels<\/strong> (SES, AES, QES) and the legal value of QES are <strong>unchanged<\/strong>. eIDAS 2.0 strengthens the framework; it does not alter the hierarchy.<\/li><li><strong>QES via smartphone<\/strong> (software QSCD) becomes the standard: itsme\u00ae and Evrotrust, available on e-Signature.eu, already anticipate this model today.<\/li><li><strong>New qualified services<\/strong>: qualified electronic archiving, attribute attestations (QEAA), electronic ledger.<\/li><li><strong>Timeline<\/strong>: EUDI Wallet mandatory by end-2026, acceptance by the relevant private sector by end-2027.<\/li><li>Current qualified signatures (itsme\u00ae, Evrotrust) remain <strong>fully valid and compliant<\/strong> during and after the transition.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"cta-section\"><h3>Sign today with an eIDAS-compliant QES<\/h3><p>itsme\u00ae and Evrotrust on e-Signature.eu: qualified signatures via smartphone, no subscription, aligned with eIDAS 2.0 standards.<\/p><p><a class=\"cta-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/our-prepaid-credit-packages\/\">Discover pricing \u2192<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>eIDAS 2.0: What the New European Regulation Changes for Electronic Signatures In force since 20 May 2024, the eIDAS 2.0&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":23049,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[141],"tags":[181],"class_list":["post-22955","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-eidas-en","tag-productivity"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22955","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22955"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22955\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23060,"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22955\/revisions\/23060"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23049"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22955"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22955"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.e-signature.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22955"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}