eIDAS
eIDAS stands for Electronic Identification, Authentication and Trust Services. It’s an EU regulation that ensures you can securely prove your identity online across all member states—and that digital documents have the same legal value everywhere. Think of it as Europe’s digital rulebook for identification, document exchange, and electronic signatures.
Example: You live in the Netherlands and want to arrange something online with a German government agency. Thanks to eIDAS, you can log in using your Dutch EUDI wallet, because Germany recognizes it and follows the same legislation. Just like your passport is valid across the EU, eIDAS ensures your digital identity works across borders too.
EUDI-wallet
The EUDI wallet is an app on your phone that securely stores your digital identity data and documents, like your ID card, driver’s licence, diplomas or professional registrations. You decide who gets to see what, and the wallet helps you share this information safely and selectively (for example: “I’m over 18,” without revealing your exact birthdate).
Example: Think of it as a digital wallet where you keep your ID and other cards. Let’s say you want to open a new bank account online. Instead of sending a copy of your passport, you share your identity details via your EUDI wallet. The bank receives verified digital information about you that’s safe and instantly verifiable.
PID (Person Identification Data)
PID are the basic details that identify you as a person: your name, date of birth, nationality, and ID number. This information can be stored in your EUDI wallet and is comparable to what’s shown on your passport. Your wallet only becomes active once your PID has been added—then you’re ready to use it.
Example: When activating your wallet, an official authority (like your local municipality) verifies your identity and sends a digital package with your data to your wallet. You can then use this information to identify yourself or, for instance, open a bank account.
LPID (Legal Person Identification Data)
LPID are the identification details of an organisation or company, such as the official name, Chamber of Commerce number, VAT number, and the authorities of its representatives. These details can also be securely stored and shared via the EUDI wallet.
Example: You’re opening a business bank account on behalf of your company. Through the EUDI wallet, you share the LPID. The bank instantly sees, in a secure digital way, that your company exists, where it’s registered, and that you’re authorised to act on its behalf.
QEAA (Qualified Electronic Attestation of Attributes)
A QEAA is an official digital proof of a specific attribute of a person or organisation, like your diploma, driver’s licence, or professional registration. It’s issued by a recognised authority and has the same legal value as a paper certificate.
Example: You receive a digital diploma from your university in your wallet. It’s signed with a digital signature from the university and the authorised issuer, such as DUO. Anyone who receives it can instantly verify that it’s authentic and hasn’t been tampered with.
QES (Qualified Electronic Signature)
A QES is the most secure and legally binding form of digital signature within the EU. This signature is linked to your verified identity and can be placed using your EUDI wallet. A QES holds the same legal value as a handwritten signature on paper.
Example: You’re buying a house and sign the purchase contract digitally with a QES. The notary can verify that it was you who signed it, when you signed it, and that the document hasn’t been altered. The QES carries the same legal weight as a handwritten signature.
Authentic source
An authentic source is an officially designated government data register. It contains the “true” data that is considered authoritative. Examples include the Personal Records Database (BRP) for personal details or the Chamber of Commerce Register for companies.
Example: Want to confirm your place of birth via your wallet? The wallet retrieves that information directly from the BRP. Because the data comes from an authentic source, other parties can trust it’s accurate.
Relying party
A relying party is the organisation that trusts the digital information you share from your EUDI wallet. This could be a bank, employer, healthcare provider, or government agency. They can rely on this data because it comes from authentic sources and is verified through the eIDAS system and the EUDI wallet.
Example: You apply for a job and give permission to share your diploma digitally via your wallet. The employer can trust that the information is correct—because it comes directly from the university and carries legal certification.
QTSP (Qualified Trust Service Provider)
A QTSP is an organisation officially approved by an EU member state to deliver trust services and data from authentic sources to the EUDI wallet. This includes digital identities (PID), attestations (QEAA), and signatures (QES). QTSPs must meet strict requirements, and their services, signatures, and certificates are legally valid across Europe.
Example: In the Netherlands, organisations like the Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management, Digidentity, and KPN are QTSPs. If you digitally sign a contract through them, that signature is just as legally binding as one made with pen and paper.
Scheme provider
A scheme provider manages a digital data framework. This is the organisation responsible for creating, publishing, and maintaining the fixed rules and standards that define a digital credential.
Example:The Dutch government is the scheme provider for DigiD. It sets the standards and handles the management of this version of a digital identity. When you log in somewhere using DigiD, the receiving service relies on the underlying rules and standards managed by the scheme provider.
Conclusion
With this explanation of terms like eIDAS, EUDI wallet, PID, LPID, QEAA, QES, authentic source, relying party, QTSP and scheme provider, you now (hopefully) have a clear picture of how the European digital identity system works. Each element plays a role in enabling secure, reliable and cross-border digital identification. So in the future, there’s no need to copy your passport or scan paper documents. You’ll handle it all digitally, with full control in your own hands.
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