Government Digital Wallet: Interoperability

Information for organisations interested in integrating with the Government Digital Wallet ecosystem.

The Government Digital Wallet has been designed with multiple layers of security to protect you at every stage of using it.

Before any credential can be added to your wallet, you must first sign in with your MyGovID account. MyGovID requires an in-person identity check (SAFE 2 registration), which provides an underlying level of assurance that you are who you say you are. No credential can be issued without first passing this verified identity check.

Once your wallet has been set up, access is protected by two-factor authentication. This combines something you have, your Government Digital Wallet on your device, with something you know, your personal 6-digit PIN. For added convenience, you can also choose to use Face ID, Touch ID or fingerprint recognition to unlock the app. This security model aligns with the European Digital Identity Architecture and Reference Framework (ARF) which is considered best international practice.

Each credential held in the wallet is cryptographically signed, in much the same way that the physical security features on a passport or driving licence protect those documents from tampering. If any information within a credential was altered, it would no longer be valid.

The wallet operates within a certificate-based trust framework aligned with EU standards under the European Digital Identity Framework Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 and the European Digital Identity Architecture and Reference Framework, the same standards that are being adopted by other EU member states. All communications between the app and government services are encrypted, and the supporting infrastructure is hosted on a secure, government-suitable cloud platform. For further information on the European Digital Identity Wallet ecosystem, including the Architecture and Reference Framework (ARF) and related technical specifications and interrogability, please refer to the European Commission’s information website.

Data minimisation is enforced within the Government Digital Wallet in two ways. For users, when you are asked to prove something, for example, that you are over 18, the wallet shares only the specific piece of information needed, such as a simple yes/no confirmation. Your date of birth, name, address, photograph and any other personal details remain private unless you consent to sharing those attributes.

You always see exactly what is being requested and must actively give your consent before anything is shared. The party verifying the information does not retain a copy of your data once the check is complete.

Relying parties wishing to accept Government Digital Wallet credentials will be required to register and declare the minimum set of data attributes required for their service. These requirements are reviewed and bound to their wallet registration certificate, ensuring that they can only request data that is necessary for the purpose of the service they provide.

We hope to begin testing with external organisations in 2026.  Please be aware of the EUDI Wallet DevHub, which provides the technical specifications for wallets.

We also plan to participate in EUDIW interoperability events. We would encourage organisations interested in testing with the Government Digital Wallet to engage with these events.

The Government Digital Wallet is developed in line with the technical specifications set down under the European Digital Identity Framework Regulation (EU) 2024/1183. For more information, please check the European Commission’s information website.

For any enquiries around the topic of age verification, we would suggest reaching out to the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.

An explainer video describing how the Government Digital Wallet works is available on gov.ie/DigitalWallet. Further guidance can be found on the How the Government Digital Wallet Works page.

The Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (DPER) is responsible for the development of the Government Digital Wallet. At a national level we are currently in the process of defining our relying party registration policy and would advise expressing your interest in using the Government Digital Wallet to the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport as it is the lead Department responsible for implementation of the Regulation.