October 2025 marked a pivotal month for digital identity with three major jurisdictions reaching significant implementation milestones that will reshape enterprise compliance requirements through 2027.
The UK's GOV.UK One Login platform now serves 11 million users amid debate over mandatory rollout plans. The EU published three crucial Implementing Acts while launching €45+ million in Large-Scale Pilots involving 550+ organisations. Ireland emerged as Europe's digital identity leader with 2.6 million MyGovID users, achieving twice the EU average engagement rate.
This convergence of regulatory clarity, substantial funding, and unprecedented user adoption creates immediate opportunities for enterprises prepared to implement standards-based digital identity infrastructure, while raising urgent compliance considerations for organisations still in planning stages.
On October 27, the European Commission delivered a watershed moment for EU digital identity by publishing three crucial Implementing Acts that established the technical and certification foundations for the EUDI Wallet ecosystem:
Together, these regulations provide the regulatory clarity industry has sought for cross-border interoperability.
The Architecture Reference Framework version 2.6.0 released October 13, provides the technical blueprint ensuring wallets remain interoperable across Member States. It describes how Personal Identification Data and electronic attestations should be issued, exchanged, and verified. With 24 open discussion topics requiring resolution by end of 2025, Vidos continues tracking ARF changes while remaining prepared to help relying parties support the EUDI Wallet in line with eIDAS 2.0 mandates.
The APTITUDE consortium launched with a kick-off meeting October 22-23 in Paris, commanding €20.3 million (50% EU funding, 50% national co-funding) across 300+ participants representing 117 organisations in 12 countries. The Advanced Project for Trusted Identity Technologies and Unified Digital Ecosystem spans France, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Hungary, and Ukraine, testing:
Running parallel, the WE BUILD consortium continues its €25 million, 24-month timeline with 197 participants across 27 countries, focusing on B2B, B2G, and B2C interactions that traditional consumer-focused digital identity solutions often overlook.
For enterprises exploring participation, Vidos is actively pursuing collaborations in the mobile driving licence and wallet development grant calls. Organisations interested in collaboration should contact tenders@vidos.id.
The Digital Europe Programme amendment on October 6 through Commission Decision C(2025) 1839 increased support for EUDI Wallet rollout across all Member States, with enhanced mobile driving licence funding. New grant calls opened October 9 worth over €200 million in EU funds, supporting:
Denmark's EU Council Presidency delivered the Jutland Declaration on Child Protection on October 10th, with 25 Member States pledging increased online child protection efforts. The second version of Denmark's Age Verification Blueprint introduces:
These innovations create a "mini wallet" aligned with EUDI Wallet specifications for December 2026 integration.
Research published October 31 by the Smart Payment Association and Secure Identity Alliance concluded EUDI Wallets excel at initial KYC processes and user onboarding but should integrate with existing payment instruments rather than creating entirely new payment systems.
The findings warn that using wallets for Strong Customer Authentication could add complexity and cost for banks without significant benefits. This provides vital intelligence for financial services enterprises planning their digital identity strategies.
October 23 marked a significant shift in UK digital identity governance when a machinery of government change placed the Cabinet Office in overall control of digital identity policy, with DSIT handling technical delivery. Chief Secretary Darren Jones described digital ID as "the foundations of a modern state," while Science Secretary Liz Kendall emphasised modernising public services and giving people more control over their lives.
This restructure elevated digital identity to a top-level political priority directly under the Prime Minister's office.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer's expanded digital ID vision, announced the same day, promises free digital ID for all British citizens and legal residents, extending beyond Right to Work checks to:
The government's full public consultation launching by the end of 2025 aims to ensure the system is secure, trusted, and inclusive. These are essential considerations where Vidos's standards-based approach helps uphold digital ID benefits including increased privacy, reduced fraud, and enhanced user convenience.
Despite political debate, GOV.UK One Login reached operational milestones. On October 6, GDS Director Natalie Jones revealed that the platform achieved 11 million verified users across 80+ services with numbers growing daily. By the end of 2027, One Login will be the exclusive gateway to all central government services, featuring:
Companies House WebFiling became mandatory October 13 for One Login access, impacting directors, company secretaries, and authorised users as part of Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency reforms. Identity verification becomes legally required for directors and Persons with Significant Control from November 18, demonstrating how digital credentials are moving beyond convenience towards regulatory necessity.
The October 17 launch of the HM Armed Forces Veteran Card as the first government credential in GOV.UK Wallet marked a pivotal moment. This provides tangible proof that digital credentials are transitioning from concept to reality. The next year will see expanded credential types and broader acceptance support, building on years of foundational work.
The Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework now has its first major private-sector component service provider. Vidos achieved Component Service Provider status on October 20 alongside Orchestration and Attribute Service Provider certifications.
As Vidos proudly joins other register members, it brings unique component capabilities to the table, supporting other providers and assisting with wallet adoption through pre-approved verification modules via API. These innovations reduce certification time by an estimated 6-12 months. The company's sub-one-second verification responses support credential formats for GOV.UK Wallet including ISO 18013-5 (mdoc) for digital driving licences and W3C Verifiable Credentials Data Model 2.0.
The parliamentary petition regarding digital ID cards reaching 2.9 million signatures by month's end sends a clear signal that current approaches require refinement, even as improved security and fraud reduction remain inevitable goals. The government's October response revealed that less than 20% of 40+ Right to Work certified providers qualify as Orchestration Service Providers, highlighting the complexity of ecosystem transitions.
The government's October 27 announcement extending digital ID options to British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies demonstrates confidence in the system's scalability beyond mainland UK.
Ireland demonstrated digital identity momentum when Government CIO Barry Lowry announced October 15 that 2.6 million Irish citizens hold verified MyGovID accounts and engage with digital services at twice the EU average rate.
Speaking on the Transform Gov Podcast, Lowry highlighted Ireland's move to the "forefront of digital governance," representing 300,000 user growth since October 2023. This excellent foundation for the upcoming wallet launch means Ireland transitions from lacking national ID to being substantially bootstrapped, facilitating adoption and familiarity as Vidos prepares to support the wallet launch and enable further credential adoption.
The MyGovID platform currently integrates with 10 government departments, providing access to 140+ services including:
Operational excellence includes 83% of online Illness Benefit claims awarded automatically and 98% of Treatment Benefit claims processed automatically.
The Digital Public Services Plan 2030 launch announced ambitious targets: 100% of key public services available online by 2030 and 90% accessed digitally.
The plan confirmed Ireland's new Government Digital Wallet as a core "digital building block" compatible with EU initiatives, supporting Life Events approaches. New parents will be able to register births, apply for child benefit, and access birth certificates digitally through 17 priority life events scheduled for redesign between 2026-2028.
Crucially, eIDAS 2.0 mandates under Article 5f require financial services, insurance companies, and other sectors to accept the wallet. This means OGCIO must ensure feasibility beyond life events, enabling regular citizen usage for broad digital identity services.
Ireland's eIDAS 2.0 compliance preparation received detailed legal analysis when William Fry lawyers published "Seismic shift in identity-verification incoming" October 28 in the Law Society of Ireland Gazette.
The analysis clarified that Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 takes legal effect November 2026, requiring Ireland to offer at least one European Digital Identity Wallet while use remains voluntary. Citizens cannot face discrimination for non-use.
Mandatory acceptance sectors by 2027 include:
Legal risks encompass GDPR compliance, interoperability requirements, and cybersecurity certification under Regulation (EU) 2019/881. Importantly, adoption remaining non-mandatory means digital identity serves as an additional tool providing high security, convenience, and low-cost identification without becoming an absolute requirement for those preferring traditional ID forms.
Ireland's digital wallet pilot involving 500+ public servants received positive feedback throughout 2025, with government examining limited launch before end of 2025. Planned capabilities include driver's licences, birth certificates, and credentials connected with the Life Events portal while meeting EU eIDAS 2.0 requirements.
However, adoption considerations remain paramount. As one pilot user noted: "I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do next once I had my digital ID in the wallet." This highlights the need for clear user guidance and practical applications.
Ireland's strategic leadership demonstrated successful public-private partnerships and strong positioning for eIDAS 2.0 compliance, with existing MyGovID infrastructure providing a foundation for the required EUDI Wallet by November 2026. Vidos continues discussions with various government departments to enable successful rollout.
Regulatory Certainty: The EU's October 27 Implementing Acts provide the technical specifications and certification benchmarks enterprises need for cross-border digital identity planning. Interesting development with Ireland's voluntary framework success, and the UK's 11 million user milestone, digital identity adoption is now reaching significant levels.
Investment Opportunities: €45+ million in EU pilots engaging 550+ organisations creates unprecedented collaboration opportunities. Enterprises should evaluate participation in remaining grant calls while the window remains open.
Implementation Timelines: Critical deadlines approach rapidly:
Standards Convergence: ISO/IEC 18013-5:2021 mdoc, W3C Verifiable Credentials 2.0, SD-JWT VC, and the OpenID4VCI (issuance) and OpenID4VP (presentation) protocols are becoming the common interoperability stack across all three jurisdictions, making standards-based infrastructure investments increasingly valuable.
The digital identity transformation is accelerating rapidly. October 2025 provided the regulatory clarity, funding mechanisms, and user adoption proof points enterprises need to move from planning to implementation. Digital identity will transform business operations, and organisations must adapt quickly to leverage these unprecedented opportunities.
Need clarity on how eIDAS 2.0 applies to your organisation? Get in touch to discuss requirements our digital identity experts.
Looking for a partner on EU digital-identity tenders or other collaboration opportunities? Email tenders@vidos.id and we’ll explore how we can help.
