Amendment to e-identity regulations: Poland implements the European Digital Identity Wallet

The Government Legislation Centre has published a key draft amendment to the Trust Services and Electronic Identification Act. This document marks a milestone in the digitization of public administration, implementing the EU regulation eIDAS 2.0 into the national legal order. The most significant innovation is the European Digital Identity Wallet, which is to provide citizens with secure access to public and private services across the entire community. While the Polish app mObywatel has revolutionized the domestic market, it currently does not function as an identity document abroad. The new regulations aim to change this by integrating Polish solutions with the pan-European system. The first ID cards in the form of plastic cards were introduced in Poland in 2001, replacing booklet-style documents, which began a modernization process of citizen identification systems lasting over two decades. Simultaneously, the Ministry of Interior and Administration has prepared changes to the ID Card Act and the Polish Citizenship Act. The proposed regulations impose an obligation on municipal offices to inform citizens about the invalidation of their identity documents. This is particularly important in the context of the planned document replacement, which may affect up to 3 million Poles in the near future. Another aspect of the reform is tightening the system for granting the Polish Card. The government intends to introduce more restrictive verification requirements to prevent abuses and ensure that the document is issued only to those who actually meet the statutory criteria. Work on the full implementation of the system is to be completed by December 2026, coinciding with the final deadline imposed by Brussels. 3 million — Poles will have to replace their ID cards The introduction of the digital identity wallet generates enthusiasm among proponents of modern technology but also raises questions about cybersecurity and the protection of sensitive data. Experts point out that full user control over shared data will be the foundation of trust in the new system. Furthermore, changes in consular procedures related to the Polish Card aim to protect state interests and ensure transparency in the repatriation process. The entirety of legislative changes paints a coherent picture of a state striving for digital sovereignty while maintaining EU standards. Changes in identity documents 2026: : → ; : → ; : →

Liberal media emphasize travel convenience and the modernity of digital solutions, seeing them as another step in European integration. | Conservative media focus on tightening procedures for the Polish Card and protecting national security.