The news: ID passes will be available in Google Wallet in the EU by this summer, per a press release.

Google also intends to give users secure age verification for Sparkasse banking members, which confirms age eligibility without revealing users’ name and address like on a physical ID.

How we got here: Google Wallet launched IDs and an “Everything Else” feature in the US years ago. Bringing these capabilities over the EU helps make Google Wallet stickier for more users. 

Rival Apple Wallet launched an integration for digital US passports in November.

Why this matters: Google Wallet will have to compete with the rise of government owned and operated digital wallets and apps for their citizens’ identification.

• The European Commission is planning to release a EU Digital Identity (eID) Wallet by the end of 2026, which has the ability to store and share digital documents and create binding signatures online and offline for private and public services.
• Denmark released its version of eID for its country this week, called AltID.

While Google Wallet likely won’t have to compete for serving payments needs—EPI’s wero has struggled to gain traction—nationalized digital wallets could seriously compete on the basis of personal ID and other similar capabilities. Whichever provider captures the majority of consumers through digital convenience and added benefits like IDs and travel information stands to lock in that loyalty.

Implications for payment providers: Europeans are unlikely to defect from legacy providers for digital wallet payments. However, Apple and Google Wallet’s ID tools may fall flat compared with US adoption considering other available public options. Leaning into travel, package tracking, and loyalty capabilities could help capture EU adults who turn to digital wallets for ease in doing commerce—not government verification.

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