The paperwork is still being written, but the direction of travel is unmistakable.<\/h5>\n\n\n\n![\"Hand](\"https:\/\/media.reclaimthenet.org\/images\/2026\/10\/kzInsIWrcCwU.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBy Cindy Harper<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The EU\u2019s anti-money laundering authority wants electronic ID, including the bloc\u2019s European Digital Identity (EUDI) wallet, to become the standard way people prove their identity to banks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote alternatives such as video and selfie checks will still be allowed, but only as an exception that the bank will have to justify to its supervisor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The EUDI wallet was sold to EU citizens as a voluntary, convenient, and secure way to store their ID, driver\u2019s license, and other documents, and to use it for accessing public and private services online and in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The EU\u2019s Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLA) has submitted its final draft standards<\/u><\/a> for customer due diligence to the European Commission (EC).<\/p>\n\n\n\nAMLA is pushing for the EUDI wallet to be the go-to choice here, saying that electronic identification means, including the wallet, \u201cshould be used wherever possible.\u201d<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe standard refers to the wallet as \u201cEuropean Digital Identity Wallets\u201d and says that it is one of the electronic identification means that provides \u201csubstantial\u201d or \u201chigh\u201d assurance levels, and should therefore be used wherever possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The draft standard covers customer due diligence, including \u201cthe information companies and professionals must collect and verify,\u201d as well as \u201cnon-face-to-face verification, electronic identification, and screening of politically exposed persons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If a customer can neither present an ID document in person nor use electronic ID, banks can allow remote verification by video or selfie checks, but this will be considered an exception that the bank must justify to its supervisor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is stated in article 7 of the draft<\/u><\/a>, which says that firms using these alternative tools for customer verification \u201cshall be able to justify why the customer could not be verified\u201d through the standard methods \u201cand demonstrate to their supervisor that the alternative solutions used comply with the requirements of this Article.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe draft also says that these alternative solutions must keep records, including \u201cimages, videos, sound and data\u201d that can be used in \u201cex post verifications.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All this is likely to mean that banks will look for ways to steer their customers towards using the EUDI wallet, given that using alternatives means more work and potential liability for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For one thing, the standard says that if a customer uses the EUDI wallet, \u201cno additional data points need to be obtained and verified through additional information, as the reassurance provided by the means specified in said Article is deemed sufficient.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AMLA\u2019s proposal was met with criticism during the consultation period, with some concerned that it could be read as making eIDAS and the EUDI wallet the default option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AMLA\u2019s answer was to make it explicit. Its revised wording, the report says, \u201cmakes clear that the measures in Article 22(6) AMLR are still the default option with alternative verification methods only to be used when neither of the two means required by AMLR can be used.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AMLA also noted that firms \u201cmay continue using existing remote onboarding tools that meet those requirements.\u201d This means that a post that has been making the rounds on X<\/u><\/a>, claiming that \u201cVideo, selfie + identity document, or private alternatives are no longer accepted\u201d is not entirely true. They will still be accepted \u2013 but as exceptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe standards are not yet law, and the regulation they are part of will not be enforced until July 10, 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AMLA\u2019s move is yet another example of how the EU\u2019s digital ID framework is being expanded and made more comprehensive, piece by piece. In April, the European Commission denied that the digital ID wallet was mandatory<\/u><\/a> \u2013 but at the same time, Germany\u2019s SPD proposed making it compulsory for everyone over 16 to use it to access social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBy Cindy Harper<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The EU\u2019s anti-money laundering authority wants electronic ID, including the bloc\u2019s European Digital Identity (EUDI) wallet, to become the standard way people prove their identity to banks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remote alternatives such as video and selfie checks will still be allowed, but only as an exception that the bank will have to justify to its supervisor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The EUDI wallet was sold to EU citizens as a voluntary, convenient, and secure way to store their ID, driver\u2019s license, and other documents, and to use it for accessing public and private services online and in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The EU\u2019s Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLA) has submitted its final draft standards<\/u><\/a> for customer due diligence to the European Commission (EC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n AMLA is pushing for the EUDI wallet to be the go-to choice here, saying that electronic identification means, including the wallet, \u201cshould be used wherever possible.\u201d<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The standard refers to the wallet as \u201cEuropean Digital Identity Wallets\u201d and says that it is one of the electronic identification means that provides \u201csubstantial\u201d or \u201chigh\u201d assurance levels, and should therefore be used wherever possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The draft standard covers customer due diligence, including \u201cthe information companies and professionals must collect and verify,\u201d as well as \u201cnon-face-to-face verification, electronic identification, and screening of politically exposed persons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If a customer can neither present an ID document in person nor use electronic ID, banks can allow remote verification by video or selfie checks, but this will be considered an exception that the bank must justify to its supervisor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is stated in article 7 of the draft<\/u><\/a>, which says that firms using these alternative tools for customer verification \u201cshall be able to justify why the customer could not be verified\u201d through the standard methods \u201cand demonstrate to their supervisor that the alternative solutions used comply with the requirements of this Article.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The draft also says that these alternative solutions must keep records, including \u201cimages, videos, sound and data\u201d that can be used in \u201cex post verifications.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n All this is likely to mean that banks will look for ways to steer their customers towards using the EUDI wallet, given that using alternatives means more work and potential liability for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For one thing, the standard says that if a customer uses the EUDI wallet, \u201cno additional data points need to be obtained and verified through additional information, as the reassurance provided by the means specified in said Article is deemed sufficient.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n AMLA\u2019s proposal was met with criticism during the consultation period, with some concerned that it could be read as making eIDAS and the EUDI wallet the default option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n AMLA\u2019s answer was to make it explicit. Its revised wording, the report says, \u201cmakes clear that the measures in Article 22(6) AMLR are still the default option with alternative verification methods only to be used when neither of the two means required by AMLR can be used.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n AMLA also noted that firms \u201cmay continue using existing remote onboarding tools that meet those requirements.\u201d This means that a post that has been making the rounds on X<\/u><\/a>, claiming that \u201cVideo, selfie + identity document, or private alternatives are no longer accepted\u201d is not entirely true. They will still be accepted \u2013 but as exceptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The standards are not yet law, and the regulation they are part of will not be enforced until July 10, 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n AMLA\u2019s move is yet another example of how the EU\u2019s digital ID framework is being expanded and made more comprehensive, piece by piece. In April, the European Commission denied that the digital ID wallet was mandatory<\/u><\/a> \u2013 but at the same time, Germany\u2019s SPD proposed making it compulsory for everyone over 16 to use it to access social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n