Malta will launch a national digital identity wallet as part of a wider digitalisation strategy.

The wallet was announced in the 2026 Budget, with Finance Minister Clyde Caruana stating it will provide citizens and businesses with an easy, secure and private way of sharing and verifying their identity.

“It will put into practice the ‘once-only’ principle – your data should only be provided once, with your consent, and it should be verified safely and transparently, in line with the best EU standards and with privacy built into the system,” he said.

This move is in line with the EU’s Digital Identity Framework, which entered into force last year and which obliges all member states to launch digital identity wallets by 2026.

Prime Minister Robert Abela said it must be viewed in the wider context of the government’s approach to digitalisation.

“If you speak to young people, it’s clear what direction they want the country to move in, and it aligns perfectly with our own vision for the economy. Investing in these tools is how we plan to get there.”

Photo left: Clyde Caruana