Bosnia and Herzegovina is on the verge of a major digital transformation with the upcoming launch of its first national digital ID wallet, positioning the country ahead of some of its more developed neighbors in terms of digital infrastructure. According to Identyum CEO Robert Ilijaš, the new system will enable Bosnia to make technological strides far beyond expectations, allowing it to leapfrog several stages of digital identity development.
A New Era of Digital Identity for Bosnia
The Identyum ID wallet, set to be available to Bosnian citizens by the first half of 2025, is part of a broader European initiative to enhance digital identity systems. The project aligns with the EU’s vision under the eIDAS 2.0 regulation, which seeks to standardize and advance digital identities across Europe. While many European countries have already implemented earlier stages of digital identity—such as NFC-enabled physical ID cards—Bosnia’s leap to digital wallets represents a significant technological shift.
“What is special about this project is that these will be the identity wallets that the EU envisioned with the eEIDAS 2.0 regulation, allowing Bosnia to technologically leapfrog several phases of development,” Ilijaš told Biometric Update.
How the Digital ID Wallet Works
Bosnian citizens will be able to download the Identyum ID wallet app, which allows them to tap their physical ID cards on their smartphones and undergo a biometric liveness check to authenticate their identity. In addition to identity verification, the digital ID will store other credentials like driver’s licenses, diplomas, and even provide the ability to digitally sign documents. This technology puts control in the hands of users, allowing them to share their personal data only when needed.
Though this is a major step forward, Bosnia still faces the challenge of digitizing public and private services so that they can be accessed through the wallet. Identyum views the wallet as the cornerstone of Bosnia’s digital economy, with Ilijaš comparing it to the role of traditional infrastructure in economic development: “The same way a highway is necessary to spark the economy, digital identities are necessary to spark the digital economy.”
Funding and Strategic Importance
The ID wallet project is being spearheaded by IDDEEA (Agency for Identification Documents, Registers, and Data Exchange of Bosnia and Herzegovina) and is funded through the EU4DigitalSME fund, with additional support from the German government. Bosnia’s progress on this front is part of a broader strategy to bring stability and digital advancement to the Balkan region, which has historically been politically volatile.
As a candidate for EU accession, Bosnia’s alignment with European digital standards is crucial. In May 2024, Bosnia joined the European Union’s Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL), granting it access to a €7.5 billion fund aimed at accelerating digitalization efforts. The national ID wallet is one of the many projects designed to close the gap between Bosnia and its western European neighbors.
“Our project is just one tiny cog in preparing Bosnia to be more technologically similar to the EU,” Ilijaš commented, highlighting the broader geopolitical implications of the country’s digital transformation.
Identyum’s First Government Project
The creation of Bosnia’s national digital ID wallet marks Identyum’s first business-to-government (B2G) project, having previously focused on developing digital wallets, remote identification, digital signatures, and KYC (know your customer) checks for the private sector. The Croatia-based company’s clients include notable names like Multitude, Kent Bank, Raiffeisen Bank, and tourism giant Valamar.
Identyum’s CEO also sees the future of digital security in biometric technology, envisioning a passwordless world where authentication is based on biometrics rather than device ownership. “We believe that biometrics are the next big thing and that the passwordless segment should be based on biometrics instead of device ownership in the future,” Ilijaš concluded.
Looking Ahead: Bosnia’s Digital Future
As Bosnia prepares to roll out its national digital ID wallet, the project stands to have a profound impact on the country’s digital infrastructure. Not only will it offer citizens a seamless way to verify their identity and access services, but it could also serve as a model for other countries looking to modernize their systems. With EU backing and technological innovation at its core, Bosnia is poised to become a digital leader in the region, and possibly, a future tech hub in the Balkans.
This ambitious project highlights the potential for digital identity systems to transform economies, foster innovation, and bring stability to regions in need of technological advancement.
