Starting Wednesday, December 4, the IT-Wallet, a digital wallet for identity documents, will be available for all users through the IO app, designed to consolidate many public services in one place. Initially, users can store their driver’s license, health card, and European disability card in digital format on their smartphones. These documents will have legal validity in physical contexts, such as during police checks or at pharmacies. Over the coming months, the app will expand to include additional documents and allow online payments and other transactions.
In an interview with Sole 24 Ore, Alessio Butti, the Undersecretary to the Presidency with a mandate for technological innovation, emphasized that the goal of the digital wallet is to simplify document use for citizens, reducing reliance on intermediaries and enhancing security. IT-Wallet essentially acts as a digital version of a traditional wallet. To activate it, users must download the IO app, available for both Android and iOS, and log in for the first time using SPID credentials or an electronic ID card (CIE). After the initial login, users can set a PIN or opt for biometric authentication, such as fingerprint or facial recognition.
The digital versions of these documents are authentic copies of their physical counterparts, with data provided by the relevant issuing authorities. The “Documents” section of the IO app has been gradually rolled out since October 23, beginning with 50,000 users, then expanding to 250,000, and later reaching one million, before becoming available to all on December 4. Initial access delays were expected as the rollout continued on Wednesday morning, and it may take a few hours for all users to gain access. The digital wallet project was included in the decree-law of March 2, 2024, related to the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), financed with European funds, and has cost approximately 300 million euros.
