The digital transformation of identification systems in Latin America has entered a decisive phase. In 2025, the region is in a transitional moment between traditional physical identification documents and new digital identity solutions, driven by technologies such as mobile wallets and verifiable credentials. Although progress is notable, the landscape remains heterogeneous, with significant differences between countries in terms of regulation, adoption, and technological maturity.
An evolving regulatory landscape
At the global level, the European Union’s eIDAS 2.0 Regulation has set a milestone in defining standards for digital identity, establishing the framework for the European Digital Identity Wallet (“EUDI Wallet”). This model, based on verifiable credentials and citizen control over data, is serving as a reference for many countries worldwide, particularly in Latin America, which are seeking to securely digitalize their identification systems.
The regulatory framework In Latin America is still under development. Some countries have made progress in digitalizing their identity documents, while others are in preliminary exploration or institutional design phases. The lack of harmonized regional regulation complicates the creation of cross-border digital ecosystems, although efforts toward convergence inspired by the European model are evident.
Colombia has been a pioneer in launching the legally valid “Cédula Digital” application, which essentially allows the physical identification of citizens for domestic travel. Chile offers both the “Cédula Digital” app, providing a digital representation of the physical ID card, and “Clave Única,” a mobile application linked to the ID that facilitates online access to public and some private services. Mexico has begun deploying the biometric CURP as its national digital identity, which will integrate with the state authentication platform, “Llave MX.”
In Argentina, the “Mi Argentina” app enables physical identification and allows citizens to carry their driver’s license, vaccination credential, and other documents digitally.
Brazil has launched the “Identidade Digital Gov.br” project, aiming to unify documents in a mobile application, with progressive integration into public and banking services.
Peru, a pioneer in issuing chip-based identity documents, is taking significant steps with the development of integrated government platforms, whose use in digital procedures is beginning to consolidate through the “ID Perú” mobile app.
Costa Rica and Uruguay have advanced in implementing digital authentication platforms (such as the digital identity system of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal in Costa Rica or the electronic identity system in Uruguay), although full digital identity wallets have not yet been deployed. Panama, Paraguay, and Bolivia have started processes to provide mobile applications offering digital versions of physical documents.
Ecuador has recently deployed its digital ID linked to public services, enabling a digital representation of the physical document.
In El Salvador, the Digital Identity platform is managed by the Civil Registry, performing KYC to create citizen accounts.
Meanwhile, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic do not yet have a digital identity available for the population, although in the Dominican Republic an initiative is underway.
In Honduras, a digital wallet is being implemented in collaboration with the National Civil Registry. For now, it is unclear whether it will align with international standards or be a local solution.
At the regional level, there are also initiatives aimed at building consensus, such as the digital identity project of the Inter-American Network of Digital Government (Red GEALC), which seeks to establish the basis for cross-border digital identification systems among member countries, allowing citizens to access digital services in other countries with the same validity as in their own.
In all these countries, the debate around digital identity is gaining relevance, and there is growing political willingness to move toward more secure, interoperable, and citizen-centric models. However, in most cases, these are still digital representations of physical documents, with much progress still needed to achieve a full digital identity ecosystem like the one targeted by the European Union through the eIDAS 2.0 Regulation.
Citizen adoption: between expectations and reality
Citizen perception of new forms of digital identity is divided. Let us focus on countries where solutions are already available to the population.
In Colombia, for example, the digital ID has been adopted by over a million people, but active usage remains limited. Integration with public and private services is under development, and although challenges remain, institutional efforts are laying the foundation for wider adoption.
In Chile, the new electronic ID has been well received by citizens, but its digital functionality is still being rolled out. However, “Clave Única” is widely used and adopted by the population.
In Mexico, digital credential pilots have generated interest, especially in universities and hospitals, but mass adoption depends on consolidating a national interoperable infrastructure and the new biometric platform.
In Argentina, the electronic DNI is widely known, but its use as a mobile digital credential is still limited. Many procedures still require the physical document, although there is a growing trend toward using the electronic DNI for authentication in digital services.
In Brazil, the “Gov.br” app has gained popularity with millions of registered users, but digital identity does not yet fully replace the physical document in in-person procedures.
Peru has been distributing chip-based identity documents for years, but digital activation and usage in public services remain limited. In Costa Rica, the TSE digital authentication system has been adopted by financial entities and some public services, but a citizen interoperable wallet does not yet exist. Uruguay has made significant progress in digital authentication with its electronic identity system, but integration with mobile credentials is still under development.
In Ecuador, digitalization plans are underway, but citizen adoption will depend on technical implementation and integration with public and private services.
Overall, a first conclusion can be drawn: the key to progress lies in creating tangible value for citizens. Digital identity must not only be more secure but also more useful and accessible in daily life. This requires governments and businesses to work together to ensure that digital credentials are accepted in real procedures, from opening a bank account to identity verification in healthcare or transportation services.
Outlook for 2025 and beyond
Digital identity in Latin America is advancing but still faces structural challenges. Consolidation will depend on collaboration not only among governments but also involving technology companies and international organizations, as well as creating regulatory frameworks that ensure interoperability, security, and trust.
In this context, solutions that combine regulatory compliance, ease of integration, and user experience will have a competitive advantage. The region is closely observing the deployment of the EUDI Wallet in Europe, and many of its initiatives align with that model. If successfully adapted to local particularities, Latin America could become a global reference for inclusive, secure, and citizen-centric digital identity.
In Europe, the deployment of the EUDI Wallet – the European Digital Identity Wallet – is marking a turning point in how citizens manage their personal credentials. Driven by the eIDAS 2.0 Regulation, this model establishes clear principles of user sovereignty, cross-country interoperability, and technical standardization, enabling citizens to identify themselves, sign documents, and access public and private services securely from their mobile devices. The European Union has defined a common framework that includes certification requirements, verifiable credential formats, and robust authentication mechanisms, ensuring legal and technical trust across the community.
This European approach can serve as a reference for other regions, including Latin America, Africa, and Asia, which are seeking to modernize identity systems without starting from scratch. Standardization fosters cross-border interoperability, reduces implementation costs, and allows technology providers to work on a common basis, opening opportunities for trade facilitation, movement of people, and capital, among others. Furthermore, by focusing on citizen control of data, the European model promotes personal data protection under an ethical, inclusive digital identity framework that respects privacy. If Latin American countries successfully adapt these principles to their local contexts, they can accelerate the adoption of secure and efficient solutions, fostering digital trust and transforming public services. Additionally, the shared Latin-based legal tradition between Europe and Latin America – centered on codification, protection of fundamental rights, and primacy of public interest – represents an advantage for adopting frameworks like the EUDI Wallet, facilitating regulatory and cultural alignment around principles such as citizen sovereignty, personal data protection, and institutional interoperability.
It is important to note that so far, initiatives in Latin America have focused almost exclusively on the governmental sector, leaving the private sector in the background. Unlike the European approach, where clear guidelines exist for active private sector participation in digital identity, Latin America has yet to define regulatory frameworks or concrete incentives to encourage adoption and adaptation of these systems in banks, insurers, e-commerce, or other services. This limits the true potential of digital identity as a cross-cutting transformation tool, as without policies promoting interoperability and trust in the private sector as well, digital credentials remain isolated solutions, with little impact on the regional digital economy. For digital identity to become a driver of innovation and competitiveness, it will be essential to move toward regulatory and collaborative models that include companies in the ecosystem, enabling people to fully benefit from a universal, secure digital identity accepted across all aspects of daily life.