The digital driving licence became reality in France in 2026. After a 2024-2025 pilot phase, the ANTS and Interior Ministry generalised access to the digital licence via the France Identite app. This evolution lets you show your licence from a smartphone at a check, and offers better loss or theft protection. Here is everything to know on rollout, legal value and concrete uses of this new licence form.
France Identite app: single portal
France Identite is the official French State app for accessing digital identity titles. Available on iOS and Android, it has integrated the driving licence since 2026 alongside the national ID card. Activation requires a card-format ID (issued since 2021 with electronic chip), an NFC smartphone and a personal code. Once active, the digital licence works offline and is cryptographically signed by the State, guaranteeing authenticity.
How to activate your digital licence
The procedure is simple: download France Identite from the official store, scan your new generation ID with the phone NFC, enter the code given by the town hall when creating the card, then activate the licence tab. The app connects to the national driving licence file (FNPC) via the ANTS API and pulls info: number, categories, issue and validity dates, photo. Activation takes less than 10 minutes and is entirely free.
Legal value vs physical format
Since the January 2026 decree, the digital licence has the same legal value as the pink card or new plastic card. At a roadside check, you can show your smartphone to law enforcement, who scan the dynamic QR code to verify authenticity. The physical format stays indefinitely valid and need not be destroyed. You can use either as you prefer. For foreign travel, the physical format remains recommended as digital recognition varies by country.
Dynamic QR code security
The QR code displayed in France Identite is not static: it refreshes every 30 seconds via cryptographic signature. This prevents screenshots or fraudulent use. At a check, the officer scans the QR with their official terminal, which validates the signature in real time. Displayed data cannot be altered or forged. If the phone runs out of battery, control can happen via the licence number verified by radio against the central file.
Police check in practice
At a check, show your unlocked smartphone with the licence screen open. The officer can either read info directly or scan the QR. No need to hand over the phone: scanning happens at distance with the official terminal. The procedure lasts about 30 seconds, comparable to a physical licence check. If the officer asks for your phone for a photo, you can refuse and insist on scan reading. The national gendarmerie and police have been equipped since February 2026.
Progressive rollout and figures
France Identite rollout is progressive. Per the Interior Ministry, about 8 million French had activated their digital licence by end of March 2026, out of 45 million holders. Full rollout is planned for end of 2027. Administrations, car rental agencies and insurers progressively accept the digital format for routine procedures. The Service Public site lists already compatible bodies. Young drivers adopt the app faster (35 percent activation rate among 18-25).
Special cases and limits
The digital licence is only available to holders of a new generation ID. If you still have an old plastic ID issued before 2021, you must first renew your ID (free for first request, 25 euros for standard renewal). Foreign licence holders in France cannot activate the digital licence yet. Probation drivers and licences with medical restriction work normally with the app.
Abroad: variable recognition
Within the EU, French digital licence recognition progresses. Since January 2026, Germany, Belgium, Spain and Italy officially accept France Identite at tourist checks. Netherlands and Portugal should follow during 2026. Outside the EU, the physical format remains mandatory. For car rental, some international agencies accept digital with ID photo, others still require the card. If in doubt, carry both formats.
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