Launched a year ago in the France Identité application, it will undergo a series of changes in 2025 designed to simplify access, enrich the information displayed, and strengthen its compatibility with roadside checks. This new face of the famous "pink slip" is part of a broader desire to modernize public services, while addressing digital security issues.
Automated import, redesigned interface
Until now, to add your driving license to France Identité, you had to manually download a certificate called ADCS (Attestation de Droits à Conduire Sécurisée). This document could be retrieved from the ANTS website, provided you had the correct references. A process deemed tedious by many users.
Good news: since May 2025, this step has been automated. Now, all you have to do is enter your NEPH number (the license file number) and the France Identité app will retrieve the data directly from the National Driving License File. No more juggling attachments or checking the validity of the certificate: everything is managed in the background.
Furthermore, the digital license interface has been redesigned to provide better readability. The display is now clearer, with a summary presentation that adapts to the orientation of the phone. The information is classified by category, with particular attention paid to the validity of the different license classes, any restrictions or adjustments (such as specific equipment for disabled drivers), and the holder's photo.
Roadside checks: finally smooth use?
One of the limitations of the electronic license was its recognition during roadside checks. Law enforcement now has equipment compatible with the NFC technology integrated into the France Identité app. During a check, simply hold your smartphone near the reader for the official information to be transmitted and verified instantly and securely.
This contactless operation eliminates the need to physically hand over your phone to an officer and ensures that the data transmitted is up-to-date and consistent with government files. This is a significant step forward for the smooth running of checks... but also for drivers' peace of mind.
Who can benefit from the electronic driving license, and how do I activate it?
To benefit from the digital driving license, you must meet three conditions: be an adult, have a national identity card in the new electronic format (CNIe), and have a smartphone compatible with NFC technology, i.e. Android 11 or later or iOS 16 and later.
The license is then added via the France Identité app, available free of charge on the stores. After importing your ID, simply select the “Add a document” option and choose “Driver’s License.” The rest is automated: the system will retrieve the ADCS and instantly display the digital version of the license.
For those who do not yet have the new bank card-sized ID card, it is possible to apply for one at the town hall. Note that this renewal is free, even if your current card is still valid, as long as you can prove that you want to use digital services like France Identité.
A dematerialization that calls for others
After the Carte Vitale and the license, other documents should also go digital in the coming months. The government is banking on this secure centralization to simplify access to rights, reduce document fraud, and respond to the growing use of smartphones as “digital wallets.” The driving license, long perceived as an archaic document, is therefore becoming one of the symbols of this ongoing digital transition.
And contrary to some initial fears, the physical format of the license remains valid: there is no question of eliminating it for the moment. The digital version is simply added to the options available to users.
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