The article discusses the upcoming implementation of the France Identité app, set to launch in February 2024, allowing users to access a digital version of their identity card. Anne-Gaëlle Baudouin announced that from early 2025, individuals can renew their old identity documents for creating a digital identity. The app connects to France Connect, facilitating administrative tasks while ensuring secure identity verification. Additionally, plans exist to incorporate other official documents like the driving and Vitale cards into the app.
Exciting news is on the horizon for those looking to utilize the France Identité app, even if they haven’t yet received their electronic national identity card. Anne-Gaëlle Baudouin, the director of France Titres, has announced that starting in early 2025, individuals will be able to renew their old identity documents ahead of schedule, thanks to a new service set to be launched on the administration’s website. This initiative has been in development for quite some time.
This new service aims to facilitate the creation of a “digital identity.”
Understanding the France Identité App for Digital Identity
The France Identité app is part of an interministerial initiative launched in 2018 under the supervision of the Ministries of the Interior and Justice, as well as the Secretary of State for Digital. The app was officially launched for both Android and iOS on February 14, 2024, after years of dedicated development.
This app integrates with France Connect, a single access portal that simplifies various administrative procedures in France through a centralized login system. France Identité acts as a digital “key” to connect to France Connect, enhancing the reliability of identity verification.
This emphasis on reliability aligns with eIDAS, a 2014 European regulation that ensures secure electronic interactions among citizens, businesses, and government entities. The regulation defines three levels of assurance: low, substantial, and high. Higher levels indicate greater assurances regarding an individual’s identity.
How to Access Your ID Card on Your Smartphone
To have your ID card available on your mobile device, certain prerequisites must be fulfilled.
Intended Uses for ID, Supporting Documents, and Digital Identification
The primary function of the France Identité app is to authenticate identity. It offers an alternative to traditional ID cards, whether it’s the older version or the newer, bank card-style one. Users can present this digital ID in situations such as police checks or governmental interactions.
Additionally, the app can serve as proof of age. Many websites in France require age verification to protect minors, a necessary regulatory aim. The particulars of this verification process are still being determined, particularly for adult content platforms, but this app could play a significant role.
The government plans to develop a specialized app that allows for the anonymous transmission of age verification, utilizing France Identité to generate single-use credentials through a double anonymity mechanism. This approach is vital, considering the sensitivity surrounding age verification.
The application also has the capacity to store other official documents. As of February 14, 2024, users can present a dematerialized driving license digitally in various situations, fulfilling a promise made in the spring of 2023.
In addition to personal identification, France Identité will facilitate access to hundreds of documents through France Connect, with future plans to include other official documents and additional functionalities, such as proxy voting.
How to Download the Digital Identity Card Application
To utilize the application, several prerequisites must be met: first, you need to download and install it on your smartphone. Ensure that your device supports NFC (Near Field Communication), a technology standard in most recent smartphones. You also need to have an updated operating system, either Android 8 or iOS 16.
The majority of smartphones currently on the market should be compatible, as the aim is to maximize accessibility. However, entry-level models may lack NFC chips.
You will also need an electronic national identity card (CNIe), which includes a secure embedded chip with personal data and a photograph of the holder’s fingerprints. While the app won’t read biometric data, it is essential for the setup process.
Once these requirements are met, you will navigate a configuration process that either involves creating a personal code through France Connect or receiving a postal letter with a QR code and a six-digit personal code. Although these initial steps may seem tedious, they will not be necessary in future logins.
Does Digital Identity Replace the Traditional ID Card?
The app is currently not intended to replace the traditional paper identity card. France Identité is an optional alternative, which individuals can use in place of physical documents. The app is designed for ease of use, making it accessible for those who may not be tech-savvy.
What About the Dematerialized Driving License?
You can also add a dematerialized version of your driving license to the app, whether it’s the classic pink version with its folding flaps or the more contemporary bank card style. Keep in mind that it’s possible to exchange the pink license for the newer format at no cost.