Latest news with #FranceIdentité
Local France
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Local France
The French documents available in digital form
Everyone living in France can use the Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés (ANTS) website to sort out car registration documents, driving licences, and French passports and ID documents; while the Ameli portal deals with all things related to health and the miraculous carte vitale ; and Caisse d'Allocations Familiales (CAF) handles family matters. But, there's a world of difference between sorting out your administration matters online, which is very useful, and having access to a digital version of your important documents, which can be even more useful. Currently, national ID cards, driving licences, carte vitales , and – most recently – vehicle registration logbooks, known as cartes grise , can be held in digital as well as physical form. Advertisement They're all part of a push to streamline day-to-day administrative processes, and make demonstrating one's identity easier and more secure - importantly, however, they're intended as an extra to physical documents, not a replacement. But, not everyone can get their digital hands on these digital documents. Most, for now, are only available to French citizens, who hold a latest-generation credit card-style ID card, who have set up a France Identité account. So, which ones can legally resident foreigners in France access, and which will they have to wait for? First, however, a reminder. Digi-documents are available in addition to the physical versions, rather than as a replacement. They're not compulsory so if you can't access them, you don't have a smartphone or you just prefer the paper/plastic versions then you can stick with that. Carte vitale A digital version of the all-important health card has been available to French citizens for some time – and has been rolled out to some foreigners too. READ ALSO New digital carte vitale extended to foreigners in France Who - The rollout is on a geographical basis – it is currently available in 46 of France's 96 mainland départements; Ain, Allier, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Alpes-Maritimes, Ardèche, Ardennes, Aube, Bas-Rhin, Bouches-du-Rhône, Cantal, Calvados, Côte-d'Or, Doubs, Drôme, Eure, Hautes-Alpes, Haute-Loire, Haute-Marne, Haut-Rhin, Haute-Saône, Haute-Savoie, Isère, Jura, Loire, Loire-Atlantique, Maine-et-Loire, Manche, Marne, Mayenne, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse, Moselle, Nièvre, Orne, Puy-de-Dôme, Rhône, Saône-et-Loire, Sarthe, Savoie, Seine-Maritime, Var, Vaucluse, Vendée, Vosges, Yonne, and Territoire de Belfort. Eventually, it will be rolled out to the whole country. Non-French citizens in France must be resident in one of the above départments, but they can only access the CV app if they have either; A carte de séjour issued by France A Belgian ID card A Spanish ID card A Portuguese ID card There are plans to expand these categories, hopefully by the end of 2025. Advertisement In order to use it, you will also need to have already created an online Ameli account , and to have a smartphone that is at least version 9 for an Android or 16 for an iPhone. Driving Licence The digital licence can be used during traffic stops – and it is intended that it will, in time, be possible to integrate this data into a document that allows holders to rent vehicles online. Who - Sorry, legally resident foreigners in France – this one is, currently, only available to French citizens who have a French driving licence. Optional digital driving licences have been available to French citizens and dual nationals since February 2024. They are accessed using the France Identité app, which at present only allows people to register if they are French citizens and have the new bank-card sized ID card. There are plans to expand these criteria, potentially by the end of 2025 although there is no confirmed date. READ ALSO Who can use France's new digital driving licence? Advertisement Carte grise The vehicle registration document - commonly known as the carte grise - is a new addition to the virtual documents . It allows drivers to present their documents if required during traffic stops, but means that they don't have to keep vital paperwork in the car. Who - As it is with driving licences, so it is with vehicle registration documents. These are currently only available to anyone able to use French digital ID verification service France Identité – and that means you need to have French citizenship. French ID Only French citizens can have a French ID card, or a carte nationale d'identité (CNI) to give it its full name. Other French cards such as the carte de séjour residency card can be used to prove your identity, but they are not in themselves ID cards. If you have gone through the process of gaining French nationality, you will be informed of the process of getting your ID card. You will also be advised about France Identité. Advertisement Okay, you keep mentioning France Identité – what's that? France Identité is an app created by the French government that provides a secure short-cut to access official websites. It also allows you to provide a digital proof of your ID and/or address when required, and offers an online ID service that means you can provide proof of your identity without having to divulge personal details to an external website. READ ALSO What is France Identité and can foreigners use it? And you can use it to access digital versions of several key French documents - with others set to follow in due course. The app is available now as either iOs or Android versions. The good news It's not all bad news for non-French residents in France. An Interior Ministry spokesman previously told The Local that the plan is to open up France Identité to people who are legally resident in France but are not French citizens 'by the end of 2025'. That will be useful, because it's likely that the dematerialised option will be expanded to various other documents are France continues its march towards digitisation. Although just to recap - these digi versions are optional added extras, they are not compulsory.
Local France
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Local France
Carte grise: French drivers can digitise vehicle registration documents
Drivers can now use an app to present their vehicle registration certificate quickly and easily during a roadside check; update their information at any time without having to leave home; and keep all their official documents in one place on their smartphone. There is, however, a downside. The digital version of the carte grise is available via the France Identité app, which requires a French national ID card to register - this means that it is, for the moment at least, restricted to people who have French citizenship. An Interior Ministry spokesman has previously told The Local that the plan is to open up France Identité to people who are resident in France but are not French citizens "by the end of 2025". Advertisement France Identité allows people to create digital versions of their French driving licence, ID card and (for some areas) carte vitale - which are intended as a handy alternative to physical cards, although they do not replace the card itself. Since Monday, it has also allowed millions of motorists to store a digital version of the carte grise on a secure app on their smartphones. The app is intended to make daily administration smoother, not to replace physical versions of important information, merely to allow holders to access them securely as required without having to carry them around all the time. Anne-Gaëlle Baudouin, CEO of France Titres, welcomed the addition of carte grises to the France Identité app, which is already being used by some 2.2 million people in France. She said: 'The arrival of the digital vehicle registration document in France Identité is a concrete step forward in simplifying the daily lives of citizens. 'There is a strong demand from users to consolidate their official documents within a single app. With France Identité, this is now possible.' Florence Guillaume, Interministerial Delegate for Road Safety, added: 'The digital vehicle registration certificate simplifies everyday life for drivers and enhances data security. Advertisement 'It provides reliable, up-to-date proof of vehicle ownership, while streamlining procedures. This is a concrete step forward that will benefit everyone: citizens, law enforcement agencies, and automotive professionals.' Digitisation of the carte grise will affect a large number of people. According to official figures, there were more than 39.3 million cars on the road in France as of January 1st, 2024.
Local France
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Local France
Taxes, digital ID, and Easter: 6 essential articles for life in France
Tax season in France has begun , with the online portal now open for online declarations, while paper forms are also being sent out to those who have requested them. This year, there are some changes to French taxes that you will want to be aware of when filling out your declaration, in part thanks to France's new 2025 budget which was adopted in February. The changes you need to know about the 2025 French tax declaration If you are looking to move to France and you do not hold EU citizenship, then you will first need a visa. For several types of visas, including the 'Visiteur' status – common amongst retirees and second-home owners – it is necessary to show that you have health coverage for the duration of your stay. We explain the level of cover you need and how to pick a policy. How to find health insurance for your French visa French citizens, including dual nationals, now have an easier time accessing France's digital ID platform, France Identité. If you are eligible but still have the old version of the French ID card, you can now sign up for both at the same time. Here's what you need to know. France rolls out process to renew ID card and activate digital ID simultaneously Speaking of which, Interior Minister and likely wannabe 2027 presidential candidate Bruno Retailleau says he wants to toughen up conditions for foreigners to acquire French citizenship – because, he says, living in France is 'a favour' for non-citizens. He did not specify whether he was referring to people who get citizenship through residency, marriage or other family ties or through the ' droit du sol ' by which children born in France to foreign parents can gain citizenship once they reach the age of 13. But MPs have recently tightened up birthright citizenship rules on the island of Mayotte . Advertisement Children born in metropolitan France to foreign parents still have the right to citizenship through ' droit du sol '. But this doesn't mean that they are French from birth. Instead it involves a long delay, some pretty strict rules, a file of paperwork and an application to your local authority. Here's how to do it. Guide: How to request French nationality for your child French schools' staggered two-week Spring holidays began for pupils in Zone B on April 5th. Children at schools in Zone C broke up at the end of classes on April 11th, while those in Zone A have to wait until April 19th (sorry). Like many other historically Catholic countries, France is a big fan of Easter. All around the country, you'll see shopfronts and bakeries decorated with chocolate rabbits, chickens, bells, and other signs of spring. Many other traditions and festivals mark the spring holiday season in France – and here are a few suggestions if you want to join in the fun… Advertisement The best Easter activities in France for families France equals gastronomy. But what are the most 'best' dishes in France? A big survey has come up with a list, so here are France's favourite traditional dishes, culinary regions, to taste and visit, plus some tips on finding a reliable restaurant. Which French foods do French people love the most?
Local France
09-04-2025
- Business
- Local France
France rolls out process to renew ID card and activate digital ID simultaneously
French citizens - including dual nationals - now have an easier time accessing France's digital ID platform, France Identité . Since March 31st, it has been possible to activate your France Identité account and collect your new bank-card sized Carte National d'Identité (CNI) at the same time, meaning in one single trip to the local town hall. France Identité is an app created by the French government and providing a secure short-cut to access official websites. Advertisement It also allows you to provide a digital proof of your ID and/or address when required, and offers an online ID-proof service that allows you to provide proof of your identity without having to divulge personal details to an external website. It's also used to access digital versions of key French documents - at present you can get a digital driving licence and the digital carte vitale . It seems likely that other documents will follow. READ MORE: What is France Identité and can foreigners use it? Who can access it? Currently, it is only available to French citizens, as you need a Carte National d'Identité (CNI, or national ID card) to set up the app. There are plans to roll it out to non-French citizens living in France by the end of 2025. It is also necessary to have the latest version of the CNI - the one that is the size of a bank card. What's changing? Assuming you are already a French citizen who has the old, larger version of the ID card, it is now possible to request the new bank-card sized CNI and set up the full certified version of the Carte Identité app at the same time. In the past, you could only renew your CNI near its expiration date. On top of that, if you get your France Identité account 'ceritifed' by the mairie, you can use the digital ID for more sensitive admin processes, like agreeing to let someone else vote on your behalf ( une procuration de vote ). Advertisement Previously this involved a separate trip to the town hall, but now you can kill two birds with one stone. READ MORE: Préfecture v Mairie: French admin offices explained What if I am requesting my first Carte National d'Identité? For those who just received French nationality and are requesting their first French CNI , you ought to be given the latest bank-card version. If you're getting your first CNI, it is unclear whether or not the following steps will apply to you (as they are meant for renewals) but when you pick up your card at the mairie , you can ask. Otherwise, you can simply follow the normal steps for setting up a France Identité account. You can consult this official YouTube video laying out the entire process. What are the steps? For people renewing their CNI to get the bank-card version - the first step is to submit a pre-application for the new bank-card sized ID. You can see the steps on the France Titres website . Once you have done the pre-application online, you will need to make an appointment to submit everything with your local town hall. Keep in mind that you cannot change your name or gender through this process (there are different admin steps for that). Once your application is processed, you will be sent a text message encouraging you to activate and certify your France Identité upon receipt of your new ID card at the town hall. You will be able to download the France Identité app and present a QR code to the worker at the town hall. They will then certify your request, meaning you can use France Identité even for more sensitive admin steps. After your trip to the town hall, you should have full access to France Identité within 24 to 48 hours. Your account will already be considered verified ( certifiée ).
Local France
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Local France
PODCAST: Why the US can be grateful to the French, France's tremor threat and avoiding ETA scams
Host Ben McPartland is joined by The Local France's Emma Pearson and Genevieve Mansfield to look at all the latest news and talking points from France. We start with the tremor that shook Nice and the Côte d'Azur this week, and the prediction that France is "due a big one", plus the latest on the French government's crisis survival pamphlet. You can listen to Talking France on Spotify or Apple, download HERE or listen on the link below From literal earthquakes to political quakes - why are French and US politicians locked in a war of words over the Statue of Liberty? And is it really true that the USA has France to thank for its independence from Britain? Advertisement Coming back to more practical matters, a southern French département is set for a world first with its plans for an 'air to water' factory, aimed at producing water in a notoriously drought-stricken area. Some good news for foreigners as the French government says that the digital ID known as France Identité will be opened up to non-French citizens by the end of the year. We take a look a France's digital transformation, and what this means for people who either don't have internet access or aren't comfortable completing admin online. And talking of online problems - the UK's new ETA visa waiver is open, but sadly the scammers are circling ready to pounce on unwary people using the wrong website to get their £10 visa. Talking France is a free podcast made possible by the support of paying members of The Local - you can find out more about becoming a member here . Useful websites In this episode, we reference three websites that you may find useful. To look at the risk of earthquakes and other natural disasters near you, try going to the French government website Géorisques . To keep track of water restrictions in France, use the website. And finally for the UK's ETA visa waiver, the genuine site can be found here - look out for the prefix indicating a genuine UK government website Further reading MAP: The parts of France most at risk from earthquakes Where to find France's 12 Statues of Liberty Eleven things the French have given America Drought-prone southern France to inaugurate first 'air-to-water' plant What is France Identité and can foreigners use it? How to avoid ETA scams for France-UK travel Do Franco-British dual nationals need an ETA to travel to UK?
