Application for a driving license: what ID can be presented?

Verified 09 April 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

The documents to justify your identity when applying for a driving license vary according to your nationality:

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You're French

  • Secure national identity card valid or expired for less than 5 years
  • Biometric passport, service passport or mission passport valid or expired for less than 5 years
  • Invalid or expired non-biometric passport for less than 2 years
  • Secure driving license in accordance with the valid EU format
  • Proof of identity receipt (for persons subject to an exit ban)

FYI  

Since October 16, 2024, you can generate a one-time proof of identity with photo during the online application for a driving license. To use this feature, you must have created your digital identity France Identity, using a bank card-sized identity card, an account FranceConnect and application France Identity (download to your phone).

You're European

You are affected if you are a national of one of the following states: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

You are affected if you are a national of one of the following states: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Documents must be valid.

For a major
  • National identity card
  • Passport
  • EC long-term resident card of the European Unionissued by France, irrespective of the entry on the card
  • Temporary residence card of the European Union, issued by France, irrespective of the entry on the card
  • Secure driving license in accordance with the European Union format, issued by a European Union country
For a minor

In addition to the documents accepted for adults, a minor can justify his identity with one of the following documents:

  • Passport of one of the minor's parents, valid, if the minor is in it and his photo is similar
  • Valid Minor foreigner Movement Document (MRD)
  • Valid Republican Identity Document (TIR) (old model admissible until 2024).

You have another nationality

Documents must be valid and must have been issued by France except for passports.

For a major
  • Passport
  • Resident card, regardless of mention
  • Temporary residence card (TSA), regardless of endorsement
  • Long-stay visa as a residence permit validated by the French Office for Immigration and Integration (Ofii)
  • Multi-annual residence card, irrespective of the mention
  • Algerian residence certificate
  • Temporary residence permit, irrespective of the entry on the card provided that it extends a stay in the territory for more than 185 days
  • Receipt of application for renewal of the residence permit (old model) together with the previously held permit
  • Certificate of favorable decision (new model) on an application for renewal of a residence permit accompanied by the previously held permit
  • Asylum application certificate issued more than 9 months ago and authorizing to work
  • Receipt of recognition of international protection and granting refugee status, statelessness or subsidiary protection, or certificate of extension of the examination of an application for renewal of a residence permit bearing the blue circle
  • Valid refugee travel document, accompanied by the residence card or residence permit
For a minor

In addition to the documents accepted for adults, a minor can justify his identity with one of the following documents:

  • Passport of one of the minor's parents, valid, if the minor is in it and his photo is similar
  • Valid Minor foreigner Movement Document (MRD)
  • Valid Republican Identity Document (TIR) (old model admissible until 2024).

Please note

You must be able to supply the original of the document, but a paper or digitized copy is enough to do the process.

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