From August 2, the new national identity card will be standardized across French territory, in accordance with European regulations. This new format, the size of a bank card, contains an electronic chip with the biometric data of the holder.
This new version, gradually deployed since last March, will be officially issued from August 2, 2021, with each renewal. The format of the new identity card, smaller in size, will be the same in all European Union countries. It includes a secure electronic chip that contains several pieces of data: civil status; residence; identity photo; the holder’s digitized fingerprints.
This new identity document features an electronic visual seal signed by the State, functioning like a QR code that allows for the automatic reading of digital data. The goal is to quickly detect potential fraud, forgery, and identity theft. However, the Ministry of the Interior specifies that these electronic components do not allow for geolocation.
The old cards will be valid until August 2031.
