The French national identity card (French: carte nationale d’identité or CNI) is an official identity document consisting of an electronic ID-1 card bearing a photograph, name and address. While the identity card is non-compulsory, all persons must possess some form of valid government-issued identity documentation.^[2]

Identity cards, valid for a period of 10 years, are issued by the local préfecture, sous-préfecture, mairie (in France) or in French consulates (abroad) free of charge. A fingerprint of the holder is taken, which is stored in paper files and which can only be accessed by a judge in closely defined circumstances. A central database duplicates the information on the card, but strict laws limit access to the information and prevent it being linked to other databases or records.

The cards may be used to verify identity and nationality and may also be used as a travel document within Europe (except Belarus, Russia, Ukraine and United Kingdom) as well as French overseas territories, Anguilla, Egypt, Turkey, Georgia, Dominica (max 14 days), Montserrat, Saint Lucia and on organized tours to Tunisia^[3] instead of a French passport. The cards are widely used for other purposes — for example, when opening a bank account, or when making a payment by cheque.

Graduated driver licensing[edit]

Disk on the rear of the car for vehicle with a learner.

In France, there exists a graduated driver licensing(GDL) system for people between the ages of 15 and 17 and a half, for those holding a B category driving licence. Some restrictions exist, with one of the main conditions being that a driver with at least 5 years of uninterrupted license holding must accompany the learner.

This GDL is valid only within France, so it is not legal for a youth with a GDL to cross international borders in their car.

At the age of 18, one holding a learner’s permit can apply for a normal driving license. The pros to this are that the learner can pass more easily due to having had prior experience driving, and the probationary period for their new licence is reduced from three to two years.

For people over 18 applying for a licence for the first time, a system similar to the GDL exists, but rules are slightly different. For instance, it does not provide the reduction from three to two years for the probation licence.^[4]

 

Magnetic A disk.

Furthermore, any person who initially gets a driving licence for the first time has to mind following restrictions for two or three years^[5] known as permis probatoire. The permis probatoire include:

• New drivers cannot drive as fast as seasoned drivers: 110 km/h instead of 130 on motorways, 100 km/h instead of 110, and 80 instead of 90 on rural roads.^[6]
• The symbol A should appear on the rear of the car
• The permis probatoire has only six points, the driver will have access to 12 points when they pass a three-year term