‘Digital ID’ to be accepted at French airports this summer
Users of the France Identité app will be able to board certain flights using ID on smartphone
Passengers will only be authorised to use Digital ID on certain flights
Oleg Elkov/Shutterstock
Travellers will be able to use the France Identité app as proof of ID at French airports from this summer, the French Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed.
The government’s digital ID app will be available to use in lieu of physical ID cards to board domestic flights or those to other certain Schengen Area countries (where physical ID cards are currently accepted in place of passports).
However, a valid physical form of ID may still be required to travel back to France from a non-French airport.
Non-French citizens or citizens without the France Identité app will still need to use a physical ID such as their passport or EU ID card in order to board.
France Identité grows in popularity
France Identité is a digital ID app available to French citizens who have a modern post-2021 national ID card, issued with a biometric chip required to activate the app.
The app is a secure digital version of the user’s pre-existing official government ID. and can be used for tasks such as collecting parcels, organising a proxy vote for an election or creating official documentation proving a person’s citizenship status, etc.
It has also expanded to hold other sources of official documentation such as driving licences and vehicle registration information, with police accepting digitised driving licences hosted on the app during on-the-spot checks.
More recently, the app was expanded to allow passengers on SNCF trains to show digital proof of identity and their ticket information.
More than 3 million citizens have a digital ID via the app, with 1 million drivers using it to host their licence as announced in January by France Titres – Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés (French National Security Agency, ANTS)).
Expansion of the app to French airports points towards a wider integration of the app into French society.
There have also been pushes to integrate digital versions of the carte Vitale with the France Identité app, although the wider rollout of a specific digital health card app put this on hold.
Limitations remain however.
The restriction of the app to modern ID holders means citizens without a biometric chip card must first apply for this. Only after receiving it can they download and use the France Identité app.
Non-citizens are restricted from using the app. Last year,authorities announced plans to open it up to certain residency card holders by the end of 2025, however as of February 2026 no official update has been given.
