Driving and boating licences
07/04/24
Driving and boating licences
What's it used for?
A driving licence is a secure document certifying the holder's right to drive and specifying any conditions and restrictions.
What are its main features?
The appearance of the document, its colour, and the symbols on it are security features designed to combat fraud.
The credit-card-sized driving licence includes:
- the last name of the holder
- their first name
- their date and place of birth
- their photo
- their digitised signature
- and validity dates of the driving licence.
On the back of the driving licence are all the driving categories, and the dates on which they were obtained by the licence holder. This is also where any restrictions, such as wearing glasses, are listed.
The MRZ strip
Being able to read the MRZ strip at the bottom of your driving licence is necessary to access all this information.
Since 15 July 2015, driving licences no longer include a microchip (see the ministerial order of 03/06/2015)
What is the role of the ANTS?
The Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés:
- is working with the Ministry of the Interior and the Imprimerie Nationale to design a French driving licence in the unified European format
- is taking part in Europe-wide work to define and specify the microprocessor-based driving licence
- is arranging for its certification
- is designing and implementing how it will interface with the national driving licence system hosted by the Ministry of the Interior,
- organises, administers and operates the entire process comprising the digitisation centre, the Ministry of the Interior, the Imprimerie Nationale and La Poste
- provides support to users
The local government of St-Barthélemy has entrusted ANTS with the design and production of its driving licence.
A boating licence, or permis de conduire les bateaux de plaisance à moteur, is a licence to drive personal watercraft issued by the Ministry of Transport.
What is the purpose of a boating licence?
Reformed in 2011, boating licencing is divided into two separate licences for sea and river navigation.
- Coastal option
This licence is required to sail at sea and on lakes or enclosed waters up to 6 miles from shelter.
- Inland Waterways option
This licence is required to operate boats less than 20 metres long on rivers, canals, lakes and other bodies of water. There is an extension to this licence called the Grand plaisance eaux intérieures extension, which allows you to operate boats of unlimited length.
What are its main features?
Boating licences are issued on presentation of supporting documents by the prefect of the département where the agency responsible for examining the licence application has its head office.
What is the role of the ANTS?
The Agency finances the printing and mailing of the boating licence to its holder.
No licence is required for boats or small barges with a motor that does not exceed 6 hp.
To steer a sailboat, you generally do not need a licence, even if the boat is fitted with a motor of more than 6 hp.
This depends on factors specific to the boat: total sail area, hull length, unladen displacement and total power of the motor(s). Check with the manufacturer.
Driving and boating licences
07/04/24
Driving and boating licences
What's it used for?
A driving licence is a secure document certifying the holder's right to drive and specifying any conditions and restrictions.
What are its main features?
The appearance of the document, its colour, and the symbols on it are security features designed to combat fraud.
The credit-card-sized driving licence includes:
- the last name of the holder
- their first name
- their date and place of birth
- their photo
- their digitised signature
- and validity dates of the driving licence.
On the back of the driving licence are all the driving categories, and the dates on which they were obtained by the licence holder. This is also where any restrictions, such as wearing glasses, are listed.
The MRZ strip
Being able to read the MRZ strip at the bottom of your driving licence is necessary to access all this information.
Since 15 July 2015, driving licences no longer include a microchip (see the ministerial order of 03/06/2015)
What is the role of the ANTS?
The Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés:
- is working with the Ministry of the Interior and the Imprimerie Nationale to design a French driving licence in the unified European format
- is taking part in Europe-wide work to define and specify the microprocessor-based driving licence
- is arranging for its certification
- is designing and implementing how it will interface with the national driving licence system hosted by the Ministry of the Interior,
- organises, administers and operates the entire process comprising the digitisation centre, the Ministry of the Interior, the Imprimerie Nationale and La Poste
- provides support to users
The local government of St-Barthélemy has entrusted ANTS with the design and production of its driving licence.
A boating licence, or permis de conduire les bateaux de plaisance à moteur, is a licence to drive personal watercraft issued by the Ministry of Transport.
What is the purpose of a boating licence?
Reformed in 2011, boating licencing is divided into two separate licences for sea and river navigation.
- Coastal option
This licence is required to sail at sea and on lakes or enclosed waters up to 6 miles from shelter.
- Inland Waterways option
This licence is required to operate boats less than 20 metres long on rivers, canals, lakes and other bodies of water. There is an extension to this licence called the Grand plaisance eaux intérieures extension, which allows you to operate boats of unlimited length.
What are its main features?
Boating licences are issued on presentation of supporting documents by the prefect of the département where the agency responsible for examining the licence application has its head office.
What is the role of the ANTS?
The Agency finances the printing and mailing of the boating licence to its holder.
No licence is required for boats or small barges with a motor that does not exceed 6 hp.
To steer a sailboat, you generally do not need a licence, even if the boat is fitted with a motor of more than 6 hp.
This depends on factors specific to the boat: total sail area, hull length, unladen displacement and total power of the motor(s). Check with the manufacturer.