Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

The material used for driving licences shall be made secure against forgery by using the following techniques (mandatory security features):

• card bodies shall be UV dull,

• a security background pattern designed to be resistant to counterfeit by scanning, printing or copying, using rainbow printing with multicolour security inks and positive and negative guilloche printing. The pattern shall not be composed of the primary colours (CMYK), shall contain complex pattern designs in a minimum of two special colours and shall include micro lettering,

• optical variable elements providing adequate protection against copying and tampering of the photograph,

• laser engraving,

• in the area of the photograph the security design background and photograph should overlap on at least its border (weakening pattern).

In addition, the material used for driving licences shall be made secure against forgery by using at least three of the following techniques (additional security features):

• colour-shifting inks*,

• termochromic ink*,

• custom holograms*,

• variable laser images*,

• ultraviolet fluorescent ink, visible and transparent,

• iridescent printing,

• digital watermark in the background,

• infrared or phosphorescent pigments,

• tactile characters, symbols or patterns*.

Member States are free to introduce additional security features. As a basis, the techniques indicated with an asterisk are to be preferred as they enable the law enforcement officers to check the validity of the card without any special means.

the words ‘Driving Licence’ printed in large type in the language or languages of the Member State issuing the licence;

the name of the Member State issuing the licence (optional);

[F1the distinguishing sign of the Member State issuing the licence, printed in negative in a blue rectangle and encircled by 12 yellow stars; the distinguishing signs shall be as follows:

information specific to the licence issued, numbered as follows:

[F1the words ‘ European Union model ’ in the language(s) of the Member State issuing the licence and the words ‘ Driving Licence ’ in the other languages of the European Union, printed in pink to form the background of the licence:

• Свидетелство за управление на МПС

• Permiso de Conducción

• Řidičský průkaz

• Kørekort

• Führerschein

• Juhiluba

• Άδεια Οδήγησης

• Driving Licence

• Permis de conduire

• Ceadúas Tiomána

• [F2Vozačka dozvola]

• Patente di guida

• Vadītāja apliecība

• Vairuotojo pažymėjimas

• Vezetői engedély

• Liċenzja tas-Sewqan

• Rijbewijs

• Prawo Jazdy

• Carta de Condução

• Permis de conducere

• Vodičský preukaz

• Vozniško dovoljenje

• Ajokortti

• Körkort;]

Colour references:

• blue: Pantone Reflex Blue,

• yellow: Pantone Yellow.

The codes shall be as follows:

Where a code applies to all categories for which the licence is issued, it may be printed under headings 9, 10 and 11;]

[F1an explanation of the following numbered items which appear on pages 1 and 2 of the licence: 1, 2, 3, 4(a), 4(b), 4(c), 5, 10, 11 and 12;

[F4If a Member State wishes to make the entries in a national language other than one of the following languages: Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish or Swedish, it will draw up a bilingual version of the licence using one of the aforementioned languages, without prejudice to the other provisions of this Annex;] ]

a space shall be reserved on the [F1European Union model driving licence] to allow for the possible introduction of a microchip or similar computer device.

Where the holder of a driving licence issued by a Member State in accordance with this Annex has his normal place of residence in another Member State, that Member State may enter in the licence such information as is essential for administering it, provided that it also enters this type of information in the licences which it issues and provided that there remains enough space for the purpose.

After consulting the Commission, Member States may add colours or markings, such as bar codes and national symbols, without prejudice to the other provisions of this Annex.

In the context of mutual recognition of licences, the bar code may not contain information other than what can already be read on the driving licence or which is essential to the process of issuing the licence.

[F5Information contained in the front and reverse side of the card shall be legible with the eye, using a minimum character height of 5 points for items 9 to 12 on the reverse side.]