Recital (11)

In line with the goal of the digital transformation of not leaving citizens behind, as expressed in the 2023 European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles for the Digital Decade, it is imperative that citizens continue to have the right to request a driving licence in a physical format in addition to the driving licence in a digital format. Therefore, Member States should provide an applicant with the driving licence in a physical format, upon the applicant’s request, without undue delay and in general within three weeks, when the applicant already holds that Member State’s digital driving licence format attesting the applicant’s driving rights. Moreover, in urgent situations, where the late reception of the physical driving licence would lead to disproportionate harm for the applicant, Member States are encouraged to provide for the possibility to make use of an emergency procedure, through which the physical driving licence would be issued in a matter of days in exchange for a proportionate increase in the relevant administrative fees.