Skip to content

mDL Reader Specifications

The specifications of the mDL reader are summarised in the table below.

Specification Optionality Description and Reference
:open_file_folder: mDL Verifiable Credentials
ISO/IEC 18013-5 (CBOR) Mandatory - [ARF], High Level Requirement:  mDL_01
- [ARF] “Annex 3.02 - mDL Rulebook”
- [4th Driving License Directive] Annex I, Part C
mDL Data Model Mandatory As above
:open_file_folder: Presentation Interface (PI)
Presentation Request (of verifiable credentials according to ISO/IEC 18013-5 standard) Mandatory CIR 2024/2982
:open_file_folder: Topology
Cross device Mandatory ARF section 4.4.1 defines that proximity flow is when the User Device is physically near the Relying Part Instance. This implies that the flow occurs in different devices therefore the mDL reader can interact with the EUDI Wallet only in cross device scenario for the proximity flow (supervised or unsupervised). The mDL Reader implements only ARF section “4.4.2 Proximity presentation flows”.
Same device N/A The same device flow is not applicable for the mDL Reader on the proximity flows as justified above.
:open_file_folder: Presentation Flows
Remote N/A The remote flow is not applicable for the mDL Reader since only the proximity flow is supported.
Proximity Mandatory The mDL Reader implements only ARF section “4.4.2 Proximity presentation flows”.
:open_file_folder: Initialization
mDL reader using NFC Optional The EUDI Wallet can be activated either by the mDL Holder (user) or it can be triggered by the mDL Reader using NFC according to ISO/IEC 18013-5 section 6.3.2.2. The standard does not specify if this is mandatory for the mDL Reader. Therefore, it is considered optional.
:open_file_folder: Device engagement technologies
NFC Mandatory According to Table 1 in ISO/IEC 18013-5
QR Code Mandatory According to Table 1 in ISO/IEC 18013-5
:open_file_folder: NFC Device engagement technology support
Static Handover Mandatory The mDL reader shall support both handover methods according to the last sentence of section 6.3.2.3 of ISO/IEC 18013-5.
Negotiated Handover Mandatory As above
:open_file_folder: Data Retrieval Methods
Offline (device) retrieval Mandatory According to Table 2 in ISO/IEC 18013-5
Online (server) retrieval Excluded / Not Supported The server data retrieval method allows the issuing authority to have knowledge when the mDL holder presents the mDL to a specific mDL verifier. This is prohibited explicitly by articles 5a.16 and 5a.5(b) of [eIDAS] and [ARF] Annex 2 High level requirement “ProxId_02”. Therefore, this method is excluded (not supported) from the mDL target solution.
:open_file_folder: Message encoding
mdoc Request/Response messages encoded with CBOR Mandatory According to section 6.3.2.4 of in ISO/IEC 18013-5 “When using device retrieval, the mDL and mDL reader communicate using mdoc request and mdoc response messages encoded with CBOR”.
:open_file_folder: Data Transmission/ Device Retrieval
NFC Mandatory According to Table 2 in ISO/IEC 18013-5
BLE Mandatory According to Table 2 in ISO/IEC 18013-5
Wi-Fi Aware Recommended According to Table 2 in ISO/IEC 18013-5
:open_file_folder: Data Device Retrieval using BLE
mdoc central client mode Mandatory According to section 6.3.2.5 of  ISO/IEC 18013-5 “For device retrieval using BLE, the mDL reader shall support the mdoc central client mode and mdoc peripheral server mode”.
mdoc peripheral server mode Mandatory As above
BLE L2CAP Optional According to section 6.3.2.5 of ISO/IEC 18013-5 that states “…The mDL and mDL reader may support the BLE 2CAP transmission profile...”
:open_file_folder: Data Server Retrieval
WebAPI Excluded / Not Supported As per “Online (server) retrieval” above
OIDC Excluded / Not Supported As per “Online (server) retrieval” above
:open_file_folder: Security Mechanism and Trust Relationships for Device Retrieval
Session Encryption Mandatory (assumed) Section 9.1.1 in ISO/IEC 18013-5 specifies that the session encryption applies to the device retrieval method. It does not specify explicitly it as mandatory. It is assumed that it is mandatory. Table 2 in ISO/IEC 18013-7 applies to remote presentation to an mDL reader over the internet and therefore is not applicable to the proximity flow.
Issuer data authentication Mandatory As above for section 9.1.2 in ISO/IEC 18013-5. Section 9.3.1 applies also specifying as a mandatory capability.
The verifier shall verify that the mDL Issuer did not revoke the mDL (Revocation of mDL) Mandatory ARF section 6.6.3.1, point 6 (and 6.3.6.7) The specification for mDL revocation via a status list or reference list is expected to be introduced in a future version of ISO/IEC 18013-5. Consequently, mDL Verifiers shall be capable to verify the validity status of the mDL by retrieving the status list or identifier list. ARF section 6.6.3.7 specifies that “Attestation Provider includes revocation information in the PID or attestation, if it is valid for longer than 24 hours.”
mdoc authentication (device binding) Mandatory (assumed) As above for section 9.1.3 in ISO/IEC 18013-5
mdoc Reader authentication Mandatory (assumed) As above for section 9.1.4 in ISO/IEC 18013-5
:open_file_folder: Security Mechanism for Server Retrieval
TLS 1.2 or higher Excluded / Not Supported As per “Online (server) retrieval” above.
JSON Web Signature (JWS). Excluded / Not Supported As per “Online (server) retrieval” above
:open_file_folder: Disclosure options
Selective Disclosure Mandatory The interface between the mDL and the mDL Reader shall support the selective release of mDL data to an mDL Reader as per ISO/IEC 18013-5 section 6.2 point (d) Additionally, ARF in High Level Requirements OIA_07 specify the support of selective disclosure of attributes from PIDs and attestations.
:open_file_folder: Policy-based Checks
Certificate Revocation list Mandatory Section 9.3.3 in ISO/IEC 18013-5 specifies that “mdoc reader shall have access to certificate revocation information”. An mDL reader needs access to the issuing authority’s certificate authority (IACA) root certificate to verify issuer data authentication. It checks the status of the Document Signing certificate and the IACA certificate against the published CRLs. It confirms that the issuer’s IACA certificate is present, and that it is listed as an issuer of the doctype “org.iso.18013.5.1.mDL”.
ETSI LOTL support Mandatory The Reference Implementation supports ETSI trusted lists because of other use cases, see e.g. ARF Annex 2 requirement PuBPNot_03: “The format of the PuB-EAA Provider Trusted List SHALL comply with ETSI TS 119 612 v2.1.1 or with a suitable profile similarly derived from ETSI TS 102 231”.
IACA retrieval via VICAL Mandatory [4th Driving License Directive] in Art. 5.7 mandates that the Commission shall adopt implementing acts [among others] for recognition of those driving licences by third country authorities. Annex C in ISO/IEC 18013-5 specifies the VICAL mechanism. It does not explicitly specify this mechanism as mandatory and therefore it is considered optional. This mechanism applies to the third countries.