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Member States shall issue the uniform format for residence permits defined in Article 1 no later than one year after the adoption of the additional security features and requirements referred to in Article 2(1)(a). From that date, this Regulation shall, in the Member States concerned, replace Joint Action 97/11/JHA. The storage of the facial image as primary biometric identifier shall be implemented at the latest two years, and the storage of the two fingerprint images at the latest three years, after the adoption of the respective technical measures provided for in Article 2(1)(d) and (e). However, the validity of residence permits already issued shall not be affected by the implementation of this Regulation, unless the Member State concerned decides otherwise. For a transitional period of two years after the adoption of the technical specifications for the facial image referred to in the third paragraph of this Article, the residence permit may continue to be issued in sticker form.

However, the validity of authorisations already granted in another format of residence permit shall not be affected by the introduction of the uniform format for residence permits, unless the Member State concerned decides otherwise.