ID card of an adult: first request
Verified 23 November 2022 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of the Interior
You are major and want to ask your first national identity card ?
The varying procedure depending on whether the request is made in France or abroad and if you have already a passport or not.
In all cases, the identity card is free.
We present the steps in the process.
Application in France
Step-by-step approach
The location of the application does not depend on your home: you can in any town hall, provided that it is equipped with a recording station.
The list of equipped town halls is available online:
Who shall I contact
Warning
many city councils require that such a case be filed only by appointment.
L'ANTS: titleContent provides a search engine allowing you to find an appointment in a town hall equipped with:
Search for an appointment for an ID card request
You can prepare the process by making a online pre-applicationBut it's not an obligation.
Pre-application saves you time when filing the file.
The documents have to be submitted originals.
The documents you need to present vary depending on whether you already have a passport or not:
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
You have a valid passport
You must submit the following documents:
- Your passport
- 1 photo ID less than 6 months old and conforms to standards
- 1 proof of domicile
- If you have made a pre-request: pre-request number and/or the QR code obtained at the end of the procedure (it is advisable to print the pre-request summary)
FYI
In order to use a common name that is not already on an identity document, other documents must be provided depending on the nature of the second name: name of the spouse or other parent's name.
You have an expired passport
The date of expiry of the passport is less than 5 years old
You must submit the following documents:
- Your passport
- 1 photo ID less than 6 months old and conforms to standards
- 1 proof of domicile
- If you have made a pre-request: pre-request number and/or the QR code obtained at the end of the procedure (it is advisable to print the pre-request summary)
FYI
In order to use a common name that is not already on an identity document, other documents must be provided depending on the nature of the second name: name of the spouse or other parent's name.
The expiry date of the passport is more than 5 years old
You must submit the following documents:
- 1 photo ID less than 6 months old and conforms to standards
- 1 proof of domicile
- Check if the civil status of your place of birth is dematerialized. If not, you must provide a birth certificate (full copy or extract with filiation) of less than 3 months.
- Proof of French nationality if you are in a particular situation (e.g. foreign birth of parents born abroad)
- If you have made a pre-request: pre-request number and/or the QR code obtained at the end of the procedure (it is advisable to print the pre-request summary)
FYI
In order to use a common name that is not already on an identity document, other documents must be provided depending on the nature of the second name: name of the spouse or other parent's name.
You don't have a passport
You must submit the following documents:
- 1 photo ID less than 6 months old and conforms to standards
- 1 proof of domicile
- Check if the civil status of your place of birth is dematerialized. If not, you must provide a birth certificate (full copy or extract with filiation) of less than 3 months.
- Proof of French nationality if you are in a particular situation (e.g. foreign birth of parents born abroad)
- If you have made a pre-request: pre-request number and/or the QR code obtained at the end of the procedure (it is advisable to print the pre-request summary)
FYI
In order to use a common name that is not already on an identity document, other documents must be provided depending on the nature of the second name: name of the spouse or other parent's name.
You have to move to the place you chose by providing the necessary documents.
Your presence is essential to take fingerprints.
The identity card is not manufactured on site and therefore cannot be issued immediately.
The manufacturing lead time depends on the location and period of the application. It takes several weeks and, as the summer holidays approach, the delays may increase.
Warning
if the city hall only receives by appointment, it must also be taken into account the time to obtain this appointment.
You can track your request on the websiteANTS: titleContent :
If you provided a mobile phone number when you requested it, you will receive a text message when the card is available.
You must remove the card personally instead of filing the file.
It must be withdrawn within 3 months. After that time, it will be destroyed.
The ID card is in the form of a credit card.
The card is valid for 10 years.
Abroad
Step-by-step approach
You have to move consulate or embassy. But be careful, the service may require that the file be filed only by appointment. Inquiries should be made either on the consulate or embassy website or by telephone.
Who shall I contact
The documents have to be submitted originals.
The documents you need to present vary depending on whether you already have a passport or not:
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
You have a valid passport
You must submit the following documents:
- Your passport
- 1 photo ID less than 6 months old and conforms to standards
- 1 proof of domicile
FYI
In order to use a common name that is not already on an identity document, other documents must be provided depending on the nature of the second name: name of the spouse or other parent's name.
You have an expired passport
The date of expiry of the passport is less than 5 years old
You must submit the following documents:
- Your passport
- 1 photo ID less than 6 months old and conforms to standards
- 1 proof of domicile
FYI
In order to use a common name that is not already on an identity document, other documents must be provided depending on the nature of the second name: name of the spouse or other parent's name.
The expiry date of the passport is more than 5 years old
You must submit the following documents:
- 1 photo ID less than 6 months old and conforms to standards
- 1 proof of domicile
- Check if the civil status of your place of birth is dematerialized. If not, you must provide a birth certificate (full copy or extract with filiation) of less than 3 months.
- Proof of French nationality if you are in a particular situation (e.g. foreign birth of parents born abroad)
FYI
In order to use a common name that is not already on an identity document, other documents must be provided depending on the nature of the second name: name of the spouse or other parent's name.
You don't have a passport
You must submit the following documents:
- 1 photo ID less than 6 months old and conforms to standards
- 1 proof of domicile
- Check if the civil status of your place of birth is dematerialized. If not, you must provide a birth certificate (full copy or extract with filiation) of less than 3 months.
- Proof of French nationality if you are in a particular situation (e.g. foreign birth of parents born abroad)
FYI
In order to use a common name that is not already on an identity document, other documents must be provided depending on the nature of the second name: name of the spouse or other parent's name.
You must travel to the consulate or embassy with the necessary documents.
Your presence is essential to take fingerprints.
If you wish to collect the identity card from a authorized honorary consulHowever, this must be indicated at the counter when the file is submitted.
The identity card is not manufactured on site and is therefore not issued immediately.
Manufacturing lead times depend on the location and time period of the application.
You can follow your request on the websiteANTS: titleContent :
Track your identity card request
If you provided a mobile phone number when you requested it, you will receive a text message when the ID card is available.
The applicant must pick up his card at the place where the file is filed or at a authorized honorary consul.
It must be withdrawn within 3 months. After this period, the new card is destroyed.
The ID card is in the form of a credit card.
The card is valid for 10 years.
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