To enter into a civil partnership
Verified 30 October 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Your approach is free.
Where the Civil partnerships are made outside Canada, at least one of you 2 must be a french national.
Personal situation
Each of you 2 must meet all of the following conditions:
- Be major
- Not be neither married nor past
- Not have a direct or too close family link with the other partner.
FYI
If any of you two are foreigners, he must be the age of majority set by his country.
These conditions are imperative.
An exemption is not possible, even exceptionally.
Common life
By the way, you are committed to a common life.
You must choose a residence municipality.
You declare your common address by a sworn certificate (integrated into the joint declaration of Civil partnerships form).
You don't have to live together when you declare Civil partnerships.
The declared address becomes your common address as soon as the Civil partnership is registered.
If your joint residence is abroad, you must contact the relevant French Embassy or Consulate.
You need to introduce yourself in person and together.
Warning
The service may require that the file be submitted by appointment only. Another appointment can be set for the registration of the Civil partnership.
Who shall I contact
Each of you 2 must provide the following:
- Joint statement by a Civil partnership, which contains certificates on honor non-relatives, non-covenants and common residence (form cerfa no. 15725)
- Convention civil partnerships (custom convention or completed form) cerfa no. 15726)
- Valid ID ID issued by a public authority (original + 1 photocopy). Depending on your situation, the ID can be a identity card, one passport, a driving license, a residence card, a residence card or any other document with a photograph issued by a public authority.
Your 2 birth certificates must be in your Civil partnership folder.
The process depends on where your birth certificate was issued:
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Birth certificate issued in France
The process depends on your situation:
You are a refugee or stateless person
If you are a refugee or stateless person, you must provide a birth certificate with an indication of the filiation of less than 3 months.
You must apply for the document from the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (Ofpra), which has issued the certificate that acts as your birth certificate.
You can use the following teleservice:
Refugee/stateless person: application to Ofpra for a copy or extract of a civil status document
Birth certificate issued abroad
The process depends on your situation:
Act drawn up in a country of the European Union
If the document was drawn up in an EU countryEuropean Union, you must provide a birth certificate with an indication of the filiation of less than 6 months.
There is no time limit imposed if the birth certificate was issued in a country that does not provide for the updating of birth certificates. In this case, you must provide a certificate issued by your embassy or consulate (or other authorized authority of your country of origin) stating that this is not updated.
If the document is in a foreign language, you must have a sworn translator translate.
It is possible to provide multilingual birth certificate.
Act drawn up in another country
You must provide a birth certificate with an indication of the filiation of less than 6 months.
There is no time limit imposed if the birth certificate was issued in a country that does not provide for the updating of birth certificates. In this case, you must provide a certificate issued by your embassy or consulate (or other authorized authority of your country of origin) stating that this is not updated.
If the document is in a foreign language, you must have a sworn translator translate.
It is possible to provide multilingual birth certificate.
Depending on the country of origin, the following formalities may also be necessary:
- Apostille
- Legalization.
Nationals of certain countries are exempted from these additional formalities (e.g. Switzerland).
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Birth certificate issued in France
The process depends on your situation:
You are a refugee or stateless person
If you are a refugee or stateless person, you must provide a birth certificate with an indication of the filiation of less than 3 months.
You must apply for the document from the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (Ofpra), which has issued the certificate that acts as your birth certificate.
You can use the following teleservice:
Refugee/stateless person: application to Ofpra for a copy or extract of a civil status document
Birth certificate issued abroad
The process depends on your situation:
Act drawn up in a country of the European Union
If the document was drawn up in an EU countryEuropean Union, you must provide a birth certificate with an indication of the filiation of less than 6 months.
There is no time limit imposed if the birth certificate was issued in a country that does not provide for the updating of birth certificates. In this case, you must provide a certificate issued by your embassy or consulate (or other authorized authority of your country of origin) stating that this is not updated.
If the document is in a foreign language, you must have a sworn translator translate.
It is possible to provide multilingual birth certificate.
Act drawn up in another country
You must provide a birth certificate with an indication of the filiation of less than 6 months.
There is no time limit imposed if the birth certificate was issued in a country that does not provide for the updating of birth certificates. In this case, you must provide a certificate issued by your embassy or consulate (or other authorized authority of your country of origin) stating that this is not updated.
If the document is in a foreign language, you must have a sworn translator translate.
It is possible to provide multilingual birth certificate.
Depending on the country of origin, the following formalities may also be necessary:
- Apostille
- Legalization.
Nationals of certain countries are exempted from these additional formalities (e.g. Switzerland).
Depending on your situation, you must provide documents additional.
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You or your future partner are a foreign-born foreigner
You must provide documents specific to your nationality.
These documents are as follows:
- Certificate of non-Civil partnerships less than 3 months
- Certificate of custom drawn up by the competent authorities or the diplomatic representation of the foreigner country (this document indicates the legislation in force in your country of origin and the foreign civil status documents proving that you are an adult, single and legally capable).
The certificate of non-Civil partnerships issued shall contain the following elements:
- Certificate of non-Civil partnerships
- Certificate of non-enrollment in the civil repertoire
- Certificate of non-enrollment in the ancillary civil register.
If your country of origin does not issue a custom certificate, you must provide a certificate from the competent authorities of the foreigner country specifying this.
You must also provide a certificate issued by a lawyer or a lawyer specifying the rules applicable in your country of origin.
If the document is in a foreign language, you must have a sworn translator translate.
You can inquire at the city hall and the consulate.
You or your future partner are divorced
You must provide additional documents, such as the divorce decision.
You can also introduce the family record book corresponding to the former union with mention of divorce (original + 1 photocopy)
If the divorce judgment was issued abroad, you must attach your translation by a sworn translator.
Please note
You don't have a waiting period between divorce and Civil partnership.
You or your future partner are widowed or widowed
You must provide one of the following:
- Family booklet corresponding to the former union mentioning the death (original + 1 photocopy)
- Birth certificate of the former spouse with mention of death
- Death certificate from the ex-husband.
If a document is in a foreign language, you must have a sworn translator translate.
Depending on the country of origin, the following formalities may also be necessary:
- Apostille
- Legalization.
Nationals of certain countries are exempted from these additional formalities (e.g. European Union, Switzerland).
Please note
You must submit the originals the documents requested.
You or your future spouse are subject to a legal protection measure (guardianship, guardianship, safeguarding of justice, family entitlement)
You or your future partner are subject to legal protection (guardianship, trusteeship, safeguard of justice or family entitlement).
When signing the Civil partnership agreement, you are assisted by the person in charge of the protection measure (e.g. your guardian if you are in guardianship or your curator if you are in guardianship).
You must provide a proof of such assistance.
FYI
The authorization of the judge or the person in charge of the protection measure is not necessary to pass you.
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You or your future partner are a foreign-born foreigner
You must provide documents specific to your nationality.
These documents are as follows:
- Certificate of non-Civil partnerships less than 3 months
- Certificate of custom drawn up by the competent authorities or the diplomatic representation of the foreigner country (this document indicates the legislation in force in your country of origin and the foreign civil status documents proving that you are an adult, single and legally capable).
The certificate of non-Civil partnerships issued shall contain the following elements:
- Certificate of non-Civil partnerships
- Certificate of non-enrollment in the civil repertoire
- Certificate of non-enrollment in the ancillary civil register.
If your country of origin does not issue a custom certificate, you must provide a certificate from the competent authorities of the foreigner country specifying this.
You must also provide a certificate issued by a lawyer or a lawyer specifying the rules applicable in your country of origin.
If the document is in a foreign language, you must have a sworn translator translate.
You can inquire at the city hall and the consulate.
You or your future partner are divorced
You must provide additional documents, such as the divorce decision.
You can also introduce the family record book corresponding to the former union with mention of divorce (original + 1 photocopy)
If the divorce judgment was issued abroad, you must attach your translation by a sworn translator.
Please note
You don't have a waiting period between divorce and Civil partnership.
You or your future partner are widowed or widowed
You must provide one of the following:
- Family booklet corresponding to the former union mentioning the death (original + 1 photocopy)
- Birth certificate of the former spouse with mention of death
- Death certificate from the ex-husband.
If a document is in a foreign language, you must have a sworn translator translate.
Depending on the country of origin, the following formalities may also be necessary:
- Apostille
- Legalization.
Nationals of certain countries are exempted from these additional formalities (e.g. European Union, Switzerland).
Please note
You must submit the originals the documents requested.
You or your future spouse are subject to a legal protection measure (guardianship, guardianship, safeguarding of justice, family entitlement)
You or your future partner are subject to legal protection (guardianship, trusteeship, safeguard of justice or family entitlement).
When signing the Civil partnership agreement, you are assisted by the person in charge of the protection measure (e.g. your guardian if you are in guardianship or your curator if you are in guardianship).
You must provide a proof of such assistance.
FYI
The authorization of the judge or the person in charge of the protection measure is not necessary to pass you.
You can choose the content of your agreement:
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Minimum Convention
The convention must recognize the commitment and the will to be bound by a Civil partnership.
The Convention must contain the following text:
We, X and Y, conclude a civil pact of solidarity governed by the provisions of the law of 15 November 1999 as amended and Articles 515-1 to 515-7 of the Civil Code.
If the Civil partnerships do not specify otherwise, your assets are separate : it's the legal regime separation.
Please note
For marriage, the legal regime is different. It's the community reduced to acquisitions.
You can use a standard convention (cerfa form no 15726):
Detailed Convention
The convention must recognize the commitment and the will to be bound by a Civil partnership.
It must include the following text:
We, X and Y, conclude a civil pact of solidarity governed by the provisions of the law of 15 November 1999 as amended and Articles 515-1 to 515-7 of the Civil Code.
The agreement sets out the conditions for each of you 2 to participate in the life of the community.
You can choose to share ownership of certain assets that you will acquire, together or separately (plan the division).
In the absence of any contrary information in the Civil partnerships, your assets are separated (it is the legal regime of separation).
Please note
For marriage, the legal regime is different. It's the community reduced to acquisitions.
You can use a standard convention (cerfa form no 15726):
Model Convention of Civil partnerships
You can also draw up your own agreement.
You can take the advice of a notary or a specialized lawyer.
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Minimum Convention
The convention must recognize the commitment and the will to be bound by a Civil partnership.
The Convention must contain the following text:
We, X and Y, conclude a civil pact of solidarity governed by the provisions of the law of 15 November 1999 as amended and Articles 515-1 to 515-7 of the Civil Code.
If the Civil partnerships do not specify otherwise, your assets are separate : it's the legal regime separation.
Please note
For marriage, the legal regime is different. It's the community reduced to acquisitions.
You can use a standard convention (cerfa form no 15726):
Detailed Convention
The convention must recognize the commitment and the will to be bound by a Civil partnership.
It must include the following text:
We, X and Y, conclude a civil pact of solidarity governed by the provisions of the law of 15 November 1999 as amended and Articles 515-1 to 515-7 of the Civil Code.
The agreement sets out the conditions for each of you 2 to participate in the life of the community.
You can choose to share ownership of certain assets that you will acquire, together or separately (plan the division).
In the absence of any contrary information in the Civil partnerships, your assets are separated (it is the legal regime of separation).
Please note
For marriage, the legal regime is different. It's the community reduced to acquisitions.
You can use a standard convention (cerfa form no 15726):
Model Convention of Civil partnerships
You can also draw up your own agreement.
You can take the advice of a notary or a specialized lawyer.
FYI
A single Civil partnership agreement must be written for you 2.
Registration and return of Civil partnerships
After verifying the documents submitted, the consular officer first registers your declaration if the legal conditions are met.
It then transmits the information to the civil registration authorities.
Once your Civil partnership has been recorded, the consular officer does not keep a copy of the agreement.
It is returned to you.
So you have to keep your Civil partnership agreement carefully.
Warning
In case of loss of your Civil partnerships, you won't be able to get a copy. The Consular Officer will be able to provide you with a copy of the registration receipt (upon presentation of identification).
Effective date of the Civil partnerships
Your Civil partnership produces its effects between you 2 from the date of its registration.
For third parties, your Civil partnership produces its effects from the following dates:
- Margin on the birth certificate if you were born in France
- Registration on the Civil partnership register of foreigners born abroad if you are a foreign national born abroad.
Proof of registration
The consular officer shall transmit the information to the civil registry.
Your Civil partnership is indicated in the margin on the birth certificate of each of you 2.
If you are a foreigner born abroad, the information shall be recorded in the register of Civil partnerships of foreigners born abroad held by the central civil registration service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
You can provide proof of registration of your Civil partnership by one of the following means:
- Receipt of registration given by the consular officer
- Visa shown on the Civil partnership agreement
- Birth certificate extract
- Document prepared by the Central Civil Registry of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if you are a foreigner and born abroad.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
- Town Hall
If you are abroad
French Embassy or Consulate Abroad- Notary