Citizen census: how to prove the regularity of his situation?

Verified 24 September 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

From the age of 16, you must make your citizen census (sometimes called military census). To register before your 18th birthday for certain exams (BEP, baccalaureate, driving license...) or competitions subject to the control of the French public authority, you must submit your census certificate. We'll explain.

The rules are different depending on whether you live in France or abroad.

In France

The census certificate is used to prove that you've done your citizen census.

The rules are different depending on whether you have done the citizen census in town hall or online:

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You did the census in town hall

The town hall gives you your census certificate on the day of your citizen census.

FYI  

You cannot get a duplicate.

You did the census online

Your census certificate may:

  • Either be in the briefcase of your personal online account
  • Either is sent to you by mail from the city hall within 10 days.

Menstrual periods vary depending on your age:

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You're under 25

You must request a certificate of administrative status to your CSNJ: titleContent. You can ask:

  • Either by email (with a scan of your valid ID card or passport)
  • Or by mail (with a photocopy of your valid ID card or passport).

You are 25 years of age or older

You cannot get of attestation of administrative status after the age of 25.

The census certificate is used to prove that you have completed your citizen census.

To register before the age of 18 for an exam (BEP, baccalaureate...) or competition organized by the french administration, you must present one of the following documents:

  • Your census certificate
  • In case of loss or theft of your census certificate, a certificate of administrative status (which you must ask your national service center)
  • A document proving your situation regarding the citizenship defense day (JDC). This may be your individual certificate of participation in the JDC or your individual exemption certificate to the JDC.

Abroad

The census certificate is used to prove that you've done your citizen census.

Following the citizen census, your embassy or consular authority provides you with a census certificate.

FYI  

You can not obtain from duplicate.

If you lose your certificate or it is stolen, you must request a certificate of administrative status to CSNJ: titleContent from Perpignan.

The census certificate is used to prove that you have completed your citizen census.

To register before the age of 18 for an exam (BEP, baccalaureate...) or competition organized by the french administration, you must present one of the following documents:

  • Your census certificate
  • In case of loss or theft of your census certificate, a certificate of administrative status (which you must ask your national service center)
  • A document proving your situation regarding the citizenship defense day (JDC). This may be your individual certificate of participation in the JDC or your individual exemption certificate to the JDC.