Census of Citizens
Verified 13 August 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
You're French and you'll soon be 16? You're wondering what the citizen census (sometimes called by mistake military census)? Making your citizen census at the age of 16 is obligatory, that you lived in France or abroad. We tell you everything you need to know.
In France
The period of the citizen census depends on your situation:
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Young French born
If you were born French, you have to do your citizen census from your 16the birthday. You have to do it within 3 months. You have until the end of the 3rde months to do it.
Example :
If your 16the Anniversary is September 12, 2024, you must complete your citizen census between September 12, 2024 and December 31, 2024.
FYI
If you have not completed your citizen census within this period, you can regularize your situation until the age of 25. The process remains the same.
Young man turned French
If you became French between the ages of 16 and 25, you must be registered within one month obtaining French nationality.
Example :
If you become a French citizen on September 12, 2024, you must complete your citizen census between September 12, 2024, and October 31, 2024.
FYI
If you have not completed your citizen census within this period, you can regularize your situation until the age of 25. The process remains the same.
Young person who can reject French nationality
If you have the opportunity to to refuse French nationality and that you choose to be French, you must be registered between the day you turn 16 and the month after your 19th birthdaye birthday.
Example :
If your 16the Anniversary is September 12, 2024, you must complete your citizen census between September 12, 2024 and October 31, 2027.
FYI
If you have not completed your citizen census within this period, you can regularize your situation until the age of 25. The process remains the same.
He is obligatory to carry out the citizen census.
After you've done your citizen census :
- You get a census certificate. This certificate is essential to be able to register you before the age of 18 years for an exam (BEP, Bac...) or an administrative competition in France.
- You are called to the Defense and Citizenship Day (JDC). You must have done the JDC (or been exempted from it), to be able to register you from 18 years of age for an exam (BEP, Bac...), or an administrative competition, or for the examination of the driving license in France. This obligation ceases from your 25the birthday.
- You are automatically registered to vote from your 18the birthday and then you can vote.
The rules are different depending on your situation:
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
General case
You can do the citizen census at your home town hall or on the internet:
Census at City Hall
You must complete your census at town hall of the municipality of your home.
FYI
If you are homeless or homeless (homeless), this is the municipality of the municipality where the organization with which you have done business is located address for service.
You have to do the census yourself.
But if you are under 18, one of your parents can do this for you and in your absence.
You have to go to the town hall with the following documents:
- Valid national identity card or passport
- Up-to-date family booklet
- Proof of domicile.
Once you've done your census, you get your census certificate.
Internet Census
You must use the following online service:
You must have the following documents:
- Valid national identity card or passport
- Updated family booklet.
Once you've done your census, you get your census certificate.
In case of disability or disability
The approach to take depends on your situation:
You have the "mobility inclusion" card with the mention "disability"
Census at City Hall
You must complete your census at town hall of the municipality of your home.
FYI
If you are homeless or homeless (homeless), this is the municipality of the municipality where the organization with which you have done business is located address for service.
You have to do the census yourself.
But if you are under 18, one of your parents can do this for you and in your absence.
You have to go to the town hall with the following documents:
- Valid national identity card or passport
- Up-to-date family booklet
- Proof of domicile.
Once you've done your census, you get your census certificate.
After you've done your citizen census, you can apply to be exempted from participation in the JDC.
To do this, you must present your "mobility inclusion" card marked "disability" in the CSNJ: titleContent closest.
Who shall I contact
If your application is accepted, you will receive a individual certificate of exemption from participation in the JDC.
Internet Census
You must use the following online service:
You must have the following documents:
- Valid national identity card or passport
- Updated family booklet.
Once you've done your census, you get your census certificate.
After you've done your citizen census, you can apply to be exempted from participation in the JDC.
To do this, you must present your "mobility inclusion" card marked "disability" in the CSNJ: titleContent closest.
Who shall I contact
If your application is accepted, you will receive a individual certificate of exemption from participation in the JDC.
You have a disability card
Census at City Hall
You must complete your census at town hall of the municipality of your home.
FYI
If you are homeless or homeless (homeless), this is the municipality of the municipality where the organization with which you have done business is located address for service.
You have to do the census yourself.
But if you are under 18, one of your parents can do this for you and in your absence.
You have to go to the town hall with the following documents:
- Valid national identity card or passport
- Up-to-date family booklet
- Proof of domicile.
Once you've done your census, you get your census certificate.
After you've done your citizen census, you can apply to be exempted from participation in the JDC: titleContent.
To do this, you must present your disability card to the CSNJ: titleContent closest.
Who shall I contact
If your application is accepted, you will receive a individual certificate of exemption from participation in the JDC.
Internet Census
You must use the following online service:
You must have the following documents:
- Valid national identity card or passport
- Updated family booklet.
Once you've done your census, you get your census certificate.
After you've done your citizen census, you can apply to be exempted from participation in the JDC: titleContent.
To do this, you must present your disability card to the CSNJ: titleContent closest.
Who shall I contact
If your application is accepted, you will receive a individual certificate of exemption from participation in the JDC.
You're disabled
Census at City Hall
You must complete your census at town hall of the municipality of your home.
FYI
If you are homeless or homeless (homeless), this is the municipality of the municipality where the organization with which you have done business is located address for service.
You have to do the census yourself.
But if you are under 18, one of your parents can do this for you and in your absence.
You have to go to the town hall with the following documents:
- Valid national identity card or passport
- Up-to-date family booklet
- Proof of domicile.
Once you've done your census, you get your census certificate.
After you've done your citizen census, you can apply to be exempted from participation in the JDC: titleContent.
To do this, you must provide:
- Either a medical certificate dated less than 3 months and describing your handicap
- Or a copy of the cerfa certificate no. 15695.
This document must be inserted in an envelope marked Medical Confidential. You must deposit this envelope in a 2nde envelope. You must send this 2nde envelope at CSNJ: titleContent closest.
Who shall I contact
If your application is accepted, you will receive:
- Let's say one individual certificate of exemption from participation in the JDC
- Or, in the case of temporary incapacity, provisional certificate providing for the postponement of your participation in the JDC.
Internet Census
You must use the following online service:
You must have the following documents:
- Valid national identity card or passport
- Updated family booklet.
Once you've done your census, you get your census certificate.
After completing your citizen census, you can apply to be exempted from participating in the JDC: titleContent.
To do this, you must provide:
- Either a medical certificate dated less than 3 months and describing your handicap
- Or a copy of the cerfa certificate no. 15695.
This document must be inserted in an envelope marked Medical Confidential. You must deposit this envelope in a 2nde envelope. You must send this 2nde envelope at CSNJ: titleContent closest.
Who shall I contact
If your application is accepted, you will receive:
- Let's say one individual certificate of exemption from participation in the JDC
- Or, in the case of temporary incapacity, provisional certificate providing for the postponement of your participation in the JDC.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
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:
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
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).
Who shall I contact
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.
After the citizen census and as long as you're not 25, you must inform your CSNJ: titleContent of any change in your situation:
- Change of residence (moving). You should also report any absence from your usual place of residence for more than 4 months
- Changing your family situation (for example, you are getting married or passing through, you have a child)
- Change in work status (for example, from student to employee).
You can report your change of situation:
By email
Who shall I contact
Via the Internet
You can make your statement on the online service My JDC.
To do this, you must first have created your personal account:
By mail
You must use the cerfa n°11718 form:
Declaration of change of situation at the National Service and Youth Center (CSNJ)
You must send this form to your CSNJ: titleContent.
Who shall I contact
Abroad
The period of the citizen census depends on your situation:
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Young French born
If you were born French, you have to do your citizen census from your 16the birthday. You have to do it within 3 months. You have until the end of the 3rde months to do it.
Example :
If your 16the Anniversary is September 12, 2024, you must complete your citizen census between September 12, 2024 and December 31, 2024.
FYI
If you have not completed your citizen census within this period, you can regularize your situation until the age of 25. The process remains the same.
Young man turned French
If you became French between the ages of 16 and 25, you must be registered within one month obtaining French nationality.
Example :
If you become a French citizen on September 12, 2024, you must complete your citizen census between September 12, 2024, and October 31, 2024.
FYI
If you have not completed your citizen census within this period, you can regularize your situation until the age of 25. The process remains the same.
Young person who can reject French nationality
If you have the opportunity to to refuse French nationality and that you choose to be French, you must be registered between the day you turn 16 and the month after your 19th birthdaye birthday.
Example :
If your 16the Anniversary is September 12, 2024, you must complete your citizen census between September 12, 2024 and October 31, 2027.
FYI
If you have not completed your citizen census within this period, you can regularize your situation until the age of 25. The process remains the same.
He is obligatory to carry out the citizen census.
After completing your citizen census:
- You get a census certificate. You have to present this certificate to be able to register before the age of 18 years for an exam (BEP, Bac...) or an administrative competition in France.
- You are called to the Defense and Citizenship Day (JDC). You must have done the JDC (or been exempted from it) to be able to register you from 18 years of age for an examination (BEP, Bac...), or an administrative competition, or for the examination of the driving license in France. This obligation ceases from your 25the birthday.
- You are automatically registered to vote from 18 years. You can vote from the age of 18.
FYI
If you are registered on the register of French nationals established outside France, your citizen census is automatic. So you don't have to do anything.
It all depends on your situation:
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Young person registered in the French register established outside France
If you are registered on the register of French nationals established outside France, your citizen census is automatic. So you don't have to do anything.
Warning
If you have several nationalities, you must report it to the consulate.
Who shall I contact
Young person not registered in the register of French persons established outside France
You have to do it yourself.
If you are under the age of 18, one of your parents can do this for you.
The consulate must be visited with the following documents:
- Valid national identity card or passport
- Updated family booklet.
If you have more than one nationality, you must it is imperative to report it to the consulate.
Who shall I contact
Please note
You can make your citizen census until the day before your 25the birthday. The approach to be taken is the same as the one to be taken at the age of 16.
The census certificate is used to prove that you have made your citizen census.
Following the citizen census done from the foreigner, your embassy or consular authority gives you a census certificate.
Please note
You cannot get a duplicate.
If you lose your certificate or it is stolen, you must request a certificate of administrative status to CSNJ: titleContent from Perpignan.
Who shall I contact
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.
After your citizen census and as long as you are not 25 years old, you must inform your National Service and Youth Center (CSNJ) of any change in your situation:
- Change of domicile (any absence from habitual domicile for more than 4 months must also be reported)
- Change in family situation
- Change of employment status
You can file your change of situation report:
By email
You have to send it to Perpignan's CSNJ.
Who shall I contact
By mail
You must use the cerfa n°11718 form:
Declaration of change of situation at the National Service and Youth Center (CSNJ)
You have to send it to Perpignan's CSNJ.
Who shall I contact
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
If you live in France
Town HallIf you live abroad
French Embassy or Consulate Abroad
Census (age, certificate...)
Census (conditions, procedures...)
Article R113-6: supporting documents and photocopies
Online service
Online service
FAQ
Service-Public.fr
Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Defense
Ministry of Education