Declaration of birth
Verified 17 July 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
You just had a child? The birth declaration is mandatory for any child born in France. It must be done by someone who attended the birth. It is used to establish the birth certificate. In the case of the birth of a French child abroad, the declaration must be made in accordance with specific formalities. We'll tell you what you need to know.
Infographie - Parents: the 7 essential steps during a birth
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Title - Parents: the 7 essential steps during a birth
1/ Civil status
Declare birth
· When? Within 5 days.
· Where? Civil registry office of the hospital or city hall.
· Who does it? The father or another person.
· Documents to be provided: Doctor's or midwife's certificate, parents' identity cards.
2/ Social security
Declare the birth and update the vital card.
Possible (and recommended) to ask for the child's attachment to the Vitale cards of the 2 parents.
· When? Within 5-8 days of birth registration.
· Where? On the ameli.fr website or by telephone (at 3646).
· Who does it? The two parents.
· Documents to be provided: None.
3/ Cif
Declare birth
· When? From birth.
· Where? On the website caf.fr or on the app Caf-My account. If no Cif account, send by mail the change of situation form (available on cif.fr).
· Who does it? One of the two parents.
· Documents to be provided: None.
If you are under the agricultural regime, the procedure is to be done with the MSA.
4/ Complementary health
Report birth
· When? From birth.
· Where? To the mutual.
· Who does it? Each parent if the mutuals are different.
· Documents to be provided: Variable according to the mutual society.
5/ Birth leave
Request Birth Leave
It is a minimum of 3 days (except Sundays and public holidays). Those days are paid.
· When? On a date close to birth.
· Where? To the employer of the second parent.
· Who does it? The 2nd parent.
· Documents to be provided: A copy of the child's birth certificate.
6/ Paternity leave
Applying for paternity and child-care leave
It is 25 calendar days to be taken in 1 or more times within 6 months of birth.
· When? Applies 1 month before the date of delivery or 1 month before the start of the leave.
· Where? With the employer of the second parent, and, for the compensation of the leave, with the Social Security.
· Who does it? The 2nd parent.
· Documents to be provided: For mail to Social Security: copy of the child's birth certificate (or family record) + document justifying the relationship with the mother (if leave is not requested by the father).
7/ Taxes
Report birth, to adjust the withholding tax rate to the number of dependants
· When? After birth (within 60 days).
· Where? At impots.gouv.fr.
· Who does it? One parent or both, depending on the situation.
· Documents to be provided: None.
In France
Declaration of birth is compulsory within the time limit set by law. It enables the registrar to draw up the child's birth certificate.
General case
The declaration must be made within 5 days that follow the day of delivery.
The day of delivery shall not be counted in the time limit for the declaration of birth.
If the last reporting day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, holiday or non-working day, this period is extended to 1er working day next.
Example :
Your child is born on Monday, June 3, 2024. You must register his birth no later than Monday, June 10.
Your child is born on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. You must register his birth no later than Monday, June 10.
Your child is born on Friday, June 7, 2024. You must register his birth no later than Wednesday, June 12.
In Guyana
General case
The declaration must be made within 5 days that follow the day of delivery.
The day of delivery shall not be counted in the time limit for the declaration of birth.
If the last reporting day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, holiday or non-working day, this period is extended to 1er working day next.
Example :
Your child is born on Monday, June 3, 2024. You must register his birth no later than Monday, June 10.
Your child is born on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. You must register his birth no later than Monday, June 10.
Your child is born on Friday, June 7, 2024. You must register his birth no later than Wednesday, June 12.
In Apatou, Awala-Yalimapo, Camopi, Grand Santi, Iracoubo, Mana, Maripasoula, Ouanary, Papaïchton, Régina, Saint-Elie, Saint-Georges, Saint-Laurent du Maroni, Saul, Sinnamary
The declaration must be made within 8 days that follow the day of delivery.
The day of delivery shall not be counted in the time limit for the declaration of birth.
If the last reporting day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, holiday or non-working day, this period is extended to 1er working day next.
Example :
Your child is born on Monday, June 3, 2024. You must register his birth no later than Tuesday, June 11.
Your child is born on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. You must register his birth no later than Wednesday, June 12.
Your child is born on Friday, June 7, 2024. You must register his birth no later than Monday, June 17.
Birth is declared by one of the following:
- Father
- 2de mother in a couple of women
- Doctor
- Midwife
- Other person who attended the delivery.
The birth declaration is made at the town hall of the place of birth.
Birth certificate shall be drawn up immediately by a registrar.
In some public hospitals, a registrar maintains a shift within the maternity ward to register birth declarations.
Please note
If the child was born during a journey by boat or plane, you must make the birth declaration in the municipality of the municipality where the mother interrupted her journey.
The documents to be provided depend on your situation:
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General case
The documents required to register a birth are as follows:
- Parent (or parent) IDs
- Certificate medical delivery date (usually certified by the doctor or midwife)
- Declaration of choice of name if the parents take this step
- Act of recognition if it was established before birth
- Proof of domicile (or residence) less than 3 months if the child has not yet been recognized
- Family booklet to register the child, if the parents already have a booklet.
FYI
If you want to choose your child's last name, you must file a joint declaration of choice.
Birth of a child in a female couple
The documents required to register a birth are as follows:
- Maternal identification documents
- Certificate medical delivery date (usually certified by the doctor or midwife)
- Early joint recognition established notary
- Declaration of choice of name if the mothers make that move
- Family booklet to register the child, if the mothers already have a booklet.
FYI
If you want to choose your child's last name, you must file a joint declaration of choice.
If the birth declaration is not made within the prescribed time limits, a judicial declaration Birth is required.
The registrar cannot regularize the situation himself.
Regularization before the judge
You must to call on a lawyer to obtain a declaration of birth.
Who shall I contact
You have to go to the court.
The competent court shall be that of the child's place of birth.
If this location is unknown, the court of jurisdiction is your home.
Who shall I contact
The public prosecutor, informed by the registrar, may also request the birth declaration.
The declaratory judgment shall establish the birth and order the transcription on the registers of the municipality of birth.
Penalties incurred
If you do not file your birth declaration within the required time, you may be sentenced to imprisonment for 6 months and a fine of €3,750.
You also hire your civil liability with regard to the child (damages for injury caused by non-reporting).
Abroad
The birth declaration can be made either before the civil registrar of the country or before the French consular authorities.
What is the deadline for registering a birth?
In many countries, local law requires foreigner nationals to register births atlocal registrar.
You must inquire with foreign authorities of the place of birth for the time limits and methods of declaration.
Also check the consequences if the deadline is exceeded.
What is the procedure for registering a birth?
When the declaration of birth before the foreign authorities is mandatory, you must declare the birth to the local registrar.
The documents you must provide are those required by the local authorities.
Please note
If you are a female couple, check if the local authorities recognize your family situation and, if so, if they ask for a early joint recognition.
How do I request the transcript of the local birth certificate?
Registration of birth by the French consular authorities is not mandatory. But it does, for example, provide for a French birth certificate.
There is no time limit.
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General case
In countries where the declaration to the local registrar is mandatory, you can request the transcription of the local birth certificate by the registrar of the embassy or consulate.
Who shall I contact
Your application must be accompanied by supporting documents following:
- Copy of the foreigners birth certificate
- Proof of French nationality (for at least one of the parents)
- Family booklet (for update)
- Copy of the act concerning the recognition signed by the French father for children born out of wedlock.
If written in a foreign language, the birth certificate must be translated by a sworn translator.
Depending on the country concerned, it must also be legalized or apostilled.
The embassy or consulate may request additional documents.
Please note
If you are a female couple, you must provide the birth certificate or proof of the use of a MPA: titleContent.
Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia
The request for transcription and the list of documents to be provided comply with special rules.
You need to ask for the list of supporting documents the competent French consulate-general in the country concerned.
Who shall I contact
You must submit your transcription request only by post to:
Who shall I contact
Central Civil Registry Service (Scec)
Attention: the Central Civil Registry Service does not welcome any public.
Civil status (birth, marriage or death) of a Frenchman abroad
Only by mail to:
Central Civil Registry Service
11 White House Street
44941 Nantes Cedex 09
You can apply for a civil status certificate through a online service.
For more information, you can:
- Go to diplomatie.gouv.fr
- Call the+33 1 41 86 42 47 Monday to Friday from 9 am to 12 pm and from 1 pm to 4 pm
Free access to video interpretation or instant speech transcription for the deaf or hard of hearing - Email courrier.scec@diplomatie.gouv.fr
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Poland, Switzerland
The request for transcription and the list of documents to be provided comply with special rules.
You need to ask for the list of supporting documents the competent French consulate-general in the country concerned.
Who shall I contact
Transcription requests should be sent only by post to:
Who shall I contact
Central Civil Registry Service (Scec)
Attention: the Central Civil Registry Service does not welcome any public.
Civil status (birth, marriage or death) of a Frenchman abroad
Only by mail to:
Central Civil Registry Service
11 White House Street
44941 Nantes Cedex 09
You can apply for a civil status certificate through a online service.
For more information, you can:
- Go to diplomatie.gouv.fr
- Call the+33 1 41 86 42 47 Monday to Friday from 9 am to 12 pm and from 1 pm to 4 pm
Free access to video interpretation or instant speech transcription for the deaf or hard of hearing - Email courrier.scec@diplomatie.gouv.fr
What is the deadline for registering a birth?
The declaration must be made within 15 days of childbirth.
The time limit shall be extended to 30 days in the following cases:
- In Europe for Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
- In any country outside Europe.
Please note
The child recognition by the unmarried father may be made at the time of the declaration of birth.
What is the procedure for registering a birth?
The birth declaration is made to the agents of the French diplomatic or consular authorities.
Who shall I contact
Registration of birth by the French consular authorities is not mandatory. But it does, for example, provide for a French birth certificate.
You can opt for the declaration with the civil registration services of the country of residence.
FYI
In the event of birth at sea on a French ship, the certificate is drawn up on board by the commander, captain, master or boss. The instrument is entered after the logbook. It is then transcribed to the Central Civil Registry Service of Nantes.
What documents are required to register a birth?
The documents to be provided depend on your situation:
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General case
The documents required to register a birth are as follows:
- Parent IDs
- Certificate medical delivery date (usually certified by the doctor or midwife)
- Declaration of choice of name if the parents take this step
- Act of recognition if it was established before birth
- Proof of domicile (or residence) less than 3 months if the child has not yet been recognized
- Family booklet to register the child, if the parents already have a booklet.
Birth of a child in a female couple
The documents required to register a birth are as follows:
- Maternal identification documents
- Certificate medical delivery date (usually certified by the doctor or midwife)
- Early joint recognition established notary
- Declaration of choice of name if the mothers make that move
- Family booklet to register the child, if the mothers already have a booklet.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Central Civil Registry Service (Scec)
Attention: the Central Civil Registry Service does not welcome any public.
Civil status (birth, marriage or death) of a Frenchman abroad
Only by mail to:
Central Civil Registry Service
11 White House Street
44941 Nantes Cedex 09
You can apply for a civil status certificate through a online service.
For more information, you can:
- Go to diplomatie.gouv.fr
- Call the+33 1 41 86 42 47 Monday to Friday from 9 am to 12 pm and from 1 pm to 4 pm
Free access to video interpretation or instant speech transcription for the deaf or hard of hearing - Email courrier.scec@diplomatie.gouv.fr
- Family Allowance Fund (Caf)
Validity of foreigner documents (Article 47) and transmission to the Nantes Civil Registry (Article 48)
Time limits and competent authorities (Article 55), birth at sea (Article 59)
Declaration of choice of name
Birth on board a ship or aircraft
Online service
FAQ
Service-Public.fr
Service-Public.fr
Service-Public.fr
Service-Public.fr
National Fund for Family Allowances (Cnaf)
Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
