France - Apply for a National Identity Card (Adult)

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Procedure

1. Obtain a form to apply for a national identity card from the counter.
2. Fill in and sign the form.
3. Submit your application along with all other required documents.
4. You can follow up the status of your application by using the teleservice monitoring application. Or you may indicate in the application form that you would like to receive an SMS when your card is ready to be picked up at the town hall. Note: These monitoring tools and alerts do not exist in Paris or French territories overseas.
5. You must collect your new card within 3 months after it was ready to be picked up. Uncollected cards within this period will be destroyed, and you will have to apply again.

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Required Documents

If you are in possession of a secured document (even if it is no longer valid) you do not need to provide once again documents related to your civil status or French nationality.

For those who have a secured or recent passport (valid or expired less than 2 years):

• Completely filled in and signed application form.
• Two identical photos that comply with the standards.
• Proof of address : the original and a photocopy
• Passport : the original and a photocopy

For those who DO NOT have a secured or recent passport:

• Completely filled in and signed application form.
• Two identical photos that comply with the standards.
• Proof of address : the original and a photocopy
• Birth certificate not older than 3 months (extracted with filiation or integral copy)
  • If the birth certificate does not provide evidence of citizenship you must present a document confirming you are a French national : the original and a photocopy

Note: If you want to use a name that does not appear on your passport (if you have one), other documents must be presented depending on the nature of this second name: name of the spouse or name of the other parent.

Office Locations & Contacts

Ministry of Interior
Place Beauvau, 75008 Paris, France
Email Contact Form
Ministry of Interior Website

Eligibility

• You must be a French Citizen.

Fees

Application is free.

Validity

The National Identity Card is valid for 15 years.

Documents to Use

Please attach documents which can be used by people who would like to follow this procedure.    

Sample Documents

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Processing Time

Identity cards are not made at the same office where you applied therefore it can not be issued immediately. The amount of time it needs to process an application varies depending on the place and time the request was made, for example, applications submitted before the start of summer vacation may take longer to be completed compare to those submitted after.

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Instructions

To obtain a national ID card, gather all necessary documents and personally apply at your local town hall, at the police station of your choice if you live in Paris or at a French Embassy or Consulate if you live abroad. Documents to be submitted vary depending on your situation and in particular the possession of a secured passport.

Note: You may need to set up an appointment to submit your application.

Required Information

• First Name
• Family name
• Second name: it is the name used in everyday life (used name) when different surname: double name (or his parents names of both spouses together), her husband's name or name of his wife.
• Height
• Date and place of birth
• Address
• Mobile Number (if you want to be notified via SMS about when can you pick up your new ID)
• Name and surname of parents
• Date and place of birth of parents

Need for the Document

Possesion of a national identity card is not mandatory in France, but you may need to present this document in certain situations like travelling abroad or conducting banking transactions. Possession of an ID card may also come in handy if the police or the gendamerie would request you to identify yourself, the procedure may take longer if you can not present proper identification.

Following are procedures on how to apply for a national identity card for adults

Information which might help

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Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

• Ministry of Interior:

http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/A-votre-service/Mes-demarches/Papiers-Citoyennete/Etat-civil-Identite-Authentification/Carte-nationale-d-identite/Pour-une-personne-majeure/Carte-nationale-d-identite-d-une-personne-majeure-premiere-demande

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