Birth certificate: request for full copy or extract
Verified 09 September 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
You need a birth certificate and you want to know how to apply? We guide you in your approach. She varies depending on the place of birth of the person concerned by the act (in France or abroad). In all cases, the request for a birth certificate is free of charge.
Please note
If the person concerned by the act is born in an independent state (for example, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco), you must apply for a birth certificate via the online service dedicated to people born abroad.
Born in France
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You request your own birth certificate
You can make the request directly on the internet.
You must have or create an account Service-Public.fr or use FranceConnect.
Application for birth certificate: full copy or extract (birth in France) - Free service
The document is then sent to you by post in a few days.
The delay may vary depending on the processing of the request by the services of the town hall and the delivery time of the mail.
If you don't apply online, you can do it by mail or by going there. The request is to be made to the town hall of your municipality of birth.
By mail
You can send the request on free paper.
If you ask for your birth certificate unaffiliated, you must provide your full name and date of birth.
If you request your copy integral or your extract with filiation, you must indicate your surname, first names, date and place of birth, your address + the surname, first names of your parents.
You will receive the document by mail in a few days. The delay may vary depending on the processing of your request, by the services of the town hall, and the delivery time of the mail.
On site
If you ask for your birth certificate unaffiliated, you must provide your full name and date of birth.
If you request your copy integral or your extract with filiation, you must indicate your surname, first name, date and place of birth, your address, as well as the surname and first name of your parents.
You must also provide a identity document to prove your identity.
The document is issued to you immediately.
You are requesting another person's birth certificate
You can make the request directly online.
You must have or create an account Service-Public.fr or use FranceConnect.
Application for birth certificate: full copy or extract (birth in France) - Free service
The document is then sent to you by post in a few days. The delay may vary depending on the processing of the request by the services of the town hall and the delivery time of the mail.
If you don't apply online, you can do it by mail or by going there. The request is to be made to the town hall of the commune of birth of the person.
By mail
You can send the request on free paper.
If you make a request for an extract unaffiliated, you must indicate the surname, forenames and date of birth of the person concerned.
If you request a copy integral or an extract with filiation, you must indicate the surname, forenames, address, date and place of birth of the person to whom the act relates, as well as the usual surname and forename of his parents.
You must attach a document proving your direct affiliation with this person (copy of your birth certificate or family record book).
You will receive the birth certificate by post in a few days. The delay may vary depending on the processing of your request, by the services of the town hall, and the delivery time of the mail.
On site
If you make a request for an extract unaffiliated, you must indicate the surname, forenames and date of birth of the person concerned.
If you request a copy integral or an extract with filiation, you must indicate the surname, forenames, address, date and place of birth of the person to whom the act relates, as well as the usual surname and forename of his parents.
You must present a document proving your direct affiliation with this person (your birth certificate or the family record book).
In case of doubt about your identity or status, the registrar can ask you for any supporting documents.
The document is issued to you immediately.
The approach is free.
FYI
There is no need to make your request on websites that ask you for financial compensation.
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Full Copy
The full copy reproduces all the information contained in the birth certificate entered in the civil registry.
It includes your personal information (surname, first names, date and place of birth), and also those of your parents (surnames, first names, ages, professions and homes).
It indicates the marginal mentions where they exist.
Extract with filiation
The extract with parentage is a summary of the information contained in the birth certificate entered in the register of civil status.
It contains your personal information (surname, first names, date and place of birth) and also those of your parents (surnames, first names, ages, professions and homes).
It indicates the marginal mentions where they exist.
Extract without filiation
The extract without parentage is a summary of the information contained in the birth certificate entered in the register of civil status.
It contains your personal information (surname, first names, date and place of birth).
It indicates the marginal mentions where they exist.
Access to a copy of a birth certificate depends on the type of document concerned and the person requesting it.
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Full Copy
You can obtain a full copy of a birth certificate if you are one of the following:
- Person concerned by the act (provided that he is of legal age) or legal representative
- Spouse, wife or partner of Civil partnerships: titleContent
- Ascendant of the person concerned (parent, grandparent...)
- Descendant of the person concerned (child, grandchild)
- Professional authorized by law (example: a lawyer on behalf of a client).
If you are on this list, you can obtain a copy of a birth or marriage certificate from the public archives, at any time and without limitation in time.
However, any other person (for example, an uncle, an aunt) will not be able to ask the submission of such documents before the following deadlines:
- 75 years from the date of the most recent document or document included in the record, if the person is alive
- Or 25 years from the date of the person's death, whichever is shorter.
Warning
If the person is a minor, the deadlines are different:
- 100 years from the date of the most recent document or document included in the record if the person is alive
- Or 25 years from the date of the person's death, whichever is shorter.
Extract with filiation
You can obtain an extract from a birth certificate with filiation if you are one of the following:
- Person concerned by the act (provided that he is of legal age) or legal representative
- Spouse, wife or partner of Civil partnerships: titleContent
- Ascendant of the person concerned (parent, grandparent...)
- Descendant of the person concerned (child, grandchild)
- Professional authorized by law (example: a lawyer on behalf of a client).
If you are on this list, you can obtain a copy of a birth or marriage certificate from the public archives, at any time and without limitation in time.
However, any other person (for example, an uncle, an aunt) will not be able to ask the submission of such documents before the following deadlines:
- 75 years from the date of the most recent document or document included in the record, if the person is alive
- Or 25 years from the date of the person's death, whichever is shorter.
Warning
If the person is a minor, the deadlines are different:
- 100 years from the date of the most recent document or document included in the record if the person is alive
- Or 25 years from the date of the person's death, whichever is shorter.
Extract without filiation
Any person may obtain a birth certificate without filiation, without having to justify its request.
Born abroad
The service can issue a birth certificate only of a person who has French nationality.
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You request your own birth certificate
You can apply online.
You must have (or create) a Service-Public.fr account or log in with FranceConnect.
Application for birth certificate: full copy or extract (birth abroad) - Free service
The time limit for issuing your birth certificate is approximately 20 days.
To obtain it, you must log in to your Service-Public.fr account.
You can download the PDF document on your personal space Service-Public.fr.
The deed contains the electronic signature of a registrar.
FYI
Once your dematerialized document has been receivedYou can also request to receive the birth certificate by mail.
If you do not wish to apply online, you can make your request by mail, on free paper, at the Nantes Central Civil Registry Office (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
If you request your copy integral or your extract with filiation, you must indicate your surname, first names, date and place of birth, your address + the surname, first names of your parents.
For an application by post, the time limit for issuing a birth certificate is approximately 30 days.
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 French person abroad
Only by mail to the following address:
Central Civil Registry Service
11 White House Street
44941 Nantes Cedex 09
You can apply for a civil status certificate via a online service.
For further information, you can:
Consult the site diplomatie.gouv.fr
Call the+33 1 41 86 42 47 Monday to Friday from 9am to 12pm and from 1pm to 4pm.
Free access to video interpretation or instant speech transcription for the deaf or hard of hearing.
Use the following online form: https://etat-civil.diplomatie.gouv.fr/rece-informationusager-ui/
You are requesting another person's birth certificate
You can apply online.
You must have (or create) a Service-Public.fr account or log in with FranceConnect.
Application for birth certificate: full copy or extract (birth abroad) - Free service
The time limit for issuing your birth certificate is approximately 20 days.
To obtain it, you must log in to your Service-Public.fr account.
You can download the PDF document on your personal space Service-Public.fr.
The deed contains the electronic signature of a registrar.
FYI
Once your dematerialized document has been receivedYou can also request to receive the birth certificate by mail.
If you do not wish to apply online, you can make your request by mail, on free paper, at the Nantes Central Civil Registry Office (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
If you apply for full copy or a extract with filiation, you must indicate the surname, forenames, date and place of birth of the person to whom the act relates + the usual surname and forename of his parents.
For an application by post, the time limit for issuing a birth certificate is approximately 30 days.
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 French person abroad
Only by mail to the following address:
Central Civil Registry Service
11 White House Street
44941 Nantes Cedex 09
You can apply for a civil status certificate via a online service.
For further information, you can:
Consult the site diplomatie.gouv.fr
Call the+33 1 41 86 42 47 Monday to Friday from 9am to 12pm and from 1pm to 4pm.
Free access to video interpretation or instant speech transcription for the deaf or hard of hearing.
Use the following online form: https://etat-civil.diplomatie.gouv.fr/rece-informationusager-ui/
The request is free of charge.
Warning
There is no need to make your request on websites that ask you for financial compensation.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Full Copy
The full copy reproduces all the information contained in the birth certificate entered in the civil registry.
It includes your personal information (surname, first names, date and place of birth), and also those of your parents (surnames, first names, ages, professions and homes).
It indicates the marginal mentions where they exist.
Extract with filiation
The extract with parentage is a summary of the information contained in the birth certificate entered in the register of civil status.
It contains your personal information (surname, first names, date and place of birth) and also those of your parents (surnames, first names, ages, professions and homes).
It indicates the marginal mentions where they exist.
Extract without filiation
The extract without parentage is a summary of the information contained in the birth certificate entered in the register of civil status.
It contains your personal information (surname, first names, date and place of birth).
It indicates the marginal mentions where they exist.
Access to a copy of a birth certificate depends on the type of document concerned and the person requesting it.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Full Copy
You can obtain a full copy of a birth certificate if you are one of the following:
- Person concerned by the act (provided that he is of legal age) or legal representative
- Spouse, wife or partner of Civil partnerships: titleContent
- Ascendant of the person concerned (parent, grandparent...)
- Descendant of the person concerned (child, grandchild)
- Professional authorized by law (example: a lawyer on behalf of a client).
If you are on this list, you can obtain a copy of a birth or marriage certificate from the public archives, at any time and without limitation in time.
However, any other person (for example, an uncle, an aunt) will not be able to ask the submission of such documents before the following deadlines:
- 75 years from the date of the most recent document or document included in the record, if the person is alive
- Or 25 years from the date of the person's death, whichever is shorter.
Warning
If the person is a minor, the deadlines are different:
- 100 years from the date of the most recent document or document included in the record if the person is alive
- Or 25 years from the date of the person's death, whichever is shorter.
Extract with filiation
You can obtain an extract from a birth certificate with filiation if you are one of the following:
- Person concerned by the act (provided that he is of legal age) or legal representative
- Spouse, wife or partner of Civil partnerships: titleContent
- Ascendant of the person concerned (parent, grandparent...)
- Descendant of the person concerned (child, grandchild)
- Professional authorized by law (example: a lawyer on behalf of a client).
If you are on this list, you can obtain a copy of a birth or marriage certificate from the public archives, at any time and without limitation in time.
However, any other person (for example, an uncle, an aunt) will not be able to ask the submission of such documents before the following deadlines:
- 75 years from the date of the most recent document or document included in the record, if the person is alive
- Or 25 years from the date of the person's death, whichever is shorter.
Warning
If the person is a minor, the deadlines are different:
- 100 years from the date of the most recent document or document included in the record if the person is alive
- Or 25 years from the date of the person's death, whichever is shorter.
Extract without filiation
Any person may obtain a birth certificate without filiation, without having to justify its request.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
If the person concerned by the act was born in France
Town HallIf the person concerned by the act was born abroad
Central Civil Registry Service (Scec)
Attention: the Central Civil Registry Service does not welcome any public.
Civil status (birth, marriage or death) of a French person abroad
Only by mail to the following address:
Central Civil Registry Service
11 White House Street
44941 Nantes Cedex 09
You can apply for a civil status certificate via a online service.
For further information, you can:
Consult the site diplomatie.gouv.fr
Call the+33 1 41 86 42 47 Monday to Friday from 9am to 12pm and from 1pm to 4pm.
Free access to video interpretation or instant speech transcription for the deaf or hard of hearing.
Use the following online form: https://etat-civil.diplomatie.gouv.fr/rece-informationusager-ui/
Drawing up of civil status documents
Declaration of birth and content of birth certificate
Conditions for issue: Articles 25 to 38
FAQ
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Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs