Identification or affiliation to Social Security: what are the differences?
Verified 13 March 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Identification (formerly called registration) is automatic from birth if you were born in France. Affiliation depends on your professional situation and place of residence.
Identification
Identification shall consist of:
- To register at National Inter-Scheme Directory of Health Insurance (RNIAM)
- And to give you one unique and personal number, called Social Security number or NIR. This number allows you to identify yourself with the primary health insurance fund to which you are affiliated.
The rules vary depending on whether you were born in France or not:
Born in France
If you were born in France, identification is done from birth.
However, it is from the age of 16 that your child becomes aware of his full Social Security number, when he receives the Vitale card.
Its number is indeed indicated on the card.
If your child does not yet have a Vital Card, his Social Security Number (NIR) is indicated on your card. attestation of rights accessible from your Ameli account.
Please note
If you are a member of a plan other than the general plan (example: MSA: titleContent), contact the parent organization.
Born abroad
If you were born abroad, you must ask this number to the organization which corresponds to your situation (example: you are a farmer, you must contact the MSA: titleContent).
Affiliation
Affiliation means joining the competent body to manage your basic health insurance benefits.
It depends on:
- Your professional situation
- And of your place of residence.
This is why:
- If you are an employee, self-employed worker (example: self-employed) or student, you are covered by the National Health Insurance Fund (Cnam). At the local level, with some exceptions, you are attached to the CPAM: titleContent of your habitual residence.
- If you are an employee or farmer, you are covered by the Mutualité sociale agricole (MSA).
- If you don't know which crate you depend on, contact the CPAM: titleContent of your department.
Please note
Any person who deliberately refuses affiliate or who insists not to engage the steps for his compulsory affiliation to a social security scheme is punishable by imprisonment of 6 months and a fine of €15,000 (or only one of these penalties).
Affiliation to social insurance under the general scheme
Individualized information for young people on health insurance
FAQ
National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE)
Ministry of Social Affairs
Ameli.fr