Disappearance of an adult

Verified 08 July 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

A person at least 18 years old who is part of your entourage has disappeared. What to do and how to act? The procedure is different depending on whether the disappearance took place in France or abroad. We give you the information you need to know.

In France

When an adult disappears, an investigation may be opened by the police or gendarmerie. To do this, the disappearance must be considered as worrying.

However, once found, the person is free to make contact or not with his relatives.

There is no clear definition of disappearance of concern. Nevertheless, the disturbing nature of the disappearance may be due to the following indications:

  • Departure without personal belongings
  • Vulnerability of the person due to age, illness, guardianship or curatorship or a disability
  • Discovery of suicidal mail or threats
  • Suspected radicalization.

The disturbing nature of the disappearance is assessed by the police or gendarmerie services in the light of all the circumstances.

Sometimes a single indication may be sufficient to justify the initiation of an investigation.

If there are worrying signs of disappearance and if you are a relative of the disappeared person (spouse, partner, brother, sister, parent, child,...) or employer), you can request an investigation.

To do this, you can contact the police or the gendarmerie.

Who shall I contact

Triggering of the investigation

The investigation may be initiated at the time of reporting if circumstances warrant. There is no minimum time to contact the police or gendarmerie.

It is recommended that a recent photograph of the missing person be provided with all relevant information (e.g. physical description, clothing worn, vehicle used, telephone number, travel patterns, possible medical problems).

Means of research

The survey is carried out with 2 different means:

  • Registration of the missing person in the wanted persons file (FPR). Thus, the police and gendarmes can know, during a check, that the person is missing. Law enforcement agencies in the countries of the Schengen Area shall also have access to such information.
  • Search by police and gendarmes in the personal files of private and public organizations (telephone operators, banks, taxes,...).) For example, they can check their phone bills or credit card statements. They also have the possibility to make a request for the location of the mobile phone.

Access to these elements facilitates the hearing of potential witnesses and the location of the missing person.

Investigators can also quickly gather any useful information from relatives, health facilities or anyone who may have seen the missing person.

The purpose of this investigation is solely to find the person, and not to seek offense.

It is the public prosecutor who supervises investigations conducted by the police or gendarmerie.

Information for relatives

If the adult is found, law enforcement informs the declarant that the search has been successful. However, they may not communicate their address or place of residence if that person objects.

Certificate of vain research

After 1 year of searching, if the person is still not found or if there is no evidence of his death, a certificate of vain searches may be written by the police or gendarmerie. It is validated and issued by the public prosecutor.

This certificate is issued to the family.

It has legal value and proves that the person is indeed missing.

It can be used in case of succession for example.

However, the investigation may continue after the certificate has been issued.

Presumption of absence

After issuing the certificate of vain search, the family of the disappeared person may apply to the protection litigation judge (former guardianship judge) for a finding of presumption of absence.

This finding allows the judge to designate a relative of the missing person to temporarily manage his or her property.

You can apply using a form:

Application for a finding of presumption of absence

The form must be filed in the court of the domicile of the disappeared person or the person wishing to manage his property.

Judicial investigation

In the most serious cases, a judicial investigation may be opened, especially if you suspect that the disappeared person is being held captive, abducted or radicalized.

The investigation will be under the responsibility of a magistrate (prosecutor or investigating judge).

The family will be able to file a complaint and report civil party.

The judicial inquiry may be opened following the investigation into the disappearance, if evidence is found to suggest that an offense has been committed.

If you don't have any evidence that the missing person is in danger, you will have to find them on your own. A formal investigation will not be possible.

To do this, you can in particular:

  • Helping you with social media
  • Contact your local town hall of birth or its last known domicile to find out if it is still alive
  • Contact the Central Civil Registry, if the person was born abroad
  • Check if she could have been hospitalized.

Who shall I contact

  • Attention: the Central Civil Registry 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:

If you are part of his family, you can ask the protection litigation judge (ex guardianship judge) a finding of presumption of absence. This will allow the judge to designate a relative of the missing person to temporarily manage his or her property. You can apply using a form:

Application for a finding of presumption of absence

The form must be filed in the court of the domicile of the disappeared person or the person wishing to manage his property.

If you have found the person alive on your own and an investigation has been opened, you need to warn some people.

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In the event of an investigation into the disappearance

The police or gendarmerie must be notified in order for the ongoing investigation to be closed.

In the event of a judicial inquiry

The public prosecutor or investigating judge must be notified.

However, the reasons for the disappearance may continue to be investigated.

The disappeared person, informed that a presumption of absence has been decided by a judge, has the possibility to report to him. This will enable it to manage all of its assets again.

FYI  

In any case, the person found is free to no longer communicate with his relatives.

Abroad

If one of your close relatives of French nationality has disappeared abroad (as a tourist or permanent resident), you can report his disappearance to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

However, once found, the person is free to make contact or not with his relatives.

There is no clear definition of disappearance of concern. Nevertheless, the disturbing nature of the disappearance may be due to the following indications:

  • Unusual lack of contact
  • Presence in a dangerous geographical area
  • Vulnerability of the person due to age, illness or disability
  • Discovery of suicidal mail or threats
  • Suspected radicalization.

If there is such evidence, if you believe that the missing person is in danger, you can request an investigation.

It is recommended that you report the disappearance as soon as you have evidence that the person is in danger. You don't have to wait 24 or 48 hours to report.

1Contact the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs

It will be responsible for contacting the local authorities and providing them with any useful information. He or she may also issue a research notice.

To facilitate the search, it is recommended to provide a recent photograph of the missing person and all relevant information concerning him/her (e.g. physical description, clothing worn, vehicle used, telephone number, travel habits, possible medical problems...).)

However, the investigation in the country concerned will remain the responsibility of the local authorities.

The search is organized by the authorities of the country where the person disappeared. The French authorities can accompany them in their efforts, but they cannot replace them.

The ministry can also refer you to the relevant French embassy or consulate. The latter can inform you about the steps taken by local authorities and facilitate exchanges with them.

2Report the disappearance to the French police or gendarmerie to get an investigation opened in France

Who shall I contact

There may be an investigation in France in addition to the investigation in the country concerned.

An investigation in France is automatically triggered in the following cases:

  • If you are a relative of the missing person (spouse, common-law partner, brother, sister, parent, child,...) or employer
  • If the person is a protected adult (under guardianship or curatorship).

In other cases, the police and gendarmes may consider that this is not a disturbing disappearance. The public prosecutor can decide in case of disagreement.

Once opened, the survey is carried out with 2 different means:

  • Registration of the missing person in the wanted persons file (FPR). Thus, the police and gendarmes can know, during a check, that the person is missing. Law enforcement agencies in the countries of the Schengen Area shall also have access to such information.
  • Search by police and gendarmes in the personal files of private and public organizations (telephone operators, banks, taxes,...).) For example, they can check their phone bills or credit card statements. They also have the possibility to make a request for the location of the mobile phone.

Access to these elements facilitates the hearing of potential witnesses and the location of the missing person.

The research is adapted to the circumstances of the disappearance and may evolve if new elements appear.

This investigation is just to find the person, not to look for a offense.

After 1 year of searching, if the person is still not found, or if there is no evidence of his death, a certificate of vain searches may be issued by the police or gendarmerie.

This certificate is issued to the family.

It has legal value and proves that the person is indeed missing.

It can be used in case of succession for example.

However, the investigation may continue after the certificate has been issued.

3Request a finding of presumption of absence

After issuing the certificate of vain search, the family of the disappeared person may apply to the protection litigation judge (former guardianship judge) for a finding of presumption of absence. This finding allows the judge to appoint a relative of the disappeared person to temporarily manage his property in France.

You can apply using a form:

Application for a finding of presumption of absence

The form must be filed in the court of the French domicile of the disappeared person or of the person wishing to manage his property.

In the most serious cases, a judicial investigation may be opened, especially if you suspect, for example, that the disappeared person is kidnapped, abducted or radicalized.

The investigation will be under the responsibility of a magistrate (prosecutor or investigating judge).

The family will be able to file a complaint and report civil party.

The opening of a judicial inquiry abroad does not prevent the opening of a judicial inquiry in France.

French justice may be required to collaborate with the justice of the country concerned.

Such cooperation may take the form of exchanges of information or requests for mutual legal assistance.

The judicial investigation may be opened following the investigation into the disappearance, if evidence uncovered suggests that a offense was committed.

During the investigation, you can obtain information from the French Embassy of the country concerned.

If you don't have any evidence that the missing person is in danger, you will have to find them on your own. An official investigation both abroad and in France will not be possible.

To do this, you can in particular:

  • Direct contact with local authorities (embassy, consulate, foreigner police services)
  • Helping you with social media
  • Contact your local town hall of birth or your last known address (in France) to find out if it is still alive.
  • If you know where they are staying or how they are being transported, you can also contact the hotel, airline or any other organization that may know if they have been there.
Who shall I contact

If you are part of his family, you can ask the protection litigation judge (ex guardianship judge) a finding of presumption of absence.

Thus, the judge will be able to designate a relative of the disappeared person to temporarily manage his property in France.

You can apply using a form:

Application for a finding of presumption of absence

The form must be filed in the court of the French domicile of the disappeared person or of the person wishing to manage his property.

If you have found the person alive and an investigation has been opened, you must notify the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He will take care of notifying the local authorities.

If you have reported the disappearance to other organizations (such as an employer, insurance company, or hotel), it is recommended that you notify them that the person has been found.

You should also tell the following people:

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In the event of an investigation into the disappearance

The police or gendarmerie must be notified in order for the ongoing investigation in France to be closed.

This information also makes it possible to put an end to the research undertaken and to update the files used by the police and gendarmerie services.

In the event of a judicial inquiry

The public prosecutor or the investigating judge must be notified. However, the investigation may continue in France and abroad on the reasons for the disappearance.

The missing person informed that a presumption of absence has been issued by a judge, has the possibility to report to him. This will enable it to manage all of its assets again.

FYI  

In any case, the person found is free to no longer communicate with his relatives.